12 ways to reuse old tea bags (other than making more tea)

Your tea bag doesn’t have to be a one hit wonder in a mug. A Telegraph article in 2016 estimated that the UK alone produces 158 million used tea bags a day [1]. That’s a lot of mushy tea bags hitting the landfill, but it doesn’t have to be after a single use.

In fact, you can reuse tea bags not just for tea, but for a list of other handy purposes to help you achieve domestic wonders.

You can reuse a tea bag one to two times, with green and white teas more easily used twice than black varieties.

The lower the water temperature and less time left steeping the first time, the more life you’ll get out of your reused tea bag. However, if you are looking to double dip, be sure to reuse the tea bag within 24 hours after storing safely to avoid welcoming uninvited bacteria in your cup.

While you might be left with less antioxidants and good tea things after steeping, your tea bag’s life is far from over after the first or even second use.

Other Creative Uses for Old Tea Bags

1. Add to your watering can for fertilizer

For tea bags that you’ve only used once and still have a healthy dose of nutrients, consider brewing your next cup for your plants. Potted plants will love a weak dose of fertilizer between feedings. The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium present in tea will all help fertilize houseplants and outdoor gardens [2]. Depending on the type of pH that your plants need, choose a black (5.0 - 5.5 pH), green (7 - 10 pH), or herbal tea (neutral).

Simply brew a weak tea with a used tea bag and use it in your watering can!

2. Throw in the compost

Rather than giving your tea bags a one-way ticket to the landfill after a pampering warm bath in a cup, consider giving their short lives a little bit more meaning.

One of the best uses for used tea bags is as a hearty addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to any compost pile [1]. Even if you can’t have a backyard compost pile, apartment dwellers can easily start one indoors with the Bokashi method or worm bins [3]. Considering most of a landfill consists of organic matter that doesn’t break down and releases harmful greenhouse gases, you can think of composting your tea bags as an Earth-saving mission. Just be sure your tea bags don’t contain staples or plastic (nylon pyramid sachets may).

3. Sprinkle over soil

If composting or figuring out a plant fertilizing schedule just isn’t your thing but you’ve still got weak potted plant mouths to feed, consider reusing tea bags by sprinkling the leaves inside over soil. As discussed over, tea leaves will boost a soil’s nitrogen and structure for happier, healthier plants [4].

Some houseplants like orchids are also huge fans of tannins, which in nature come from tree bark or plant leaves [2]. You can simulate this tannic acid for plants that need it with a tea leaf shower!

4. Treat skin burns

While aloe gel is one of the most popular home remedies to treat burns, you’re more likely to have tea bags lying around. Make yourself a cup to treat the soul, then repurpose your used tea bag as a cold compress to soothe your damaged skin. The tannins in black and green teas are also compounds that have been used in conventional burn treatments [5]. If you’ve had the misfortune of having a sunburn around your eyes and face, dip the old tea bags in cool water before applying.

5. Decrease eye puffiness

The nutrients packed into tea leaves all play a different role in decreasing eye puffiness and giving a fresher look. For example, black tea’s tannins shrink swollen tissue, tighten skin, and draw out fluid to combat puffiness [6][7]. On top of that, caffeine in both black and green teas constricts the blood vessels and helps to reduce puffiness and inflammation [7]. Antioxidants called flavonoids also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Pop your used tea bags into the fridge for a few minutes to cool then apply to your closed eyelids for 10 minutes [6].

6. Soothe poison ivy rashes

Even if you’re not a big nature buff, this quick poison ivy treatment is a good snippet of information to have in your back pocket. By applying an astringent liquid to the affected area, swelling and itchiness will go down [8]. Chill a used black tea bag, which is more astringent than green, and apply it to a poison ivy rash. Let it air dry and remove with gloves to avoid spreading the rash. Repeat this process as needed with tea bags to find relief [9].

7. Vanish warts

Who knew that an easy home fix for unwanted warts would be so pleasant? Switch on that water kettle and grab your favorite mug, because you’ll want to sip a cozy tea while using the bag to treat warts. Press a still wet, warm tea bag right on the afflicted area for 10-15 minutes and allow it to dry on its own. The tannins in tea will work to remove the wart after repeating the treatment for a few days [10].

8. Absorb nasty odors in the fridge, kitty litter, and shoes

Like baking soda, you can use dried tea leaves to absorb unpleasant odors around the house. Leave a bowl of old tea bags in the back of the fridge for a few weeks and compost when they’re spent [11]. For stinky cat litter, mix in some dried green tea leaves, which have antibacterial and odor absorbing properties [12]. Because the tea has already been steeped, much of the caffeine is gone meaning that you don’t have to freak if Mittens wants a taste.

