10 brilliant uses for black tea bags

1 Keep a rosebush healthy

Thanks to summer’s dry heat, the rosebush in your garden seems to be thirstier than normal. To ensure it stays hydrated, bury four black tea bags around the base of the plant, then water the blooms as usual. Since the bags retain moisture for several days, they’ll slowly release water back into the soil, ensuring your flowers stay healthy and happy between waterings.

2 Stop a paper cut from bleeding

Ouch! While sorting and opening your mail, you cut your finger on the edge of a piece of paper, causing it to bleed. To make it stop, apply a damp black tea bag directly to the cut and hold in place for at least 30 seconds. Tea’s tannic acid will soothe the pain and promote clotting to quickly stop the bleeding.

3 Get relief from a painful sunburn

Your afternoon at the pool was a blast. The sunburn you got on your shoulders? Not so much. To ease the discomfort, dip black tea bags in cold water and place them on burned spots. Tea’s polyphenols and tannic acid provide a cooling sensation and help speed healing.

4 Soothe a pup’s bug bites

Buster came home happy from his playdate at the park, but he got a few bug bites, and now he won’t stop scratching. To help him feel better, brew a black tea bag and let it cool, then hold it against the bites for a few minutes. Anti-inflammatory compounds in the tea will neutralize the itch of the bites, nixing his urge to scratch.

5 Grill up tastier steak every time

To tenderize the steak you’re making for dinner, steep four black tea bags in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of double-strength beef stock (store-bought or homemade) and marinate meat for 20 minutes. Tannins in the tea will break down the meat’s tough proteins for a tender, juicy steak.

6 Revive a dull hardwood floor

If your floors are looking lackluster, try this: Boil a kettle of water, transfer to a bucket and add three black tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes, dip your mop into the liquid and clean as usual. Tannins in the tea will help restore the wood’s natural color and shine.

7 Deodorize a smelly cooler

While preparing for tomorrow’s block party, you run down to the basement to grab a cooler to keep the beverages cold, only to find that it has a funky smell. The simple solution: Place four or five damp black tea bags inside and close the lid. As the tea bags dry out, they’ll absorb the odor. The next morning, remove the tea bags, wash the cooler with soapy water and rinse. Problem solved!

8 Pamper tired, achy feet

After an afternoon hike, your tootsies are throbbing. The feel-great at-home remedy: Steep five black tea bags in boiling water for 20 minutes and pour into a basin filled with 2 cups of warm water. Soak feet for 10 minutes. Antiinflammatory compounds in the tea will ease pain and swelling, leaving you with soft, ache-free feet.

9 De-grease pots and pans

Instead of ending your evening scrubbing dishes after the dinner party you hosted, let them clean themselves overnight! Simply place two or three brewed black tea bags in each dirty pot or pan. Fill with warm water and let the dishes soak overnight. The acidic tannins in the tea will break down grease and grime while you sleep. In the morning, wash them with soapy water and rinse. Much better!

10 Pest-proof your next barbecue—naturally

Rather than buying pricey citronella candles to ward off mosquitoes in your backyard, place a black tea bag in a votive cup or small glass, then light with a match. Insects dislike the smell of burning tea leaves, so they’ll steer clear, leaving you and your guests in peace.