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44 Unusual Tips Using Tea

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This WWII frugal living series has really opened my eyes. There are so many things in our cupboards that we use for only one purpose. To think that we could have been saving a whole lot of money if we just knew all of the other ways that they could be used.

Household Tips: 44 Tea Uses

Since starting this series in January 2013, I have added a number of these frugal solutions to my daily routine. I have to say, many of them have worked better than the pricey solutions that sit on the shelves of the stores.

For instance, I always buy an ear wax removal kit to clean my families ears, I normally pay around $10 for it. Well this week I decided to try one of my grandmothers remedies instead. I put a couple of drops of warm olive oil in my ear followed by a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide and within a few minutes my ears were just as clean as they were with the $10 kit. Other than being amazed at how well it worked I was even more amazed that it only cost me a few cents.

Although I haven’t tried each and everyone of the solutions that my family has suggested, I have to say that the ones I have tried have worked just as well, if not better, than the items that I used to pay top dollar for.

I have a shelf that is dedicated strictly for tea, so I can’t wait to try out some of these remedies.

44 Unusual Uses for Tea

Health
Always consult a doctor before using tea as a treatment
1. Boils – to drain, apply a wet tea bag to the boil before bed.
2. Burns – to soothe, apply a wet tea bag to the burn.
3. Colds – to cure, place tea leaves in your pillow before going to bed.
4. Dizziness – to prevent, drink a glass of brewed black tea.
5. Eyes – to relieve swelling, apply warm, wet tea bags to your closed eyes for about 20 minutes.
6. Gums – to stop bleeding, apply a cool, wet tea bag to the affected area. . Works great for recently pulled teeth.
7. Immunizations/shots – to relieve the pain, apply a cool, wet tea bag to the affected area.
8. Pinkeye – to soothe, place cool, wet teabags to the eyes.
9. Poison Ivy – to dry the rash, dab some strong brewed tea to the affected area and allow it to dry. Repeat as needed.
10. Sunburn – to soothe, soak in a lukewarm bath that contains several tea bags.
11. Toothache – to relieve pain, swish some hot, strong brewed, peppermint tea mixed with a little salt in you mouth.
12. Warts – to heal, place a warm wet teabag to the area 20 minutes a day until gone.

 

Beauty
1. Acne – to control, rub green tea leaves on your face after cleansing.
2. Breath – to control bad breath, gargle with strong brewed tea.
3. Deodorant – for a homemade version just dab your armpits with green tea water.
4. Feet – to control odor, soak your feet in some strong brewed tea for 20 minutes a day.
5. Hair – to condition, rinse your hair with unsweetened tea after shampooing.
6. Hair – to hide gray, make a dye, by steeping 3 tea bags in 1 cup of boiling water. Add a tablespoon of rosemary and tablespoon of sage and let it sit overnight. The next day wash your hair and rinse with the tea mixture.
7. Hair – to shine, rinse your hair with a cup of brewed tea after shampooing.
8. Hands – to remove odors, rinse your hands with brewed tea.
9. Shaving – to reduce razor burn, apply a wet tea bag to the affected area.
10. Skin – to exfoliate, scrub with a paste made from steeped tea and sugar.
11. Skin – to tighten, scrub with a paste made from steeped tea and sugar.
12. Skin – to treat dry skin, place a couple of green tea bags in your bath water.
13. Wrinkles – to prevent, add some green tea leaves to your lotion when you purchase it.
14. Wrinkles – to prevent, drink a cup of green tea everyday.

 

Cleaning
1. Carpet – to clean, throw some moist tea leave across the carpet, let them dry and then vacuum. The tea leaves attract dust.
2. Cast Iron – to prevent rust, before putting it away wipe it out with a used tea bag.
3. Fireplace – to control dust, sprinkle wet tea leaves over the ashes before cleaning.
4. Floors (wood) – to clean, steep a couple of tea bags in 4 cups of water, let it cool, than use the brew to clean the floors.
5. Furniture (wood) – to clean, steep a couple of tea bags in 4 cups of water, let it cool, than use the brew to clean the furniture.
6. Mirrors – to shine, wipe the mirror with a soft cloth soaked in cooled, strong brewed tea, dry and then buff with a soft cloth.
7. Pots & Pans – to clean stuck on messes, soak pans overnight with a couple of tea bags. In the morning scrub with the tea bags.
8. Refrigerator – to eliminate odors, place a handful of tea leaves in the refrigerator.
9. Toilet – to remove stains, place a few teabags in the toilet and let it sit for a few hours. Then brush and flush.
10. Windows – to clean, spray the window with some brewed tea and wipe away with a soft, dry cloth.

 

Gardening
1. Ferns – to keep them looking lush, water them with unsweetened tea.
2. Roses – to urge growth, sprinkle tea leaves around the stem of your rosebush, then cover with mulch.

 

Miscellaneous
1. Dust Mites – to kill, spray some diluted black tea to the area.
2. Fabric – to age, soak fabric in a tea bath made from 2 cups of water and 3 tea bags. The longer you let the fabric soak the darker it will become.
3. Fleas – to control, sprinkle some used, dry tea leaves around the area.
4. Humidity – to reduce, hang a thin cloth bag full of tea leaves in the room.
5. Meat – to tenderize, marinate the meat in 2 cups of strong brewed black tea and 1 cup of brown sugar for up to 24 hours before cooking.
6. Mosquitoes – to repel, burn some dry tea leaves.

 

What are some unique ways that you’ve used Tea?
 Household Tips: 44 Tea Uses
Household Tips: 44 Unusual Uses for Tea (WWII Series)

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Black Tea imaged adapted from DaTuOpinion.com image per Google Labeled for Reuse Search.

* If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI in the 1980’s and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please Contact Me. The notebook is a small (aprox. 6″x9″) black leather, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes and household tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.

Comments

  2. Wow, I’ve never even heard of the vast majority of these tips! Great list! I occasionally get bouts of really bad dizziness from my medication, where nothing seems to help! I’ll have to try drinking some black tea next time it happens!
    xo
    Alex

    Reply

  4. This is so interesting! I have a whole shelf of tea as well. I’ll think twice about just throwing out those tea bags from now on!
    I did hear once you can stain wood with tea too. Who knew there was so many uses!

    Reply

    • Another way to make simple wood stain….vinegar and a plain steel wool pad (NO SOAP) 😵

      The longer it sits, the richer the color 👍

      Reply

  5. What a great post Robin! I ‘inherited’ a lot of tea from my late mother in law and I don’t think I’d drink it in a pink fit! I’m going to try some of these remedies. Thanks for putting the post together and sharing at Thriving on Thursdays last week. I’m featuring it at tomorrow’s party. Hope to see you again!

    Anne @ Domesblissity xx

    Reply

    • Thanks for featuring this post. I’m guilty of buying tea and then forgetting about it. I have so much floating around in the back of my cupboard it’s ridiculous. I’m sure it’s not good so I had to come up with some ways to use it instead of just throwing it away.

      Reply

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