Many people enjoy tea as a calming daily ritual. Like most, the writer “used to toss out my tea bags after one use,” until their grandmother showed them clever ways to reuse them.

Cooled black tea bags can “soothe sunburns” because their tannic acid helps cool and heal the skin. They also work for small burns — placing “a cold, used black tea bag” on the area can ease pain and reduce inflammation.

Green tea bags may help shrink warts thanks to their antioxidants. Applying a cooled bag for “15 minutes twice daily” can make the wart fade within days.

Refrigerated tea bags refresh tired, puffy eyes. Putting one over each eye for a few minutes helps reduce swelling and gives a soothing lift.

Used tea bags are also helpful around the house. They can “cut grease on dishes” by breaking down stubborn grime in the sink. In the garden, steeped tea mixed with vinegar and citrus peels becomes a simple “natural weed killer.”

They even boost plant growth. Adding used tea bags or loose leaves to compost, or burying them near roots, enriches the soil. Plants like roses and ferns respond especially well to this natural fertilizer.