When we speak of tea, a lot of people picture an English setting with people having tea with scones and jam and a little tea cups and kettle and the rest will imagine a Japanese or Chinese type of setting. It is an undeniable fact that tea has a lot of health benefits and is often used in social settings. However other than the obvious use there are so many other timeless uses of tea only few people know and are willing to share.
Once you have taken that cup of tea, before you throw away the tea bag consider one of this uses for it.
1. Clean floors and wood furniture
Freshly brewed tea is great when it comes to cleaning floors and wood furniture. Dip a soft cloth in the tea, wring out the excess, and use it to wipe away dirt and grime. Buff dry with a clean, soft cloth. In the case of lighter wood, green tea may be used.
2. Tenderizing meat
No one likes tough chewy meat. Tea will soften it right up and give it a subtle flavor and here is how; Place 4 tablespoons black tea leaves in a pot of warm (not boiling) water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain to remove the leaves and stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar until it dissolves. Set aside. Season up to 3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) meat with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder, and place it in a Dutch oven. Pour the liquid over the seasoned meat and cook in a preheated 325°F (165°C) oven until the meat is fork tender, about 90 minutes.
3. Injection pain reliever
Immediately after an injection, try and place a wet tea bag at the site of injection and hold it in place gently. It will soothe the injection site soreness.
4. Pimple remedy
We have all heard of the ‘don’t pop the pimple rule’ but if you are one of those people who simply cannot help themselves then tea bag remedy is for you. Place a soaked tea bag against the area to bring down redness and ripen the pimple as well as reduce the size.
5. For Eyes
Relieve Eye bags Revitalize tired, achy, or puffy eyes. Soak two tea bags in warm water and place them over your closed eyes for 20 minutes. The tannins in the tea act to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes.
6. Razor Burn remedy
Razor burn often happens if you don’t replace the razor before you shave. To soothe razor burn and relieve painful nicks and cuts apply a wet tea bag to the affected area.
7. Dyeing hair
If you really don’t have the time or the money to go to the salon to get your hair dyed then tea leaves can save the day by helping you turn your gray hair dark again. Here is how; Steep 3 tea bags in 1 cup boiling water. Add 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and sage (either fresh or dried) and let it stand overnight before straining. To use, shampoo as usual, and then pour or spray the mixture on your hair, making sure to saturate it thoroughly. Take care not to stain clothes. Blot with a towel and do not rinse.
8. Soothing bleeding gums and make mouth wash
If you have bleeding gums; be it from a tooth pulled out or something similar you can place a wet tea bag on the site and press on it and sure enough the pain will ease and the bleeding stop. For the mouth wash, 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. To make peppermint tea, boil 1 TBSP fresh peppermint leaves in 1 cup water and steep for several minutes.
9. Relieve foot odor
For people with smelly feet or shoes with a smell, tea bags can be used to erase the smell putting an end to those embarrassing situations. For smelly feet, soak your feet in strongly brewed tea for at least 20 minutes daily and you will never have to smell them again. For smelly shoes, just put a used tea bag in your shoe and let the tea bag work its magic.
10. Furnishes staining
To create that antique, rustic weathered look paint the piece with brewed tea as it is very good in staining wooden furniture. This is also applicable in clothes too.
11. Glass surface and mirror cleaner
To make mirrors sparkle and shine, 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. The tannins in the tea are good for fighting grease so allowing your glassware to soak in it overnight before cleaning will give it that extra sparkle.
12. Enrich soil
By adding the tea leaves to soil especially rosebuds the soil quality is improved and it will result in a growth boost. This is also true for ferns and other acid-loving house plants.
