Reuse Options for Old Tea Bags: Discover 10 Creative Methods to Make the Most of Your Tea Bags Again
Re-purposing Tea Bags: Unleash Your Inner Thrifter!
Swing by the Southern porches on any sunny day and you're likely to find a cool pitcher brimming with sweet tea. But how to deal with those used tea bags once you've had your fill? Fear not! We've dug up some ingenious ways to give them new life, straight from the experts. So grab a cup, relax, and read on to find out what to do with old tea bags.
Get Your Garden Blooming
Gardeners, take note! According to Jennifer Cassels, president of outdoor decor retailer The Blissful Place, you can repurpose used tea bags as a base layer beneath mulch. While this won't replace commercial weed barriers, the biodegradable layer may help suppress weeds temporarily, enriching the soil as it breaks down. A sustainably-minded gardening hack, indeed!
Turn Them into Fire Starters
Throwing a backyard party? Cassels suggests turning used tea bags into eco-friendly fire starters. Just dry them thoroughly, dip them in wax, and once set, these handy starters become excellent kindling for lighting fires, making them easy to store, lightweight, and super convenient for outdoor gatherings.
Composting Companion
Mimi Nguyen of Cafely swears by using tea bags in the garden. They're great for composting, especially those without synthetic materials. As tea bags add nitrogen to the compost, they help improve soil composition. Before they even make their way to the compost, Nguyen uses them directly at the bottom of pots when repotting her plants to help retain moisture and supply nutrients.
Pest Deterrent
Don't let pests ruin your carefully tended garden. Michael Clarke, a landscape architect and horticulturalist, suggests scattering dried used tea bags near vulnerable plants to protect them from being eaten. The tannins and caffeine in tea can deter rodents and insects, keeping your garden lush and healthy.
Fighting Unwanted Scents
Sick of stinky shoes or musty refrigerators? Place dried tea bags in problem areas to absorb odors. Black tea is particularly effective and will leave your spaces smelling fresh and clean.
Seedling Assistant
Rip open used tea bags on one side, place your seeds in the damp tea, and use as a replacement for peat or seedling mix. Once the seedlings are big enough, you can plant the whole thing into the ground. As if tending a tiny greenhouse, nurture your plants from the very start!
Nutrient Booster for Acid-Loving Plants
Place used tea bags at the base of acid-loving plants like tomatoes and roses to improve soil conditions. Your acid-loving plants will thank you!
Home-Made "Tea" for the Garden
Andrew Cohn of Cohn Acrylics uses tea bags in a unique way, creating worm tea, a nutrient-rich mixture for his vegetable garden and houseplants. Soak a few tea bags in water to create an organic, plant-boosting elixir!
Facial Steam
Soothe away tired eyes or enjoy a relaxing facial steam by adding used tea bags to hot water. Green tea works wonders for reducing puffiness and rejuvenating your skin.
Bug-Proof Puzzle Boxes
Keep puzzles and games spider-free by placing dried tea bags in every box. You'll never have to face an unwelcome creepy-crawly again!
Stumped for what to do with old tea bags? Crafty re-purposing ideas abound, ensuring that these humble tea bags never go to waste! Be creative, think outside the brew box, and enjoy the satisfaction of getting more out of less!
Southern Living's lifestyle and home-and-garden experts offer numerous ways to repurpose used tea bags, reducing waste and adding usefulness to various aspects of life. For gardeners, used tea bags can be utilized as a biodegradable layer beneath mulch to suppress weeds and enrich soil, or as a nitrogen source for compost. They can also serve as eco-friendly fire starters for outdoor gatherings, or be used to deter pests from sensitive plants.
Inside the home, dried tea bags can absorb foul odors from shoes or refrigerators, or be transformed into a homemade, nutrient-rich "tea" for plants. For a replenishing facial steam, simply add used tea bags to hot water. Lastly, to keep puzzles and games free from spiders, place dried tea bags inside every box. With creativity and resourcefulness, these seemingly ordinary teabags can become valuable assets in both the garden and the home.