9. Clean greasy pans

Tea leaves’ astringency makes household cleaning one of the most valuable uses for used tea bags. To save yourself some time laboring away at a greasy, stained pan, you can simply plop in a used tea bag and let it work its astringent magic for 15 minutes. Afterward, all the grime and burn marks will be gone to reveal a spotless pan.

Instagram user and cleaning guru @lynsey_queenofclean demonstrates how this pan cleaning hack works in a video.

10. Remove toilet stains

After leaving your pans sparkly clean, put your next tea time’s leftovers to use in the bathroom. Collect a few used tea bags for good measure, then let them soak in a stained toilet bowl as long as needed [11]. Once you flush (or remove with a glove if you don’t trust your plumbing), your porcelain throne will be left stain-free and ready for guests. As for shoes, place a few tea bags with essential oils if you choose instead and leave them overnight for a notable difference in the morning that won’t have others smelling your feet from a mile away [13].

11. Create artwork

One artist named Ruby Silvious provides stunning inspiration for creating a lasting work of art for something that would otherwise end up in the trash [14]. Silvious uses steeped tea bags as canvases for intricate paintings, among several other everyday recycled goods. If you’re curious about how you can try to get crafty with reused tea bags, check out Ruby Silvious’ gallery!

Make your own tea bag canvas by emptying out used tea leaves and drying out the pouch.

12. Infuse an aroma sachet

For fans of great smelling cars, bathrooms, and nooks and crannies around the home, skip the store-bought disposable air fresheners and repurpose your old tea bags instead. Simply let a used tea bag thoroughly dry, then infuse with your favorite essential oil before hanging up for a delightfully fragrant recycled treat.

[1] Thompson, Ken. “Ken Thompson: Why Tea Bags Will Help Your Garden.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 26 Jan. 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/problem-solving/ken-thompson-why-tea-bags-will-help-your-garden/.
[2] Lyn Bristol, et al. “3 Proven Methods For Using Tea Bags As Orchid Fertilizers.” Orchideria, 9 Jan. 2021, orchideria.com/teabags-as-orchid-fertilizers/.
[3] Kellogg, Kathryn. “A Composting Guide for Apartment Living.” Going Zero Waste, 11 Sept. 2020, www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/composting-for-apartments/.
[4] Saleem, Imran. “How To Use Old Tea Bags In The Garden.” Slick Garden, 30 Jan. 2021, slickgarden.com/how-to-use-old-tea-bags-in-the-garden/.
[5] "Soothe a Sunburn." Prevention, vol. 69, no. 7, July 2017, p. 024. Gale OneFile: Contemporary Women's Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A502584608/CWI?u=asuniv&sid=CWI&xid=9912def0. Accessed 20 Feb. 2021.
[6] Vukovic, Laurel. "Quick tip. (Ask the experts: answers to your questions from the leaders in natural medicine)." Natural Health, vol. 33, no. 4, May-June 2003, p. 42+.
[7] Cronkleton, Emily. “How to Use Tea Bags for the Eyes.” Healthline, 2 Mar. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/tea-bags-for-eyes.
[8] Leonard, Jayne. “Ten Best Home Remedies for Poison Ivy.” Medical News Today, 23 June 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318059.
[9] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things. United States, Reader's Digest, 2004.
[10] "Twenty five ways to re-use tea bags". Daily News (Sri Lanka), April 20, 2012 Friday. advance-lexis-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:55FG-VKJ1-JDKC-R255-00000-00&context=1516831. Accessed February 22, 2021.
[11] Herman, Beth, and Beth Hermanwww.farmersalmanac.com/author/beth-herman. “10 Household Uses For Tea Bags.” Farmers' Almanac, 1 Feb. 2021, www.farmersalmanac.com/10-household-uses-tea-bags-20452.
[12] Booth, Jessica. “10 Hacks For Smelly Litter Boxes That All Cat-Owners Should Know.” Bustle, Bustle, 28 June 2018, www.bustle.com/p/10-hacks-for-smelly-litter-boxes-that-all-cat-owners-should-know-9082811.
[13] Jackson, Kristin Collins. “Stay Sockless in Your Favorite Sneakers With This Natural Shoe Odor Remedy.” Bustle, Bustle, 4 July 2015, www.bustle.com/articles/94895-stay-sockless-in-your-favorite-sneakers-with-this-natural-shoe-odor-remedy.
[14] "This artist creates incredible paintings using old tea bags as her canvas; New York-based Ruby Silvious uses stained tea bags as a backdrop for her intricate paintings.". Belfast Telegraph Online, March 15, 2018 Thursday. advance-lexis-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5RW6-PD71-JCJY-G38M-00000-00&context=1516831. Accessed February 22, 2021.

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about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.

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