7 household remedies that show why you should never throw away a used teabag

There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning. I always start my day with one. But in the evenings, I prefer tea.

You know how it goes—you boil some water, grab your favorite tea bag, and let it steep for a few minutes.

Once the tea is ready, you take out the bag and throw it away without a second thought.

But after my grandmother showed me some clever ways to reuse tea bags, I’ve never tossed them again.

Scroll down to see these smart ideas for old tea bags. They’re surprisingly useful and might even help you save some money!

1. Soothe Sunburns
Take a used black tea bag and rinse it with cold water.

If you get a sunburn, press the tea bag against your skin. Black tea has tannic acid, which helps the skin heal and gives a cooling effect.

2. Relieve Minor Burns
The same tea bags that help with sunburns can also be used for small burns.

If you burn yourself while cooking, place a cool tea bag on the burn. The tannins in black tea will help soothe the pain.

3. Get Rid of Warts
Green tea has antioxidants that can help stop warts from growing.

Take a used tea bag and let it cool down. Place it on the wart for 15 minutes. Then, replace it with a fresh one and leave it on for another 15 minutes. In a few days, the wart should disappear.

4. Reduce Puffy Eyes
The tannins in black tea can also help with puffy eyes.

After making tea, don’t throw away the bag. Store it in the fridge for a day or two. When your eyes feel swollen, place the cold tea bags under them for relief.

5. Remove Grease Stains
Do you let dishes soak because of tough grease stains?

Fill the sink with water and add the dirty dishes. Then, toss in a few tea bags. The stains will loosen, making them easier to clean.

6. Kill Weeds
Tea can even help get rid of weeds.

Brew a strong cup of black tea and pour it on unwanted weeds. You can also mix tea with citrus and water for a natural weed spray. Another option is soaking orange peels in vinegar and black tea, then spraying it on weeds.

7. Fertilize Plants
Tea bags can be great for plants.

Instead of throwing them away, add them to your compost bin. You can also bury them in the soil near plant roots. Roses, ferns, and houseplants all love the nutrients from tea leaves.