If you typically toss your tea bag after use, here are good reasons to stop. Used tea leaves have many everyday applications, and it would be a shame to waste them by creating waste.
Used Tea Bags: A Daily Health Ally
You probably know that tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. That’s why, even when the flavor fades, the tea leaves can still be useful.
Tea for sunburn relief?
A used tea bag is an ideal ally in case of sunburn. To relieve the burn, there are two options. You can apply a damp used tea bag — or several — directly to the burned area depending on its size. It’s also possible to drop several bags into a bath.
Small ouches: treat scrapes and cuts
If you cut yourself in the kitchen, place a damp tea bag directly on the wound. The tea’s tannins will slow bleeding through coagulation. Its healing properties will also help relieve minor scratches in the same way.
The tea against warts
Similarly, to treat a plantar wart or even one on the hand, take advantage of the tea’s healing properties. Apply a damp tea bag directly on the wart and keep it in place for at least half an hour.
Tea for a mosquito bite
To relieve itching, apply a damp tea bag to the bite. This method will also help prevent the bite from swelling.
The Tea Bag: Friend to Your Complexion
Tea is a common ingredient in cosmetics. Whether for the eyes or the skin, tea bags offer real benefits.
A used tea bag against dark circles
Just as a tea bag can prevent a bite from swelling, you can use it against dark circles. Green tea, in particular, is decongestant. On puffy eyes, it helps reduce dark circles and under-eye bags. Leave it on for about twenty minutes.
In your facial beauty routine
The antioxidant effects of tea make it an interesting ingredient to fight aging of the skin caused by pollution, stress, and tobacco. Wet a tea bag with lemon juice and use it to apply to the T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose). Rinse carefully with cold water. Pores tighten and the complexion appears brighter thanks to the combined action of the two ingredients.
For your hair
Steep tea in diluted apple cider vinegar and use this mixture for a first hair rinse.
Used Tea Bags in the Garden and at Home
If you don’t have a specific use for the tea, you can absolutely place the tea bags, without staples and without tags, directly in the compost with your fruit and vegetable scraps. Otherwise, draw inspiration from these various tips.
A Tea Bag in the Garden
Steep used tea bags or tea leaves. Use this mixture as an organic fertilizer, especially good for orchids. You can also simply mix tea leaves into the soil.
Tea bags in houseplants!
If you need to be away for a few days, place brewed tea bags in the soil before watering. The bags will swell and keep the soil moist longer.
The Tea Bags That Fight Odors
Like coffee grounds, brewed tea can absorb bad odors. It’s especially useful in a pantry or in the fridge. Just be careful to place it in a container so it doesn’t stain anything.
The tea to deodorize shoes
Now place dry tea bags, one in each shoe.
Tea Bags for Cleaning the House
If tea can stain, it’s also capable of helping with cleaning.
Cleaning mirrors
Run a used tea bag under cold water. Wring it lightly and rub the mirror with it. Then wipe the surface dry with a chamois leather as usual.
Degreasing dishes
Steep tea bags in a mixture of water and dish soap and let it sit for at least an hour before washing the dishes.
Tea for wooden surfaces
Tea can be used in a rustic cleaner to wash wooden floors or wooden furniture. For this, use three tea bags per liter of water. Let it steep and wipe the surface with the liquid.
The tea for dyeing
Whether to imitate a sepia photo or to dye simple paper, you can use black tea. For a small area, simply run the brewed tea bag over the surface. For a larger area, dampen the bags a bit more and run them over thick paper: a parchment-like effect guaranteed!
Using Your Used Tea Bag… in the Kitchen!
Tea for cooking meat
Cooking meat with tea makes it more tender. It’s also perfectly fine to use tea, as neutral as possible to avoid imparting flavor, in a marinade for any meat.
To add flavor
Brew the remaining green tea and use that water to plump up couscous for a very fresh tabbouleh.
