Tea is an all time favorite drink, especially in the south where I live. We just can’t go without our iced tea! Actually, I love tea hot or cold and all varieties! But, have you ever thought about uses for used tea bags? Rather than just throwing them out, check out all the cool ways they can be reused!
Uses for Used Tea Bags
1.) Do you have a problem with puffy eyes or maybe dark circles? Well, did you know that chilled tea bags can be your friend? By placing chilled tea bags on your eyes, you can relieve the puffiness and help with the dark circles. Just place on your eyes and leave for about 15 minutes. Sit back and relax! Warm tea bags will also help with the pain of pinkeye.
2.) Used tea bags can also be used for sun burns. If you spent a little to much time out in the hot sun and got a painful sunburn, using used tea bags in the bathtub can help! Run your bath and throw in a few and then let yourself relax! The tea will provide a calming and cooling effect.
3.) Heal bruises faster by placing a soaked tea bag on it. The tannins in the tea constricts the blood vessels, which in turn will stop the blood flow that is causing the bruising.
4.) Tannin, which is found in tea, is also helpful for treating plantar warts. Just take a warmed wet tea bag and apply to the area for for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, let the skin air dry naturally. Repeating this on a daily basis for a few days will help the wart completely disappear.
5.) Used tea bags are great for treating itchy mosquito bites and bee stings. Just place a damp tea bag on the bite and keep it on like a compress. The tea relieves itching, reduces inflammation and promotes healing.
6.) You can also have an at home facial using used tea bags. Place a used tea bag in a bowl of hot water. Then, hold your face above the bowl with a towel to hold in the steam. The tannins and antioxidants will help reduce puffiness and tighten your pores.
7.) You can also use used tea bags to remove odors from your hands in the kitchen. Handling onions, garlic, fish, etc. can leave your hands smelling a little on the yucky side. Rinse your hands with water and a brewed tea bag to get rid of the odors.
8.) Small cuts and nicks seem to be the ones that bleed like the dickens! Try applying a used tea bag and applying pressure to relieve the sting and bleeding.
9.) If your skin is looking a bit on the dry side, try adding some tea bags to your bath water. Relax and soak while your skin becomes incredibly soft! The antioxidants in green tea are extremely effective for rehydrating the skin.
10.) We all hate the oozing rash from poison ivy! Strong brewed tea is great for drying out the rash. Just dab the rash lightly with a cotton ball, or the tea bag, dipped into the tea.
11.) If you have a toothache or canker sore, take the leaves out of a warm brewed tea bag and roll the leaves up in a scrap piece of fabric. Use it like a compress for the tooth or canker sore.
12.) Black tea bags are great for making steak moist and juicy. To use, take 4 black tea bags and and allow them to sit in 1 cup of water for about 10 minutes. Then, mix with one cup of double strength beef stock. Marinate the steak in the mixture for for approximately 20 – 25 minutes.
13.) Tea bags are also great for cooking a deliciously moist turkey. Just add a brewed tea bag and 1 cup of water to the turkey pan. The tannin acts as a natural meat tenderizer and adds a unique and delicious flavor.
14.) Place fresh brewed tea bags inside your refrigerator to absorb odors!
15.) Brewed teabags are also good to soak greasy dishes in. Place a few in the dish, along with hot water, and allow to soak over night. The tannins in the tea will break down the grease by morning.
16.) Clean dark leather shoes using brewed tea bags. Just rub the leather in a circular motion until clean.
17.) Twice brewed tea makes a great cleaner for mirrors. Allow the tea to cool and then dip a cloth in the tea and apply. Once you have cleaned the dirt and grime, buff with a soft dry cloth.
18.) Brewed tea bags are also great as a deodorizer for pet bedding and carpets! Let your tea bags dry out. Then empty onto the ped bed or sprinkle on carpet. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Then, simply vacuum up the tea.
19.) This is one of my favorites!. In the winter, cleaning the fireplace or the wood stove can be a pain. Dust flies up and settles everywhere. Try sprinkling wet tea leaves from the bags over the ashes to keep the dust from the ashes from rising.
20.) Your acid loving plants will also love a boost from tea! Rose bushes and ferns especially love it. Just sprinkle a bit of used tea around your plants and cover with mulch for midsummer boost.
21.) Of course tea is also great for the compost pile! It will decrease the decomposition time and enrich the compost. You can also pour 2-3 cups of brewed tea on the pile to help it out too.
As you can see, there are many uses for used tea bags. Do you have any to add? We would love to learn more!
A damp tea bag can be placed where tooth has been pulled even stitched to help prevent dry socket which can be very painful. The tannic acid helps to fight infection
Also tea bags can be used to add light stain to scratched wood, darkening thread for sewing or even staining paper to give the old appearance for decoupaged items.
i already use used tea bags on my eyes and in my compost, but love your other ideas too. Pinning it now for future use. Thanks!
I never knew tea bags were good for mosquito bites. Living in hot, humid FL mosquitoes are a real problem. I’ll definitely keep this in mind next time someone in my family is bitten.
Thanks for the article – I hadn’t heard of many of these uses for used tea bags and I have so many of them during the winter months. I’m definitely going to try some of these ideas.
Great tips! Thank you.
What great suggestions. I drink tea daily and so have plenty of tea bags and am definitely going to try these especially for removing odors from hands. Hate it when my hands smells like onions or garlic.