Feeding Your Plants
Using tea bags as fertilizer can boost growth and fight off pests. Tea bags are often made of paper or cloth, and the tea leaves can be composted to create organic fertilizer. The special properties in damp tea leaves accelerate their decomposition into organic matter. They also effectively address issues with fungi and pests.
You can collect used tea bags and add them to your compost pile. This simple method of tea bag reuse offers multiple practical benefits.
Eliminating Unpleasant Odors
If you’ve been handling odoriferous foods like fish, onions, or garlic, their smells can linger on your hands. To remove these odors, wash your hands and then rub a tea bag between your palms to erase any traces of the smell.
You can also place tea bags in areas you want to deodorize, such as closets, cars, or even shoes, to keep these spaces smelling fresh.
Additionally, after washing dishes that have been in contact with strongly-scented foods like garlic or onions, you can use a tea bag to scrub away any remaining odors.
Removing Stains
Dropping tea bags into your toilet bowl and leaving them for 20 minutes can solve both stain and odor problems. Also, a used tea bag can be utilized to clean mirrors and glass.
This method avoids the need for chemical cleaners. Simply soak the tea bag in alcohol and use the solution to wipe down windows and mirrors. It’s best to first clean the glass surface with a cloth dampened in the solution and then wipe it dry with another cloth.
Repelling Insects and Pests
Tea bags play a crucial role in controlling harmful insects in the kitchen. Place them on window sills, shelves, and tables when you’re away from the room. For added effectiveness, sprinkle peppermint oil on the bags to repel spiders and ants.
Substitute for Dish Soap
When you run out of dish soap, consider using old tea bags. Place them at the bottom of a pot or pan, pour warm water over them, and let them sit overnight. In the morning, the grease will have loosened, and you can easily wipe it away with a sponge.
For dishes, containers, pots, and pans with stubborn grease, it’s challenging to clean them with regular dish soap. In such cases, use tea leaves to tackle the problem. Soak these greasy items in hot water, add a few used tea bags, and leave them overnight. The tannin in the tea will break down the grease, and in the morning, a quick wash with dish soap will make them squeaky clean.
Caring for Wooden Furniture
In the past, tea was used to polish wooden furniture, adding shine to its surface and even helping to conceal small scratches. Diluted tea, made from used tea bags, can be used to polish and refresh wooden surfaces, including furniture and floors. It can also be employed to stain wood, paper, or fabric.
Maintaining Fresh Air
Adding a few drops of orange or tangerine essential oil to a used tea bag creates a handmade “sachet.” This eco-friendly sachet can be placed in shoes, hung in closets or rooms, or even kept in your car.
Hanging dry, used tea bags in the refrigerator will help absorb unpleasant food odors and excess moisture.
According to Xe và Thể Thao