Wake the Lakes “Lifehacks for the Week:” 5 Surprising Hacks That Will Change Your Life Using Tea Bags

Those of us who drink tea, and throw away the soggy tea bag without a second thought…hold up! There are things you can use them for! Here are five amazing things you can do with them:

1.) Stop that bruise! Okay so you aren’t as graceful as you thought and ended up bashing into a sturdy object. You know you are going to have a gross bruise but could really do without the hassle and the pain. Now what? Well it turns out that tea contains tannins which constricts blood vessels and reduces swelling and inflammation. Soak a black tea bag in water for five minutes and place against the area to minimize discoloration and discomfort. If a bruise does show up, it will be smaller and will heal much faster.
2.) Super cheap sunburn relief! Sunburns can be more than a minor irritation, they can be downright agonizing. Luckily, tannic acids in tea can help you to abate that suffering. For minor spots, briefly dip a tea bag in cold water and place on reddened areas. For all over relief, place ten tea bags in a cool bath and enjoy a nice soak.
3.) Heal those winter chapped lips! Whether it’s from dry air, wind, or winter coldness, there is help for those chapped lips. The antioxidant polyphenols in tea can help repair damaged skin cells and increase cell renewal. Simply place a moistened tea bag on your lips for 30 seconds a day, three to five times a week or when the need arises.
4.) Instant relief for bleeding gums! Tender gums can be very painful. The tannins in tea have astringent properties that can help numb the ache and remedy the bleeding quickly. It can also prevent future infections by forming a protective layer over the exposed tissue. All you need to do is place a dampened tea bag on the affected area and gently bite down.
5.) Freshen up that carpet! Have some lingering odor on those carpets? Good news! Tea leaves absorb moisture which causes those funky odors. Split open an unused tea bag, and sprinkle the dry tea leaves over the rug(s). Let them sit for ten to fifteen minutes (depending on how strong the odor is) and vacuum them up. That’s it, smelly air is fresh again!