Recycling Hacks: 10 Ways to reuse your tea bags
Reusing tea bags is not at all an absurd idea. Never thought of it? You won’t regret reading this article.
1. Find yourself going through tea bag after tea bag each day? Rather than reaching for a new bag each time you’re craving a cuppa, try using a tea bag more than once! Simply add more boiling water, and let it infuse for a little while longer than your standard brew. For maximum reusability, go for teas with larger and loose leaves. While they take longer to infuse, they have plenty of flavour in them after the first steep.
2. Tossing and turning the night before a big event or date? A great way to get rid of those horrible dark circles plaguing your eyes is to use your leftover tea bags! Simply place two of them in the freezer after using, and go take a shower or get dressed. When you’re ready, rest the tea bags over your eyes for 15 minutes, before lightly rinsing any excess liquid away. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference 15 minutes can make!
3. If your moisturiser or body cream isn’t quite cutting it, try supplementing your routine with tea bags. If you’re an avid enough tea drinker to have 5-6 tea bags by the end of the day, let them infuse with the water in your morning/evening bath. The tannic acid in the tea leaves has both moisturising and antioxidant properties, which will leave your skin feeling supple and replenished.
4. For an extra bit of sheen in your hair, follow your normal shampoo and condition routine with a tea rinse. Just take your used tea bags, some freshly boiled water, and let the tea infuse for a few minutes. Let the water cool, and let it run through your hair at the end of your shower. Tea is a natural revitaliser that will bring softness and shine.
5. Suffering from razor burn and skin irritation? The natural anti-inflammatory properties of tea make it a great substitute to harsh razor burn creams full of who-knows-what. Let the tea bag cool until you can handle it, and use it as a warm compress on the irritated areas.
6. Tired of your stark white curtains or bedspreads? Place some of your leftover tea bags in your bathtub filled with boiling water, and let your textiles soak over the night. The next morning, they will have a beautiful mousse-brown sheen. Start with only a few tea bags, as the colour can always be darkened by repeating the process.
7. If you love to keep plants in your home, but don’t quite have that green touch required to keep them healthy and vibrant, tea is to the rescue. Tear open the bags, and mix the tea into the soil. This makes a kind of compost that plants love, boosting and revitalising them.
8. If you love to prepare a weeks’ worth of meals in advance, but find that unwanted odours have ruined the taste after a week of sitting in the fridge, try storing a tea bag or two in the door and back of the refrigerator. The tea bag will absorb any unwanted scents!
9. Can’t quite get that crystal-clear sheen on your mirror, no matter how much elbow-grease you apply? Tea to the rescue! Simply wipe a moist tea bag over the mirror, focusing on streaky areas, and wipe off with a dry cloth. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it can make.
10. Finally, a little culinary trick that chefs have kept up their sleeves for centuries, If you want a beautifully tender and succulent marinated chicken, add a small handful of black tea to your marinade and let it rest overnight. The tea helps to lock in the moisture, and adds a new dimension of flavour to the dish.
Catherine Bézard
Photos: Getty Images
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