10 Clever Tricks for Reusing Old Tea Bags

Sweet tea is a Southern essential, with numerous households keeping a pitcher readily available for visitors dropping by. Though there are many delicious commercially produced options (refer a few of our top picks here ), most people from the South like to prepare their own. sweet tea at home, following memaw’s secret recipe That involves utilizing numerous tea bags that might wind up as waste—or alternatively, you could explore a somewhat more intriguing option for them.

First, as per Rachael Miller, who owns Zhi Herbals , an herbal tea store, most tea bags can be used more than once Many high-quality teas can be steeped multiple times to yield more servings," explains Miller. "Should the tea bag lose its flavor upon re-steeping, it suggests that all possible flavors have been extracted.

In addition to reusing your tea bags , it turns out that steeping is just the start of a tea bag’s usefulness. They can be incredibly handy in the garden and have unexpected uses around the home. We spoke to a group of experts for creative ideas for using a tea bag once you’re done making a batch of sweet tea or a cup of your favorite blend. Whip up a plate of tea sandwiches and pour yourself a cuppa while reading about some unexpected uses for what to do with old tea bags.

Create a Foundation Level for Your Garden

“Some gardeners repurpose used tea bags as a base layer beneath mulch,” suggests Jennifer Cassels, a gardening expert and president of outdoor decor retailer, The Blissful Place . “While not a replacement for commercial weed barriers, this biodegradable layer may help suppress weeds temporarily while enriching the soil as it breaks down. This makes used tea bags such an eco-friendly and practical gardening hack.”

Turn Into Fire Starters

“For fire pits, old tea bags can be converted to eco-friendly fire starters,” suggests Cassels. “Dry them thoroughly, dip them in wax, and once set, they become excellent kindling for lighting fires. They're easy to store and lightweight, so they're very convenient for outdoor gatherings.”

Add To Compost

“One of my favorite ways of reusing tea bags is when I’m gardening,” says Mimi Nguyen of Cafely. “They’re great for composting, especially those without synthetic materials, as they add nitrogen that improves soil composition. But before they even make their way to the compost, I use them directly at the bottom of the pots when I’m repotting my plants to help retain moisture and help with the gradual release of nutrients.”

Deter Pests

“Tea bags have many benefits when placed in the garden, helping to enrich the soil with nutrients, retain moisture, and improve drainage," suggests Michael Clarke, a landscape architect and horticulturalist, and founder of Yardwork . Because the tannins and caffeine in tea can deter pests like rodents and insects, you can scatter dried used tea bags near vulnerable plants, to protect them from being eaten,”

Deodorize

Dry teabags can effectively act as natural deodorizers; just put them in spots that require refreshing such as inside the refrigerator, within your footwear, or under your trash cans," explains Nguyen. "Surprisingly, black tea works quite well at removing unpleasant odors.

Plant Seedlings

"Slice open one edge of the teabags and insert your seeds into the moistened tea inside. This can be used instead of peat moss or a seeding mixture. When the plants have grown sufficiently, you can transplant them directly into the soil," advises Caleb Young. Rare Indoor Plants .

Use As A Soil Booster

“Place used tea bags at the base of acid-loving plants such as tomatoes and roses to improve soil conditions,” suggests Young.

Make Gardening "Tea"

"I frequently use tea bags, though not for brewing conventional tea," explains Andrew Cohn. Cohn Acrylics We own a worm compost bin that generates vermicompost, and we use this to create compost tea. We place some vermicompost into a tea bag and allow it to steep in a gallon of water, resulting in worm tea—a fantastic fertilizer for gardens and plants alike. This nutrient-packed concoction promotes healthy plant, vegetable, and tree development through an all-natural and organic process.

Facial Steam

“You can add the used teabags to hot water and steam your face by covering your head with a towel. Green tea works exceptionally well for this purpose,” recommends Young.

Bug-Proof Jigsaw Puzzle Boxes

"I've got numerous jigsaw puzzle containers scattered across my den, attic, garage, and basement," explains Missy Walker, a seasoned puzzler who shares speed puzzling tips On her blog, she writes, "Nothing compares to the intensity of opening a jigsaw puzzle box only to find a spider crawling out. After experimenting with various store-bought solutions, I discovered that old tea bags are both effective and incredibly simple to use. Now, inside each puzzle and game box, I place a dry, used tea bag. Since doing so, I haven’t encountered even a single spider. Additionally, I’ve observed that the puzzles remain free from unpleasant odors because the tea bag appears to eliminate them."

Related: 12 Innovative Ways to Repurpose Used Towels

Read the initial article on Southern Living