A streaky shower screen can instantly make a bathroom appear mucky, even if you’ve just cleaned it. In areas with hard water, they can quickly become coated in limescale, making them appear chalky, and it’s best to give them a clean every few days to prevent build-up that’s tough to remove.

While it might feel like a lot of effort, giving them a wipe every few days ensures they stay sparkling. But if you go to give them a clean only to realise you’ve run out of your usual product, there’s another alternative that you’re almost guaranteed to have on hand. You might have heard of cleaning your shower with white vinegar, grapefruit and even salt, but another cupboard staple promises to leave glass looking “spotless”.

In fact, in the video shared by The Spruce on TikTok, this glass cleaner product is so natural that you “could drink it”.

So next time you buy a box of tea bags, make sure to keep a few spare, because they can also be used for a sparkling shower.

The video explains that: “Black tea has tannins that help dissolve grime and dirt on glass surfaces,” making it ideal for cleaning.

Tannins are a type of plant compound often found in a number of beverages including tea. While they affect the taste and appearance of drinks, they can also be used to clean surfaces including shower screens.

Containing mild astringent properties, tannins found in black tea effectively break down grease, dirt and grime, removing any built up mucky streaks left behind on shower screens and even leaving a subtle shine to them.

Some have suggested simply collecting used teabags and applying this directly onto shower screens, before going over it with a cloth, but this method isn’t necessarily guaranteed to work.

Instead, The Spruce advises using black tea in loose leaf form and applying this in the same way you would a standard glass cleaner.

To make your own cleaner with tea, mix a tablespoon of leaves with two cups of boiling water in a spray bottle.

For best results, go ahead and spray this onto your shower screen and wipe it away with a squeegee to ensure no streaks are left behind.