Windows can look particularly grimy at this time of year, but there is a simple way to get them sparkling clean in just a few minutes using only one item from your kitchen cupboard. Few things beat gazing out on a glorious summer's day to be greeted by clear blue skies, but that picturesque view can be spoiled by windows covered in grime and smears.
Why Windows Get Dirty in Summer
Windows tend to appear particularly grubby at this time of year because the stronger sunlight exposes dust and stains on the glass that would otherwise go unnoticed. It is also pollen season, and this sticky substance frequently accumulates on windows after rainfall, leaving spotty marks across the glass. While wiping down a window might seem straightforward, cleaning glass can prove rather frustrating as moisture from cleaning products often leaves streaks that can make the glass look even worse than before.
The Surprising Solution: Tea
Alexis, a chemist and cleaning specialist who founded the Chemistry Cachet, has revealed a more efficient method to get windows gleaming without spending a single penny. All you need is a cup of tea. It might sound utterly bizarre if you have never used tea for cleaning purposes before, but it contains a compound called tannins which can tackle stains with minimal effort.
Alexis explained: "Tannins like to bind to other compounds like proteins and other organic compounds. This is their role within the plant, but it also transfers over to the tea once steeped. Tea has the ability to clean the glass surfaces from dirt and grime for this very reason." The tannins found in tea can assist in breaking down oily stains, making it considerably easier to eliminate fingerprints, smudges and other marks from glass surfaces. They can also help to dislodge the grime that frequently accumulates on windows, such as pollen and dust, significantly reducing the amount of scrubbing required to get them sparkling. Tea bags rank amongst the finest natural cleaning agents in the home, capable of tackling many common glass stains within just a few minutes, with no cleaning products required whatsoever.
How to Get Your Windows Clean in 10 Minutes
You will need: four black tea bags, 225 millilitres of boiling water, a spray bottle, and a microfibre cloth. Start by placing the tea bags into a basin or large bowl, then boil a kettle. Once the water has reached a full boil, carefully pour it over the tea bags. Allow the solution to sit for several minutes so the tea bags can properly steep. Remove the tea bags and leave the mixture to cool down completely. Then, using a funnel, transfer it into a spray bottle. Empty spray bottles can typically be found in the gardening aisle of most supermarkets. Be sure to use a glass spray bottle, as the solution could potentially melt a plastic one.
Lightly spritz the solution onto a window and wipe across the glass using a microfibre cloth. Buff the windows to help dry and polish them to a shine. Your window glass should now appear crystal clear, gleaming and entirely streak-free — all without spending a single penny.
