The creator must have created tea taking into account the ramifications of the journey of life that begins every day. What better way to start your day than sip a warm cup of the ambrosia? However, when most people finish their tea, they toss the used tea bags into the trash with little thought. After all, what could you do with a used tea bag?
It turns out there are actually quite a few things you can do with used tea bags.
Keep reading to learn, why you might want to pause before tossing them in the trash.
Tea for the plants
1. Tea adds nutrients to the soil.
Tea contains Tannic acid and nutrients that are natural fertilizers for the garden. The natural tannic acid inside tea leaves leaches into the soil with rainwater as tea grounds decompose. Good quality tea bags are made from the fiber of the abaca leaf stalk. As the tea leaves decompose they release nutrients into the soil creating a healthier growing environment. Be sure to remove the metal pins before forging those bags in the soil.
2. Tea bags keep pests at bay
Keep those bugs away from eating up on your hard work. Bury used tea bags and the coffee grounds around your flowering plants and vegetable garden to eliminate pests.
3. Source of a good supply of nitrogen for the soil
Spent tea bags are also fresh nitrogen for your garden. Other nitrogen-rich materials consist of food scraps, fruit and vegetable cuttings, coffee grounds, grass clippings etc.
They are also called greens because they are fresh and moist. Nitrogen released from them, provides nutrients and protein to the compost, allowing microbes to grow and reproduce
Tea bags help with water retention
Bury your tea bag near the roots of your plant, flowers, and veggies to help the plant retain more water and stay healthier.
4. Tea bags help keep weeds at bay
When you buried tea bag in the garden they can help impede the growth of weeds which means less work for you.
5. Your tea bags can germinate a garden
Believe it or not, you can grow your own garden with used tea bags, seeds, a plastic tray, water and a paper towel. Germinate your seeds with the tea bags and then plant them in the garden.
6. The smell of tea works on cats too
This is a seriously frustrating problem for many gardeners because cats often stray into gardens, where they can mess around. Sprinkle coffee grounds or used tea bags around your garden to keep puffy from urinating on your favorite plants. A must try technique for indoor plants too.
7. Give Your Garden Worms Something Delicious To Eat
Worms can safely consume tea leaves. Once they digest the leaves they produced more nutrients rich output making your soil healthier for growing plants.
8. Give roses a boost
Sprinkle new or used tea leaves (loose or in tea bags) around your rose bushes and cover with mulch to give them a midsummer boost. When you water the plants, the nutrients from the tea will be released into the soil, spurring growth. Roses love the tannic acid that occurs naturally in tea.
9. Feed your ferns
Your lovely ferns will surprise you with healthy and greener leaves. Schedule an occasional tea time for your ferns and other acid-loving houseplants. Substitute brewed tea when watering the plants. Or work wet tea leaves into the soil around the plants to give them a lush, luxuriant look.
10. Prepare planter for potting
For healthier potted plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before potting. The tea bags will retain water and leach nutrients into the soil.
11. Enhance your compost pile
To speed up the decomposition process and enrich your compost, pour a few cups of strongly brewed tea into the heap. The liquid tea will hasten decomposition and draw acid-producing bacteria, creating desirable acid-rich compost.
IDEAS FOR THE HOME:
1. Make DIY gifts
The materials needed are basic. All you need is some lightweight fabric, cotton thread, and loose tea. Use can use cheesecloth, muslin or any other lightweight fabric you have around. Just be sure it’s clean and untreated.
Start with a 6″ square of fabric. Place about 1-2 Tbsp of tea (depending on what kind you use) at the top center. Begin rolling the fabric until you finish with the end in the middle.
Fold the roll in half and secure with a 12″ piece of cotton thread. Wrap it around and knot it tightly a few times to make sure it is secure.
Your DIY tea bag is ready for the gift box.
2. Shine your mirrors
If you love to decorate your house with mirrors like I do; then it’s important they sparkle and shine. Just brew a pot of strong tea, let it cool, and then use it to clean the mirrors. Dampen a soft cloth in the tea and wipe it all over the surface of the mirrors. Then buff with a soft, dry cloth for a sparkly, streak-free shine.
3. Make soothing mouthwash
To ease a toothache or other mouth pain, rinse your mouth with a cup of hot peppermint tea mixed with a pinch or two of salt. Peppermint is an antiseptic and contains menthol, which alleviates pain on contact with skin surfaces.
4.Condition dry hair
To give a natural shine to dry hair, use a quart (liter) of warm, unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) as a final rinse after your regular shampoo. I love this tip because my hair literally dries up after a wash, and the shine that a tea wash adds is undeniable
5. Drain a boil.
Drain a boil with a boiled tea bag! Cover a boil with a wet tea bag overnight and the boil should drain without pain by the time you wake up next morning. Voila!
6. Stop foot odor and treat sunburn
Put an end to smelly feet by giving them a daily tea bath. Just soak your footsie in strongly brewed tea for 20 minutes a day and say goodbye to offensive odors.
Treat sunburn,
Tea also contains polyphenols which reduce the redness.
The tannins and theobromine remove the heat from sunburn.
The catechins in the tea prevent and repair skin damage caused by the sun.
Conclusion:
Have you ever reused tea bags in your home and garden?
Let us know in the comments below
