Uncommon Uses for Those Big Boxes of Tea Bags

It is common for boxes of unused tea bags to sit in people's pantries for many years. Sometimes a favorite flavor will be drank on a regular basis or some tea drank for medicinal reasons. But, more often than not; there are always a few extra--if not 80 extra tea bags--that have been sitting in the pantry for eons. I for one am guilty of buying those huge boxes of green tea and orange pekoe tea at the store; and even after turning it into a winter full of tea, still having half a box leftover. So what are some beneficial things that can be done with all of these extra tea bags?

There are many ways to use tea bags that will save you money in other areas in your life. You can also use tea bags for things like coloring the hair. Using tea bags instead of dye will not only be cost effective, but it will also be healthier for the hair in the long run.

Use 1: Make Iced Tea: For some reason some people think iced tea can only be made from the powdered tea they sell in canisters at the grocery store. Go ahead and boil water and use 10-20 tea bags and make some lavender, alfalfa, green iced tea. Add a cup of sugar for each gallon of tea made and refrigerate overnight. It's great for you and adds a new dimension to iced tea flavor. In addition; orange pekoe, green, black and white teas are all known to have great antioxidant qualities. Iced tea made out of these flavors is no exception.

Use 2: Combat Fridge Odor: Add a few black tea bags in 2 or 3 bowls throughout you refrigerator. This will deodorize your refrigerator just like baking soda does.

Use 3: Heal Sick Plants: You can bring new plants to life by pouring some tea over them. After you've finished making hot or iced tea with your tea bags; just toss them into the pitcher that you use to water plants. After a few days the water will become a light to heavy tea bodied itself. Water your plants with this water. This has been known to heal plants on the verge of death.

Use 4: Use as a Balancing Hair Rinse: Within the body there is an acid/alkaline balance. Different chemical treatments can take your hair out of whack. Even extreme weather conditions can do this. Restoring the alkaline balance to your hair will bring it renewed shine and fullness. Your styles will fall better and your hair will make it look healthier.

If you are a brunette; then use, black teas or darker teas. You can use lighter teas to bring out highlights and gradually lighten hair sometimes. But, this takes a lot of time--like years or something. If you are blonde only use chamomile tea. A darker tea will color your hair. Choose the color direction you would like to go in; chamomile for blonde or black, for brunette. Make a strong tea and allow it to sit in the fridge overnight or for a few days with tea bags still in it. Allow the tea to come to room temperature (so it's bearable and not too cold when you put it on). Rinse the tea over your hair or put it in a spray bottle and treat your hair every day for a few weeks. There is no need to rinse.

Use 5: Of Course a Classic Use for Tea Bags is to Use Them to Get Rid of Tired Puffy Eyes: This is the most popular alternative use for tea bags. It is so popular because it works.

Use 6: Use as a Female Douche: Green tea, white tea, lavender tea and chamomile teas make a gentle balancing douche. If you purchase douches in the store; you can save money by using a tea made with spring water and tea. You want to make a weak tea when doing this. A very strong or dark tea is not necessary for regular douching.

Use 7: Use to Keep Clothes Fresh: Some great smelling teas include cinnamon, lavender, chamomile, peppermint and vanilla. Use tea bags in these flavors or whatever flavor you like in your clothing drawers and hamper to absorb odors disperse a pleasant scent. You can toss a couple of tea bags in a muslin bag and keep it in gym bags and even unworn tennis shoes. Peppermint is a good tea for these particular uses.

Use 8: Tea Makes a Great Gray Hair Colorant: Gray hair is more resistant to color, but takes color using tea better than regular hair. It will still take several treatments for this method. But, in the end it is much healthier for the hair. Choose the color direction you would like to go in; chamomile for blonde or black, for brunette. Make a strong tea and allow it to sit in the fridge overnight or for a few days with tea bags still in it. Allow the tea to come to room temperature (so it's bearable and not too cold when you put it on). Rinse over hair or put in a spray bottle and treat your hair every day for a few weeks. There is no need to rinse. Sage and rosemary are good teas for this use along with black teas.

Use 9: Make Your Dishes Shiny: Leave a tea bag soaking with hot water and dish soap over night in any pans with cooked on; dried up food. This will loosen the grime and help you easily clean the pan.