Most of us take comfort in the knowledge of a nice cup of tea, but hardly anyone knows that used teabags have unlimited uses by far. Instead of trashing the teabags, try these 7 quick household hacks somewhere along the line to make teabags a must-to-keep item.
1. Remedy for Sunken Eyes and Skin Irritations
While the tannins in tea have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, thereby de-puffing and alleviating irritation, cold, used teabags (preferably of green or black tea) are kept on closed eyelids for approximately ten minutes. The soothing effect can be similarly extended to other irritations- they can be dabbed gently on minor sunburns, insect bites, or superficial burns.
2. Deodorize Your Fridge or Footwear
Used teabags work well for odor removal across the board, naturally, because they tend to absorb smells. Dried teabags can sit in any fridge, shoes, or gym bag, requiring their deodorizing abilities. For particularly strong odors, sprinkle some baking soda over the open teabags for enhanced smell absorption.
3. Polish Wooden Furniture
Make a weak brew from used teabags, let it cool, then dip a soft cloth into the tea and wipe down wooden surfaces. Tannins give your furniture back the glow and work to remove very light stains, giving it a freshly polished appearance.
4. Fertilization
Bury your used teabags near the roots, or open them up and mix in the leaves into the soil to add nutrients like nitrogen and tannic acid to the soil to encourage plant growth. Benefit from this trick if you have acid-loving plants, such as roses and ferns.
5. Natural Tenderization of Meats
Tea has natural enzymes that break down tough meat fibers to make it more tender. Add several used teabags (black tea may be the best) to your marinade or braising liquid for subtle flavor enhancement and softened texture.
6. Streak-free-clean Mirrors and Glasses
Prepare a weak tea from spent teabags, cool down, and then use as a cleaning liquid for windows and mirrors. The slight acidity cleans without any streaks and gives you a shiny finish because it dissolves the grime.
7. Spoke of compost
Teabags made from 100% natural materials (like paper or cotton) are very good for composting. While tea leaves quicken the decomposition process, the teabag breaks down by itself over time. So, just toss it into your compost pile to enrich the mix.
Final Thoughts
The next time you think of throwing out a used teabag, stop and think again! Don’t throw away these eco-friendly, cost-friendly hacks! Used teabags don’t go without very productive uses in the house; try them and make the most out of every cup!
