By: Hannah Taylor
I’m not much of a tea drinker. My family though, buys them like there’s no tomorrow. I get them as gifts all year round so there’s never any shortage of tea in my household. I know some practical uses for tea – it reduces under-eye puffiness; you could make potpourri, air freshener and soap out of them; mixed with a little salt, they make a soothing mouthwash; and you can dye fabrics and paint with tea. Aside from these though, I learned that there are other amazing uses for tea! Better not throw away those tea bags just yet.
Hair Conditioner
After your regular shampoo, rinse with unsweetened tea. It adds shine and lustre to dry, damaged hair. Chamomile tea works wonders for blondes, rooibos for redheads, and black tea for brunettes.
Sunburn Remedy
The cooling effect of green or black tea (either as brewed or cooled teabags) can soothe not only sunburns but other minor burns as well.
Facial Toner and Body Mist
Brewed tea with lemon and honey would make for a refreshing antioxidant-rich spritzer.
Hair Dye
Black tea mixed with sage and rosemary and let stand overnight makes for an inexpensive and natural hair dye.
Broken Nail Mender
Cracked a nail? With the help of a basecoat, you can glue a small, nail-shaped piece of tea bag to cover the broken part.
Body Scrub
Brewed green tea with sugar and grated ginger can be a cheap and easy DIY exfoliator.
Razor Burn Remedy
A wet tea bag can soothe redness, irritations and razor burns.
Acne Cure
Green tea is said to be infused with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties so whether you drink it or use it topically, it can be an effective, natural cure for acne.
Foot Soak
Looking for an inexpensive and natural way to soften and soothe your dry, aching feet? Soak away the stress and dead skin cells with a cool, strong tea.
Hand Deodorizer
Deodorize stinky hands by washing with brewed tea.
Mosquito Repellent
Burnt tea leaves can help keep mosquitoes away.
Whether you’re after the perfect cup of tea or into a bit of fortune-telling, you can’t deny that tea has so many uses. And it’s not just for beauty and skin-care either, there are so many clever uses for it for your home and garden too!
Hannah is a new mom, a healthy living enthusiast and a lipstick addict. She runs http://www.myclaimsource.com, a website dedicated to offering free health insurance resources.