Alternative Uses For Black Tea Bags

I’m not a tea drinker but my husband is so we always have tea bags on hand. Here’s some great alternative ways you can use new or used tea bags or the steeped tea itself.

 CLEANING:

1. SPIFF UP DULL WOOD TABLES & HARDWOOD FLOORS –

Steep 3 black tea bags in 1 cup of boiling water. Let cool to room temperature. Pour cooled tea into a spray bottle and apply to the wood. Wipe with a soft cloth. The tea’s polyphenols add color and shine to the wood, making it look new again. Or simply dip a soft cloth in a small amount of tea and use it to wipe down the table (or any wood furniture.) Make sure you wipe the wood dry. You can also shine up wood floors since the tannins in black tea can help shine and color hardwood. Simply rub some brewed tea into the floor and let air dry. Make sure you don’t use too much though sincethe water can warp wood.

2. FRESH FRIDGE –

If you run out of your box of baking soda you keep in the fridge to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh, you can try used tea bags instead, which will help absorb the odors.

3. CLEAN POTS & PANS –

Instead of scrubbing those hardened, stuck-on food bits from your pots and pans try this easy on your elbows method. Fill the pan with hot water, toss in 2 black tea bags and let it sit overnight. The hot water works with the tea’s tannic acid, which will soften and lift stubborn food particles. In the morning, simply rinse.

4. FRESHEN MUSTY RUGS/CARPET –

Here’s an easy way to eliminate carpet/rug odors…cut open a dry black tea bag (you can use a used one as long as it’s dry,) and sprinkle the leaves over the carpet. Let sit for about 10 minutes and then vacuum them up. Supposedly the plant compounds in the tea leaves attract and absorb odor molecules. You can also freshen up pet beds this way.

5. CLEAN THE FIREPLACE –

Sprinkle wet tea leaves on fireplace ashes while scooping them out, which will help reduce the dust. You can use used coffee grounds this way too.

6. CLEAN TOILET STAINS –

Have stubborn stains in the bottom of your toilet bowl? Add a couple of used tea bags to the toilet and let sit a couple of hours. Flush the toilet, brush the bowl and the stains are gone.

7. CLEAN WINDOWS & MIRRORS –

Rub a damp teabag on glass or mirrors to clean and make sparkle. You can also fill a spray bottle with the brewed tea, spray on glass or mirrors and wipe off.

HEALTH & BEAUTY:

8. SOOTHE TIRED, ACHY FEET –

Ease swollen, tired or achy feet with this quick fix: Steep 5 black tea bags in boiling water for 20 minutes then pour into a basin with 2 cups of warm water. While you soak, the tea’s tannins and polyphenols will ease the swelling and refresh your tootsies. This will also help with foot odor.

9. SOOTHE A SUNBURN –

Dip black tea bags in cold water and place on any sunburned spots on your body. If you have a sunburn all over your body, place 10 tea bags under the faucet while filling the tub and then soak. This relieves the pain and speeds healing.

10. MINIMIZE BRUISING –

To minimize bruising after you’ve bumped into something, soak a black tea bag in water and then hold it against the area for 5 minutes. This will help reduce swelling and inflammation due to the tea’s tannins constricting blood vessels. If you do bruise, this will help the bruise be smaller and heal much quicker.

11. BAD BREATH –

Gargling with strong black tea can help reduce bad breath.

12. SOOTHE BLISTERS –

Place hot teabags on fever blisters and canker sores, which will help draw out infections.

13. GET SHINY HAIR –

Get shiny hair by rinsing with unsweetened brewed tea. Rinse with the tea, let dry for a few minutes and then rinse again with plain water.

14. HEAL WARTS –

If you have plantar warts on your fee, press a warm, wet teabag onto the wart. Let sit for 20 minutes. Doing this once a day can help heal the warts faster.

15. POISON IVY RASH –

You can dry up a poison ivy rash with strong, brewed tea. Just dip a cotton ball into the tea, dab it over the affected areas and let air-dry. Repeat as needed.

16. SOOTHE TIRED EYES –

Warm, wet teabags can help reduce puffiness and soothe pain around the eye area. This will also help ease the pain you get with pinkeye.

17. RELIEVE RAZOR BURN –

A wet teabag can also help reduce and relieve razor burn.

AND A FEW MORE IDEAS…

18. POTTED PLANTS –

You can add a few used teabags to the bottom of a planter, which will help the soil retain water and add nutrients. If you have houseplants that like rich, acidic soil, you can occasionally use brewed tea instead of water.

19. TENDERIZE MEAT –

Here’s an easy way to tenderize steak, which can help those less expensive cuts be more succulent. Steep 4 or 5 tea bags in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Marinate the meat in the liquid for about 20 minutes and then cook as desired.

20. CAST-IRON CARE –

You can keep your cast-iron cookware in good condition by wiping the cooking surface with a damp black tea bag after each use. (You can use a new or used bag.) Compounds in the tea will coat the pots and pans with a protective layer, which helps ward off rust-causing oxidation.

21. EASE YOUR PUP’S PAWS –

Walking on hot pavement can irritate your dog’s paws. To help ease the pain, brew 4 black tea bags, then let them cool. Hold them against his/her paws for 3 minutes a couple of times a day. You can also soak a towel in the brewed tea and hold them to his/her feet. The tea’s polyphenols will soothe any irritation.