15 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

15 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

15 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

Are you a tea-drinker like I am? Next time you finish off a mug, save that spent tea bag! Here are 15 fun ways to reuse tea bags instead of throwing them in the trash.

Saving those tea bags for crafting might seem a little bit strange at first, but we grow, harvest, process, brew, and drink millions of tea leaves every year. That’s a lot of tea bags in our landfills. Think of these ways to reuse tea bags as ways to help keep organic waste out of landfills.

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These ways to reuse tea bags do more than just reduce food waste, though. Think of that spent tea bag as a free craft supply! You can use it to create all sorts of money-saving things from homemade cleaning supplies to fabric dyes.

15 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

The abundance of antioxidants and tannins, also known as tannic acids, in tea makes it one of nature’s most versatile resources. From shining leather shoes to soothing irritated skin, here are some ideas of how tea bags and its contents can be recycled:

In Your Home

1. Clean Windows and Mirrors: Replace glass cleaners by pouring brewed, cooled tea into a spray bottle, or dampen a soft cloth with tea then wipe away fingerprints and dirt and dry.

2. Rid Your Refrigerator of Odors: Move over baking soda, keeping used tea bags in a bowl in your refrigerator will absorb odors.

3. Remove Grease and Residue from Pots and Pans: The tannic acid of tea will break down grease and leftover food residue stuck on your pots and pans. Put a cup or so of water and a used tea bag into your pans and let them soak. You may want to use multiple tea bags if the scum is really caked on.

4. Add Flavor to Rice: Toss used jasmine or mint flavored tea bags into boiling water to add extra flavor to your rice and other grains.

5. Meat Tenderizer: Never dry out your poultry again by adding water and a brewed tea bag into the pan during baking. Tea is an all-natural meat tenderizer.

6. Wash Away Odors from Your Hands: Rinse your hands with water and a brewed tea bag to remove odors of onions, garlic, fish and other foods.

7. Shine Dark Leather Shoes: Shine dark leather shoes by rubbing a wet tea bag in circular motion on the exterior then wipe dry.

8. Dye Fabric: Use black tea and few other household items to create a unique design on fabrics. Here’s how to make your own tea dye!

Gardening

9. Composting: Throw a few cups of brewed, ground tea or biodegradable tea bags onto your compost heap to speed up the decomposition process and create acid-rich soil.

10. Fertilize Plant Soil: Tear open your tea bags and disperse the contents over plants’ soil. Roses and ferns especially thrive from the acid-rich tannins in tea. You also can bring unhealthy plants back to life by watering them with twice-brewed tea. A useful tip to consider is to line the drainage hole at the bottom of planters with old tea bags. This will help your plants retain water and keep nutrients inside the soil.

Beauty & Health

11. Calm Itchy Skin: Soothe irritated skin caused by bug bites or poison ivy with a dampened, cool tea bag. This will reduce inflammation and promote healing.

12. Wake Up Tired Eyes: Place cooled tea bags, particularly chamomile, on tired eyes to lessen puffiness and feel rejuvenated.

13. Mouth Health: The antibacterial properties of tea can aid in drawing out infections linked to tooth aches, fever blisters, canker sores and other mouth-related illnesses. Warm up the tea bag and place it on the sore area for best results

14. Rehydrate Your Skin: Add a few tea bags and/or essential oils into a soaking basin with warm water to soothe tired feet. Soak for 20-30 minutes for softer skin.

15. Facial: Give yourself a spa-like facial by repeating the steps above, but holding your head above the basin and covering with a towel. The tannins will help to tighten your pores and reduce puffiness.

What other ways do you repurpose ground tea and/or tea bags? If you think I’ve missed any tips, leave me a note in the comment section. I’d love to hear from you.

Writer’s Note: The information shared here should not be substituted for a medical professional’s opinion.

Republished with permission from Sustainablog. Tea image via Shutterstock.

2 thoughts on “15 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags”

  1. Brilliant article on the use of tea bags for recycling purpose. A lot of home-based remedies are cost-effective, economical and interesting to use.

    I especially liked the way how leather items can be cleaned using tea bags. I recently purchased a leather satchel from Soulful Collection. Maybe i’ll use it to clean my leather bag. Thanks for sharing it, Talancia.

  2. Jennifer D'yavol

    Question. Of course there are tons of tea bags around my house, as an avid tea drinker, but I found myself saving the little tags. Trader Joe’s chamomile to whiskey flavoured Scottish breakfast teas. Would you have any creative uses for nearly 100 tea tags?

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