There’s nothing like coffee in the morning. I always start my day with a cup. But in the evenings, I usually go for tea. You know how it is, you start the kettle and in no time, you have a hot cup ready — after dropping in a bag of your favorite brew, of course. After a few minutes, you pull out the bag, toss it in the trash and drink the tea. But ever since my grandmother taught me some tricks to do with old tea bags, I haven’t thrown any away.
Scroll down and check out these clever ideas for used tea bags. You’ll be surprised how handy they are — and you might even save a bit of money in the future, too…
7 Clever Uses for Tea Bags
Fertilize Plants
Used tea bags (especially compostable ones) nourish soil. Roses, houseplants, and ferns love the nutrients.
Soothe Sunburns
Cold black tea bags can relieve sunburns thanks to tannic acid, which cools and heals the skin.
Relieve Minor Burns
Apply a cool black tea bag to minor burns—the tannins help reduce pain and inflammation.
Remove Warts
Place a cooled green tea bag on a wart for 15 minutes, swap for a fresh one, and repeat. The antioxidants can help the wart fall off in days.
Reduce Puffy Eyes
Chill used black tea bags and place them under your eyes to shrink puffiness and refresh tired skin.
Clean Greasy Dishes
Soak greasy dishes in water with a few tea bags—tannins break down stubborn stains.
Kill Weeds
Brewed black tea or a mix of tea, citrus, and vinegar can be used as a natural weed killer spray.