What I like about tea bags is the convenience they bring to our daily life. Especially those of us who are on the go, or feeling too lazy to brew some loose-leaf tea (I am often one of those people). But what is good about a lot of high-end tea bags, is their commitment to not containing plastic. It makes for a much nicer tasting tea and knowingly good for the environment. However, our well-rounded tea bags are more than just that. There are a lot of uses for our used tea beyond the cup which comes as no surprise considering how handy these little bags are. Let us take a look!
They are a Good Pain Relief for Tooth Ache
I first discovered this when I was having issues with my wisdom teeth. For a natural and calming relief method, I think they do the trick. Plus, if you are like me, the textural feeling of biting down on the bag is therapy in its own sense.
Now the scientific facts- what helps decrease swelling and reduces pain is the organic molecule called tannins which is found in all tea varieties other than some herbal teas. The level of tannin in tea leaves is dependable on deciding factors such as how the tea is manufactured, the age of the leaves, and the conditions in which it is grown- giving varied results on the actual level of tannin found in varieties of black, oolong, green, white, Pu-erh, and some herbal teas.
What is consistent however, is whatever tea bag you have at home, you can be guaranteed it contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties perfect for killing bacteria and soothing your aching teeth or gums. To use this method all you need to do is to place the warm tea bag on the ache and keep it in your mouth for around 10-15 minutes.
In my experience, I found clove tea to be the most effective for my tooth pain with its powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Peppermint tea is also a favourite as it contains the cooling and numbing haven of menthol.
Now who says you can’t drink your tea and consume the bag too.
Use Them for a Natural Cleaner and Deodoriser
It is a bit ironic how tea bags can sometimes stain our cups, but can also be the solution to our cleaning problems. It is all thanks to those multi-purpose molecules we call tannins. The tannins in tea help to break down grime, prevent rust, and add shine to our cooking utensils and surfaces.
In our house the kitchen is the heart of our home. It is where the food magic happens, and unfortunately, it is also where most of the mess happens. I find the best way to tackle this is to re-boil your used tea bags, let the water cool down, then pour into a spray bottle and proceed to clean as usual. The natural essence of the tea will keep your kitchen and utensils clean without the worry of harmful chemicals.
This au-naturel mix can also be applied to cast iron cookware as it can help to prevent the oxidisation process which causes rust. You can either use your homemade spray to mist over your pots and pans, or those of you who prefer to be more hands on, you can directly lather that tea bag all over your cookware.
If odour is posing a problem for you and others around you (I am guilty of a bit of shoe stench), then once again our old tea bags save the day. For smelly shoes, placing a few used dry tea bags (or more), depending on the level of potency we are dealing with, inside the shoe will help to absorb all those glorious odours. Just make sure you dispose of the bag after this process! Those tea bags have well and truly exceeded their limits.
The same can be done to keep the inside of your fridge, wardrobe, or room fresh. Placing your used dry tea bags in an open container and storing them where needed, changing them every few days, will keep the freshness flowing. You can even add a few drops of essential oils to your tea bags for added aroma.
Tea Bags for a Growing Garden
It makes sense that something as natural as tea would be good for our gardens- indoor and outdoor. For you green thumbs among us, here are some useful tips on how to maximise the benefits of tea bags in your garden.
Personally, I prefer to use green tea or herbal tea (rooibos tea is a great option) for my plants as it has little to no caffeine content which will not stunt the growth development of the plant. These teas can hydrate and enhance the nutrients of the soil.
Tea leaves contain levels of nitrogen which is a common element found in plant fertilisers. Plants that require higher levels of soil acidity thrive with nitrogen-based fertilisers, and therefore will thrive too with your leftover tea. Plants that need alkaline soil do not benefit from this. Below I have shared a small list of plants that benefit and ones that do not.
Plants that Flourish- Roses, Azaleas, Ferns, Daffodils, Philodendrons, Rubber Plants, Shrubs, Spider Plants, Most Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits
Plants that Wither- Cactus, Daisies, Sunflowers, Peonies, Geraniums, Iris, Carnations, Marigolds, Calathea, and Fiddle Leaf Fig
Every plant has different fertilising requirements, so when it is time to fertilise your plants, you can try your used tea. First, you remove the brewed tea leaves from the bag and place them in the soil. Some tea bags are compostable, which are suitable to be buried in the soil and may ward off pests, however, I prefer to remove my leaves out of preference. Water your plant as needed.
Another option you can do separately or alongside the above, is to water your plant with the weakened tea brew from your old bags. This can add nutrients to your soil without overwhelming it. Always make sure the tea is cooled beforehand- no one wants to be scorched with boiling water!
*As a disclaimer, used tea does not help all plants flourish, as it can in fact do damage to certain types of plants. Please check the needs of your plants before using this.
Being an avid indoor plant lover, I am very particular with what I put in my plants, so please make sure this method is right for yours.
