Once we’ve brewed our tea, most of us simply dispose of the used tea leaves. Here are 3 of our favourite ways to make use of those unwanted tea leaves in favor of reducing waste :
- Nourish your garden
Adding the tea leaves to your compost pile will enrich the soil. For those of us who don’t have a compost bin, fertilize your plants with the leaves. The tea leaves would suit plants that thrive in acidic soil, such as tomatoes.
- Deodorise your refrigerator
Once your used tea leaves are dry, there are extremely efficient in absorbing odours. Place a small bowl of the leaves in your refrigerator to keep it smelling fresher, and replace the tea leaves every few weeks.
- Keep your cabinets dry
Used tea leaves are also great at absorbing excess moisture once they are dried themselves. Leave a little bowl of your dried used tea leaves in cabinets prone to dampness. Adding a few drops of essential oils such as orange or rosemary onto the leaves will keep your cabinets smelling great too as the tea leaves will gently diffuse the aroma. Remember to replace the tea leaves every few weeks.
** NOTE : These tips work for teabags(tea infusers) too. Either dry the leaves with the bags or cut them and empty out the tea leaves.
