Tea is a great drink to have in the morning or as a pick-me-up during your workday.
If you’re a die-hard fan of tea, then you most probably have asked yourself “What to Do With Expired Unused Tea Bags?”.
Since you’ve likely got stacks of them hidden somewhere in your cupboard.
Surprisingly, tea is a beverage that has been around for centuries.
In the past, it was primarily consumed by aristocrats and royals who could afford to indulge in such luxuries.
But in our world today, we can drink and enjoy this refreshment whenever and however we like!
(Regardless of being royal or not).
We are even able to obtain many health benefits with this drink. Not only does it give you a soothing feeling, but it also fights off cancer, boosts the immune system, and even soothes inflammation.
Because of this, it’s been common for people to stack boxes in their homes.
You may have hundreds of these refreshments lying around your house which most have gotten past their expiry date.
But what must you do with all these? Should you throw them away?
Before you head out and get rid of all those expired and unused bags,
Give this article a read!
We will show you what to do with those things, so you can make the most out of your money…
After all, a quality drink isn’t that cheap!
Is It OK to Use Expired Tea Bags?
Before we head on to the things you can do with expired unused bags, It’s good to know if it’s still safe to utilize no matter what the purpose of usage may be.
To give you a better understanding,
“Expired” bags aren’t technically hazardous or harmful, regardless of how much time has passed just like coffee filters.
The drink doesn’t expire, it just loses its taste, texture, and color, making it unpleasant and bland to drink but expired tea bags are safe and okay to use for many other things!
Just keep in mind that you can only use this refreshment if it has been properly stored.
If you happen to notice the following on the bag:
- Moisture coming out. Musty or odd smell.
- Signs of molds developing.
- Dark-greenish spots.
Throw it out immediately!
When these things are present, it means that your bag has already gone bad.
Although the drink doesn’t expire, it can still be affected by the things around it.
When you place the bag in a humid environment, you can expect molds to develop which makes the drink non-consumable because molds can be dangerous to your health!
Realizations to Keep at Heart
Isn’t it quite a relief to know all these things?
So far you’ve learned:
- Expired unused tea bags are still okay to use.
- “Expired” doesn’t mean to go bad, it just loses its color, texture, and taste.
- When a tea does go bad, it will develop molds when placed in a humid environment.
Now that we’ve gone through the first part
We can now proceed with…
What to Do With Expired Unused Tea Bags
If you decided to do some spring-cleaning and suddenly came across a pile of expired unused tea bags when you were taking old dusty items out of your cupboards,
Then don’t throw it out!
Regardless of how old or how much time has already passed, expired and unused tea bag can still be used for many things
And when we say it can still be used, we don’t mean that you make a pot with it…
Of course, it’s a rule of thumb not to drink expired bags (and we’ll tell you all about it!)
But on the other hand, If it’s for cleaning, self-care, or perhaps around-the-house purposes, these bags can certainly still be used.
Fortunately, we have gathered everything you need to know about how to make the most out of your expired and unused bags.
So without any further ado,
Let’s head on!
Use it For Polishing
How would you feel if we told you your bags can actually be used for polishing wood and glass?
Surprised? Well, you should be!
To all those tea-lovers out there who aren’t aware, tea bags are excellent materials to use as a polisher for both wood and glass!
But why is that so?
For starters, tannin from the bag reacts with any acid (such as vinegar) and forms tannin acid.
This type of acid is what makes your teeth white and prevents tooth decay by coating them in a protective layer.
If you use your bag and mix it with some vinegar (and perhaps some essential oil to fight off that awful smell!)
They will also do the same thing for your floors and glass, It’ll bring out its color, make it pop and shinier than ever before…
A total life hack, right?
The polishing solution is even easier to make…
Here’s how to do it:
- In a bowl place a ¼ cup of vinegar and a few drops of essential oil.
- Soak in the old bag and make sure it is damp.
- Rub the bag on the surface of your wooden floor or glass window.
- Wipe off with a microfiber cloth after.
The smell might be a bit off for you because of the vinegar. So to lessen the scent, ventilate the area you’re working on.
Not only will you have shinier floors and windows but, you’ll also be able to make the best out of your old bags!
Bring Life to Your Carpets
We all know that among the things that can make your room stand out are…
Regardless of the shape, size, or color, carpets are pretty great at improving the overall design of your house and protecting your floors as well.
However, as time passes by, it’s common for our carpets to look dull. Not only that, but they can also acquire a weird smell…
If you happen to have some unused expired bags on hand, then you’re definitely in luck!
