9 Surprising Uses for Used Tea Bags

Tea is one of the most universally loved drinks in the world. Most people use tea bags to make their tea. Prepackaged tea bags are available in various flavors, such as green tea, black tea, and white tea.

White tea and green tea are made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis – a flowering plant also known as the “tea plant.”

While you may be aware of the benefits of drinking a cup of green tea every day, you may not be aware of the potential benefits of used tea bags.

Reasons to Keep Your Used Tea Bags

Here are some of the uses of used tea bags.

1. Helps in acne management

Green tea and white tea have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help get rid of acne and pimples.

Green tea also contains an antibiotic agent, namely, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which kills certain acne-causing bacteria. (1) Green tea 2% lotions are usually used topically to treat mild acne. (2)

How to use:

1. Prepare a cup of green or white tea and allow the tea bag to stay in the water for at least half an hour.
2. After cooling, place the used tea bag on your pimples for 10–15 minutes.
3. Wash the area with cool water.

2. Soothe razor burns and sunburns

Green tea and white tea both are rich in tannins (3) that have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Using them topically on your skin can help reverse the harmful effects of UV rays and sun exposure on your skin. They also help heal sunburns due to their vitamin E content and anti-inflammatory effects. (4)(5)

How to use:

1. Apply the used frozen green or white tea bags to sunburned skin.
2. Leave them on for 10–15 minutes.

3. Exfoliates your skin

Tea leaves have a rough texture that makes for an excellent exfoliant. They also contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can help rejuvenate your skin. (4)

How to use:

1. Cut two used green or white tea bags open and empty their contents into a bowl.
2. Add 1 tbsp of ground almond powder and 2–3 tbsp of aloe vera gel and mix them well to form a paste.
3. Apply it to your face and neck and massage gently.
4. Leave it to be absorbed for 10 minutes before washing it off.

4. Fights the signs of aging

Green tea and white tea are both excellent products to add to your skin care routine. They contain antioxidant properties that help fight the aging process to give you smooth skin. (6)

Antioxidants help fight wrinkles and sagging skin by eliminating free radicals in the skin (7) and reducing cell damage. (8) This helps you achieve fresh and bright skin.

How to use:

1. Cut used green or white tea bags and add the contents to a bowl.
2. Add 1½ tbsp honey and 2–3 drops of rosehip oil to the bowl and mix them well to form a paste.
3. Apply this paste to your face and neck, and leave it on for 10 minutes.
4. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

5. Eliminates bad breath

Green tea helps fight bad breath due to its antibiotic properties, which help get rid of odor-causing bacteria. (9) White tea helps get rid of plaque in your teeth to freshen your breath and clean your mouth. (3)

These types of tea also have pain-relieving properties that can be useful for people suffering from jaw pain. (10) Many mouthwashes contain green tea extracts for added benefits.

How to use:

1. Boil three used tea bags in 1 cup of water to make a moderate brew.
2. After cooling, add 2 drops of tea tree oil to the brew.
3. Gargle and swish this solution in your mouth before spitting it out.
4. Use twice a day for best results.

6. Soothes puffy and irritated eyes

Tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling. It also constricts blood vessels that help reduce the fluid deposit under the eyes. (11)

How to use:

1. Place two used green or white tea bags in the refrigerator for half an hour.
2. Take the cooled tea bags and place them on your closed eyes for at least 15–20 minutes to reduce swelling or puffiness.

7. Adds shine to your hair

Tea bags contain antioxidants that promote hair growth and scalp health. Antioxidants also help fight dandruff and add shine to your hair. (11)

How to use:

1. Boil three used green or white tea bags in 2 cups of water.
2. Cool the tea, and then use it to rinse your hair after shampooing.
3. Massage the solution into your scalp for 10 minutes and then wash it off with water.

8. Can be added to compost

Green tea and white tea contain essential elements for plant growth such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Tea bags also inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi and promote the growth of good bacteria in the soil.

Moreover, tea bags act as a deterrent to insects due to their odor. (12)

How to use:

1. Collect used tea bags in a jar.
2. Leave them to dry.
3. Use them to compost after a few days or weeks.

9. Protect plants from pests and infections

Tea contains antibiotic properties that can curb the growth of infectious microbes. It is also an efficient soil fertilizer. Green tea has a characteristic odor that prevents insects from munching on the plant.

How to use:

1. Boil used green or white tea bags in some water.
2. Let the solution cool, and then store it in a spray bottle.
3. Spray this solution on plant leaves to prevent microbial growth and deter pests.

Final Word

Used tea bags can be recycled in a number of ways in your everyday life. Just follow the simple steps in this article to get the most out of them.