Don't Toss Those Used Tea Bags! Repurpose Them Like This Instead

Before you toss out that soggy tea bag, give it a second job. Once it dries out, it turns into a little sponge that you can tuck anywhere smells hang around. Tea leaves are porous, and they absorb odors and neutralize them. You know that clean whiff you get when you open a new tea tin? It's the same idea. You can spread used tea bags on a plate until they feel papery, then slip one into sneakers after the gym, drop a couple in the fridge near your leftovers, or hide some in the bottom of the trash can. Closets, gym bags, the car door pockets that always trap crumbs... you can stash some tea bags in them, too. For pet households, tuck a sachet near the litter box or inside the bin where you store used poop bags.

A few easy habits make it work better, though. Remember, dry is key for odor elimination. Damp bags can develop mold and exacerbate the problem. Speed things up by setting them by a sunny window or on a switched-off warm oven. Label a jar as "odor bags," keep it by the kettle, and rotate the bags weekly, or whenever they stop pulling their weight. Overall, it's a low-effort and cost-effective method to tame annoying odours. However, if you want to squeeze even more life from those leaves, there are easy ways to repurpose them even further.

Another way to repurpose a used tea bag is in your garden. If your bags are plastic-free, tear them open and mix the damp leaves into potting soil or compost; they hold a touch of moisture and add gentle organic matter. If you're not sure about the bag material, just use the loose leaves and toss out the wrapper.

While tea bags are flavor enhancers for food, they are also useful for quick cleanups, specifically after chopping odorous things like garlic or onions. Rub your hands with damp tea leaves, then wash as usual to eliminate the smell. To deodorize your kitchen sink (and the whole room), simmer a few spent bags in a small pot of water for ten minutes to make a light, clean scent, then pour the cooled liquid down the drain to tame sink odors on the way out. For glass, swish a used tea bag in warm water to dampen it and buff mirrors or windows with the pouch; the mild tannins help lift smudges. On dirty pots and pans, a quick wipe of the bag loosens light grease before you proceed to clean with baking soda, or you can also soak the used tea in a sink filled with water and soak utensils in it. 

The bags can also be used as a form of skincare. Chill freshly used tea bags and rest them over puffy eyes for a few minutes to reduce swelling. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to patch-test first. So, keep a small tray by the kettle, let used tea bags dry, and you'll always have a free fix ready for the spots that need a quiet refresh.