The many uses of tea: around the house

Tea is not just useful for its health benefits, it has many other uses as well. In this article, we feature how tea can be used around the house, from cleaning mirrors to tenderizing meat. Read on and be amazed at how versatile tea is.

1. Tea makes a good fertilizer because it produces nitrogen, phosphoric acid, manganese and potash, nutrients which plants need to thrive. A cup of tea leaves steeped for fifteen minutes in a liter of boiling water when cooled is the perfect drink for your plants.

2. Wet tea leaves can also be added to the soil to feed your houseplants. This works especially well with ferns and roses, giving your plants a lush and healthy appearance.

3. A few cups of tea poured into your compost bin will help speed up the decomposition process and give you acid-rich compost. Liquid tea attracts acid-producing bacteria, thus improving the quality of your compost.

4. When preparing a planter for your window or balcony, put a few used teabags on top of the drainage layer (gravel, styrofoam, etc.) before putting in the soil and plants. This will help the soil retain water better and the tea bags give added nutrients as well.

5. If there's a bare spot in your lawn, you can use tea bags to re-seed it. Just put a wet teabag where you want the grass to grow and sprinkle it with seeds. The teabag helps retain moisture and will gradually decompose.

6. A small bowl containing used tea bags can be put in the refrigerator to help absorb food odors. Tea poured on the hands can even remove the smell of fish!

7. Tea also works as a meat tenderizer. Marinate inexpensive cuts of meat in tea or add equal parts tea and beef stock to a tough pot roast for a tasty dish. Tea leaves can also be used in the smoker box to impart great flavor to smoked meat and fish.

8. Dye lace or other fabric for an antique look. Soak white lace or other fabrics in cold brewed tea to get a beige, ecru, or ivory color. The longer you soak the fabric, the darker the shade will be. You can also give paper an "antiqued" look this way.

9. A batch of strong tea, cooled and sprayed onto mirrors and glass surfaces make a great class cleaner. Remember to buff with a soft cloth, and you'll have a streak-free shine.

10. Tea bags make perfect deodorizers. Put your favorite tea bags or tea leaves in a sachet in your closets, under car seats, in the bathroom or the kitchen to add a hint a hint of scent. Tea in spray bottles can also be used as air freshener.

11. Loose tea leaves make a great carpet deodorizer. Sprinkle dry tea directly onto carpeting, and allow to settle in for about ten to fifteen minutes. Use your favorite flavored tea to give your room a nice scent. The tea leaves will deodorize the vacuum cleaner bag at the same time.

12. Spreading dry tea leaves on a pet’s bedding will take away any odor. Just allow the tea leaves to ‘work’ and then either vacuum up or shake out the loose tea. This is also a good way to discourage fleas!