You don’t have to bother yourself with purchasing an expensive carpet cleaner because…
Unused tea bags can clean and freshen up your carpets, bringing life right back to them.
So how do we do it?
- Begin by taking out the leaves from the bag and place them in a bowl with baking soda.
- Mix these two together and sprinkle them on your carpet.
- After 20 minutes, take out your vacuum cleaner and run it across your carpet
And voila! You’ve got a fresh-looking carpet without having to work too hard for it (Thank God! )
Because the bag contains tannins which are known to be a lightening agent with deodorizing properties, you’re able to effectively lighten up your carpets and remove any bad odor.
Amazingly hitting two birds with one stone, right?
Say Adios to Grease
Do you have a pile of dirty dishes that need to be washed right at this moment?
If you do, then you’ll definitely love what we’ve got for you…
Don’t throw out that box of unused tea bags just yet because you can use that for washing dishes!
We all know that washing dishes can be a daunting task but washing a pile of dishes that are full of grease is ten times worse!
Not only will you feel tired of having to scrub a single dish a couple of times, but it’ll also take much of your time…
(A total nightmare for anyone busy)
However, with the use of these tea bags (regardless of being old and expired) It’ll make cleaning dishes easier.
All you have to do is soak your dishes in a basin full of water and dishwashing soap and, place in a few bags of tea.
Let it stay for 15-20 minutes and start washing like usual (minus the annoying grease-scrubbing of course)
The astringent properties of tea, which is caused by tannins, will easily break down the grease without the need for hard scrubbing.
The Best Natural Bath Product
Planning to go for a relaxing bath after a long tiring day of cleaning? If you are, then take out those old tea bags you’ve discovered and put them to use!
Since the drink contains natural antioxidants, it can help soothe the skin and give it a better glow.
Tea bags have been discovered to be a great bath product to promote overall skin condition!
Not only that,
Tea contains a relaxing scent that encourages utmost calmness too, bringing your bath experience to a whole other level.
All you need to do is place 2-3 bags into your tub and take a relaxing soak.
You’ll surely love how hydrated and moisturized your skin would feel after that bath!
Now that you’ve got a grasp of the things you can do with those tea bags
Let’s now head on to…
The New Discovered Life Hacks
We can’t deny the fact that tea bags are indeed useful regardless of how old they are.
You’ve learned that:
- The expired, and unused bag can still be used for many things.
- You can make a polisher for wood and glass out of this material.
- Your carpets will look and smell amazing with the help of the product.
- Washing the dishes doesn’t have to be exhausting thanks to tea bags.
- Tea bags are great for improving skin condition after a bath.
And with this learning, you don’t have to waste another box of your favorite drink because you’re now aware of its many uses!
Of course, regardless of the new learnings, you’ve acquired, it can’t be avoided to think about using the old bags to make your refreshment
After all, that’s the main purpose for it right?
Well, we understand your concern which is why we made sure to properly address it…
If you want to learn about this, read on below to know the answer of…
Can Old Tea Make You Sick?
Now that you’ve got an idea on how to make use of those bags you’re probably wondering,
“Why don’t I just drink expired tea since the product doesn’t seem to look bad?”
We truly know how you might feel. You probably think that you’re just wasting the whole box since its sole purpose was totally made for drinking…
However, is it safe? Will doing this make you sick?
To make it direct,
Drinking old or expired tea is okay and will not make you sick. But we can’t promise you that this experience would be pleasant.
Tea doesn’t technically go bad
(Given that you followed proper storing)
But it will lose its color and flavor once it’s passed the “best by” date.
Learnings In Sight
So in other words, you can safely consume an old bag of tea, but you certainly won’t like the outcome of your drink!
Now that you’ve read all there is to know about the safety of consuming old tea,
You’ve got some new learnings’ insight which is mainly:
- Drinking it is safe.
- The taste of drinking expired tea will be bland and unpleasant.
- Tea won’t go bad but its taste, color, and texture will smell.
It surely is great to finally get the answers you’ve been searching for.
But before you go on and apply all your new learnings to that old box of tea that’s just waiting for you in your kitchen counter
Let’s now have the…
Final Sayings
Indeed, tea is among the best inventions ever crafted on this planet.
Not only does it give us all the health benefits we could think of, but it can also be used for all-around purposes.
In this article, you’ve finally had your questions answered
You’re now aware
- What to do with expired unused tea bags
- Expired tea bags are safe to use and
- Old tea is safe to drink
Alongside a whole lot of other things…
With these new discoveries, you’ve acquired, you can now be confident that no single tea would ever go to waste on your watch.
May it be expired or not, you’ll always be able to get the most out of this amazing drink!