15 Things You Didn't Know Tea Could Do

Household helper

Make dinner clean-up a breeze

Remove cooked-on food from pots and pans effortlessly by filling them with water, adding a tea bag, and simmering. The tea’s acid will break up food, so no harsh scrubbing is needed.

Protect your stove

Crazy but true: You can use tea to keep gunk from sticking to your stove. Brew a pot of tea that is four times normal strength, then wipe it on your stove. The tannins in the tea will make it hard for grease and food to stick, giving you the gift of quick and easy cleaning.

Tea takes away odors

We hate to throw anything away, so we love this way to repurpose used tea bags. Place them in a bowl and put them at the back of your refrigerator or drop a few dried ones in the bottom of your trash can. They’ll remove odors just as well as baking soda!

Erase pen marks from skin

Our kids drive us crazy by writing notes and drawing all over their hands (thankfully, not answers to tests, as far as we know). The fastest way to clean them up? Green or black tea bags. Once you’ve brewed a cup of tea, use the wet bag to dab at ink stains.

Fight fungus on your plants

Brew up an extra-strong cup of chamomile tea, and spray the cooled tea all over the leaves. Repeat daily until the fungus is gone.

Who Knew has a lot of plant tips! Check out 6 Things You Didn't Know Could Fertilize Your Houseplants

Treat your grass

Did you know that watering your plants with tea every now and then is good for them, because it supplies them with nutrients that help them grow? In fact, using tea bags when planting new grass can be your secret to success. Wet the bags, then lay them in the dirt to make an inviting “bed” for the grass seeds. Then sprinkle on the seeds and water frequently.

Guard garden tools

Toss a handful of tea leaves in whatever container you keep your garden tools in. The leaves will help keep the metal nice, new, and rust-free.

Health and beauty

Pore-cleansing, stress-relieving facial 

This super-effective pore cleanser couldn’t be simpler.

1. Place three bags of chamomile tea in a medium-size bowl, and cover with several cups of boiling water.
2. Cover the bowl with a towel, and allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the towel, place it over your head, and hold your face over the bowl.

The steam will open your pores, and the chamomile will help unclog them. (As a bonus, chamomile is also a great stress reliever!) After 5 to 10 minutes, rinse your face with cold water. Alternatively, you can use...

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