Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with millions of people drinking it daily. After steeping tea bags to make a cup of tea, most people simply throw the used tea bag away. However, there are many creative ways to reuse old tea bags around your home rather than sending them straight to the trash. Reusing tea bags is an easy way to reduce waste, save money, and give new life to what would otherwise be garbage. This article will explore various ways to get the most out of your old tea bags.
Quick answers to questions in opening paragraphs
Should I keep my used tea bags?
Yes, it is worth saving old tea bags to reuse rather than throwing them away. There are many ways to give used tea bags a second life around your home. Reusing tea bags reduces waste, and can also save you money.
How long can I keep used tea bags for?
Used dry tea bags will stay fresh for about 1-2 months if stored properly in an airtight container. You can keep reusing the same tea bag during this time. Wet tea bags will mold after 2-3 days, so should be used quickly or dried out before storage.
What are some ways to reuse tea bags?
Some creative ways to reuse old tea bags include using them for gardening and household cleaning, crafting potpourri sachets, creating natural dyes, and more. The tannins and plant compounds in used tea bags can also benefit your garden plants or freshen your home.
Why is reusing tea bags good?
Reusing old tea bags reduces waste since they don’t have to be thrown away. It also saves you money by getting more use out of tea bags instead of buying new ones. Finally, reusing tea bags is an environmentally-friendly habit that cuts down on landfill waste.
Use tea bags for gardening and household cleaning
One of the easiest ways to reuse old tea bags is to take advantage of the nutrients they contain for gardening and household cleaning. Used tea bags are teeming with tannins and other plant compounds that can nourish garden soil and naturally clean around your home. Here are some specific ideas:
Fertilize potted plants and garden beds
Rather than discarding wet tea bags, let them dry out completely and then place them an inch or two below the surface of the soil for your potted plants or garden beds. As the tea bags decompose they will release nutrients like nitrogen into the soil which act as a fertilizer for your plants. Tea bags are especially beneficial for acidic-loving plants like azaleas, blueberries, and carrots.
Make a natural pest repellent spray
Steep 5-10 used tea bags in a quart of water for at least 30 minutes, or until the water becomes a dark brown color. Strain and pour the tea into a spray bottle. Spritz this tea concoction directly onto your vegetable and flower gardens to repel pesky garden pests like aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars. Reapply after rain. The tannins in the brewed tea spray make plants unappealing to these insects.
Clean with tea bag soak
Instead of using harsh chemical cleaners, soak used tea bags in vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda to naturally lift stains and disinfect surfaces. Place 5-10 steeped tea bags into a bucket with 1⁄4 cup of either vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda dissolved in hot water. Use this tea-infused solution to clean countertops, floors, appliances, windows, mirrors, and other areas. The antioxidants in tea can help bust grease and grime.
Deodorize smells in laundry
Old tea bags can help freshen up laundry loads. Place 5-10 used tea bags in the clothes dryer along with your wet laundry. As the laundry dries, the tea bags will help eliminate any lingering odors in fabric. The tea’s aromatic compounds give clothes a refreshed scent.
Craft your own potpourri sachets
Reusing old tea bags to make homemade potpourri sachets is an excellent way to refresh stale air with beautiful scents around your living space. Follow these steps to craft your own tea bag potpourri:
Ingredients
– Dried used tea bags
– Dried flower petals and spices like lavender, rose, cinnamon, cloves, etc
– Essential oils like vanilla, peppermint, lemon, etc (optional)
– Hole punch
– Ribbon, string, scissors
Steps
1. Collect at least 10 dried used tea bags. Any tea variety works, but black tea and herbal teas have nice aromas.
2. Gather your dried flowers and spices into small bowls. Some fragrant options are lavender, rose, lemon peel, mint, cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla beans, star anise, etc.
3. Open up each tea bag and empty out any loose tea leaves.
4. Fill each tea bag with a tablespoon of your dried flowers and spices. Mix and match combinations.
5. Add 2-5 drops of essential oils like vanilla, peppermint, citrus for extra scent if desired.
6. Punch a hole in the top of the tea bag and tie a ribbon through the hole. Make sure it’s closed tightly.
7. Place your scented tea bags in a bowl or small container to perfume the air. Hang or display them around your home.
8. Enjoy your do-it-yourself potpourri! Remake them as the scents fade.
Make natural plant dyes
The tannins present in tea can be harnessed to create natural dyes for fabrics and crafts. Here are some ideas for making dyes using the tannins from recycled tea bags:
Make a rust colored dye: Boil 5 black tea bags in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes. Remove tea bags and add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Soak fabric in liquid for 30-60 minutes to absorb the rusty brownish color. Rinse and dry fabric after dyeing.
Grey dye: Steep 8 chamomile tea bags in 3 cups hot water for 20 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add fabric to dye bath and simmer for 45 minutes for a grey color.
