If you’re an avid tea drinker, you have to check out these simple ways to reuse tea bags. Your house and skin will thank you!

Not to toot my own horn, but I have something really cool to share with my fellow tea lovers today. Especially those who are hoping to lead a more eco-friendly life.

Did you know that tea bags are totally reusable?

I drink tea daily so I wanted to figure out everything I could do with the tea bags afterwards aside from tossing them in the trash. Turns out, they never need to be tossed because they have a ridiculous amount of practical uses.

So check out the list below on ways to reuse tea bags for your home, your skin and your garden.

Household Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

Air Freshener

Tea leaves absorb odors really well, making old tea bags awesome air fresheners. Add a few drops essential oil to the tea bag and hang wherever you’d like in your home or vehicle. This can work in your fridge without the essential oils as a replacement for your baking soda as well.

Freshen Up Your Carpets or Rugs

We don’t have carpet, but we have plenty of rugs. Especially after Winter. Between pets, salt, dirty shoes, and now food crumbs from Lily’s baby led weaning – they need some extra love this year. Sprinkle your dried tea leaves on your rugs or carpet and let sit for 15 or so minutes. Vacuum up and enjoy the cleaner scent!

Clean Your Mirrors

No time to make this DIY Glass Cleaner? No problem! Brew a cup or two of tea and use that as a cleaning solution for your mirrors. Just let it cool first and pair it with a microfiber cloth.

Clean Your Extra Dirty Dishes

If you have a particularly dirty dish with food stuck on it, soak it in hot water with a few used tea bags overnight to break up the grease. 

Give New Life to Your Wood Surface

Boil a pot of weak tea with used tea bags and let cool. Then use it to polish your hardwood floors, wood furniture and wood surfaces with a soft cloth to add some shine.

Personal Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

Get Some Eye Relief

Tried and true, this spa like hack is perfect for puffy, red eyes. Cool the tea bags and place them on your eyelids for 10-15 minutes. The tannins will help reduce inflammation.

Give Your Feet Some Love

A tea bath is perfect for your feet. Boil 3-4 tea bags in a quart of water and let it cool enough for you to soak your feet in it. This bath will help hydrate your skin, remove odors, and soften your callouses. Works for your hands if they need some extra TLC, too!

Reduce Inflammation from Bites or Stings

Similar to getting some eye relief, you can also use tea bags to reduce inflammation for bites and stings. All you need to do is place a cool, damp tea bag on the affected area. Use it like a compress for 10 minutes.

Scrub Your Hands Clean

Can’t seem to get the smell of onions or garlic off your hands after cooking? Scrub your hands with used tea bags to remove the odors. 

Make Your Own Mouthwash

With it’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, tea can be a soothing mouthwash. Simply brew a pot of weak tea (mint tea and green tea work best for this) and use as you normally would.

Other Ways to Reuse Tea Bags

Add Some Flavor

Need a new way to add a unique flavor to your pasta or rice? Reuse a tea bag to do it! When bringing the water to a boil for your grains, add a used tea bag or two to the water. Remove when it boils and add in your grains. Perfect for oatmeal, quinoa, pasta, rice, etc. Need ideas? Try cinnamon tea for oatmeal or lemon ginger tea for rice.

Help Your Garden Grow

Tea is filled with nitrogen rich nutrients, making it the perfect addition to your fertilizer. Just add the tea leaves to your mix and you’ll help make your plants grow even more beautiful.

Give Your Compost Pile a Boost

Used tea bags are great for adding to the compost pile for a boost of nutrients. Tea leaves are best for this, but if you choose to toss the whole tea bag in there – be sure to remove the staple and check what type of tea bag it is as paper or muslin ones can be tossed in with your compost. Learn what can be composted along with tea leaves!


Do you have any other tried and true ways to reuse tea bags? What is your favorite kind of tea?