There’s nothing like a cup of coffee to kick-start my morning, but when evening comes, I always switch to tea. Boiling the kettle and dropping in my favorite tea bag has become a comforting ritual I look forward to every night.
For years, I tossed my tea bags after a single use—until my grandmother showed me a handful of clever ways to reuse them. Surprisingly, those little bags still have plenty to offer long after the first steep.

Cooled black tea bags are wonderful for soothing sunburns because their tannic acid helps calm and heal irritated skin. The same goes for minor burns; placing a cold, used tea bag on the area eases pain and reduces inflammation. Green tea bags can even help shrink warts when applied twice a day. If your eyes are puffy, just refrigerate a couple of bags and rest them over your eyelids for an instant refresh. Used tea bags also work as natural dish degreasers, gentle weed killers, and nutrient-rich boosters for garden plants.

So before you throw them out, consider giving your tea bags a second life.