Yellow dye: Steep 6 green tea bags in 2 cups boiling water for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and add 1 lemon’s juice. Immerse fabric in liquid for 1 hour for a light yellow hue.
Brighten fabrics: Brew 4 white tea bags with 1⁄2 cup water. Sponge the cooled tea over fabrics to brighten whites and revitalize faded clothes. The tea’s antioxidants help restore vibrancy.
Pinkish hue: Steep 5 hibiscus tea bags with 2 Tbsp vinegar in 1 cup boiling water. Let fabric soak in the tea bath for up to 1 hour for a light pink tint.
Tan dye: Boil 8 rooibos tea bags in 3 cups water for 45 minutes. Remove tea bags and dip fabric in the tea to absorb a tan color.
Freshen up carpet and rugs
Instead of using commercial carpet cleaners laden with harsh chemicals, used tea bags offer a non-toxic way to naturally freshen up the smell of rugs and carpets. Simply place dried used tea bags in strategic areas on carpet that need deodorizing. The aromatic compounds slowly released from the tea will provide a clean scent. Can also lightly spritz carpets with a cooled tea infusion (steep 10 bags in 4 cups hot water for 30 mins). Let fully dry before walking on carpets. Repeat as needed for freshness. Much safer for kids and pets compared to chemical carpet cleaners.
Repel garden critters and pets from plants
Cats, dogs, rabbits, deer, and other wildlife often wander into gardens and nibble on plants. Used tea bags provide a natural way to repel these creatures and train them to avoid your garden due to the strong scent. Collect used tea bags and tie them onto stakes inserted around the perimeter of garden beds. You can also sprinkle dried crumbled tea leaves from old bags directly around plants. The smell serves as a turnoff for neighborhood critters and pets. Reapply after rain or watering. A bonus is that as the bags decompose they will also fertilize the soil!
Set out tea bags to absorb odors
Old tea bags can be strategically placed around the home to help absorb unpleasant smells lingering in the air. Tea leaves are able to soak up surrounding odors like a sponge due to their porous surface. Simply set out a bowl filled with dried used tea bags in rooms where odors are a problem, like bathrooms, mudrooms, kitchens, etc. You can also hang individual tea bags near smelly spots or tuck them away in shoes, lockers, and other areas prone to odors. The tea will help extract those bad smells over time. Replace when the scent fades.
Make a foot soak infusion
Tired and aching feet need some TLC every now and then. Used tea bags provide a comforting solution to create a refreshing and rejuvenating foot bath soak. Steep 5-10 used tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water for 20-30 minutes. Allow to fully cool. Pour liquid into a basin and soak feet 15-20 minutes. The tea contains tannins that help soothe sore feet, and the antioxidants in tea can deodorize as well. Some calming tea varieties to use are chamomile, peppermint, rose, and lavender. Light some candles and relax!
Compost your tea bags
Don’t let old tea bags go to waste. Put them in your compost bin or pile after use when making tea instead of the trash can. As they break down over time, the leaves will provide valuable nutrients like nitrogen that plants thrive on. Tea bags are composed of natural plant fibers that make excellent compost material. Just remove any staples, strings, tags or wrapping first. The steeped leaves and herbal tea bags will enrich compost soil. Transfer finished compost enriched by tea bags to use in gardens.
Clean wood furniture and floors
Brewed teas contain antioxidants that are great for restoring luster and protecting wood surfaces in your home. Steep 5 black tea bags in 1 quart of boiling water for 20 minutes. Let cool and pour liquid into a mop bucket or spray bottle. Use this tea solution to lightly mop hardwood floors or wipe down wood furniture. The tea will help clean wood and add an attractive glow. You can also dip a soft cloth directly in cooled tea and rub onto wood scratches to diminish their appearance. Let surfaces dry completely after cleaning.
Make frozen tea cubes for iced tea
Don’t throw out leftover brewed tea! Freeze it into ice cubes to use later for refreshing glasses of iced tea. Pour cooled leftover tea from used bags into an ice cube tray. Place in the freezer until solid cubes form – usually 2-3 hours. Pop the tea cubes out and store them in a sealed freezer bag. Add the flavored tea ice cubes to pitchers of iced tea anytime you want that infused flavor without watering it down! Perfect on hot summer days.
Conclusion
Old tea bags are a surprisingly versatile item that can be reused in many ways rather than simply throwing them in the garbage. With minimal effort, you can give used tea bags a second life around your home and garden by fertilizing plants, making natural dyes, crafting potpourri sachets, cleaning wood surfaces, making yummy iced tea, and more. Next time you brew a cup of hot tea, consider setting aside the tea bags and getting creative with ways to reduce waste and get the most out of this common kitchen staple.