JAMIE OLIVER'S TIP1: USED TEA BAGS

We watched Jamie Oliver cook for his mate who travels in the country for research and cooks with only an army knife, a pan and bunsen burner. His mate told him that he saves his used tea bags and then uses them to clean his oily pan. The tea helps get rid of the oil and also acts as a scourer. Cool! We have some other uses for teabags from Happy Skye:

• Muslin fabric can be tea stained to appear aged.
• A tea bag works well as a compress on swollen, puffy eyes
• The tannic acid that occurs naturally in black tea is also said to help eradicate warts.
• If making glycerin melt and pour soap, add tea in nearly any form to a mold of soap before it cools. The tea will settle in the bottom of the mold, (top of the bar of soap) and makes an excellent cleansing soap.
• Chamomile tea is a natural sleep aid.
• If used on lighter colored hair, Chamomile tea will work as a natural dye.
• Tea bags that have cooled can be applied to sunburned areas of skin.
• Tea bags, or loose tea in a small muslin bag, of scented tea will make a perfect addition to your clothes drawers.
• Tea sachets made with plain old black tea make a perfect addition to your refrigerator. They will help keep food odors in control.
• Chamomile or peppermint tea makes a very soothing footbath.
• Warm compress of tealeaves eases tooth ache
• Sprinkle dry tea directly onto carpeting, and allow to settle in for about ten to fifteen minutes as carpent freshener
• Tea eases achy eyes. Wet two tea bags with warm or cool water, and lie down with one tea bag on each eye. Relax for at least 15 minutes, and your eyes (and you) will feel invigorated. Chilled chamomile tea bags are particularly effective against puffiness.
• Feed your houseplants. For lush, luxurious ferns, give them an occasional spot of tea. Use tea instead of water once in a while, or work wet tea leaves into the soil.
• Tenderize meat. If you can�t afford expensive cuts of meat, try marinating or cooking your meat in tea. The tannins in tea work as a tenderizer to make the meat tasty and delicious.
• Stop bleeding gums. If you�ve just had a tooth pulled, or if you have a youngster who just lost a tooth, tea bags can help stop the bleeding. Just wet a tea bag with cool water and press into the spot the tooth came from.
• Keep the dust down. Sprinkle damp tea leaves over the ashes in your fireplace before cleaning it out. The tea will help keep the ashes from rising and getting all over the place while you lift them out.
• Dye lace for an old ivory look. Soak white lace in cold brewed tea to get a beige, ecru, or ivory color.
• Remove old furniture polish. Boil two tea bags in a quart of water and let cool. Soak a soft cloth in the tea and wring out. Wipe off dirt and old polish, let dry, buff, and then decide if you need to reapply polish.
• Mirrors that sparkle and shine. Brew up a batch of strong tea, let it cool, then use it to clean your mirrors. Buff it dry with a soft cloth for a great streak-free shine.
• A tea party for your roses.Tea leaves sprinkled under your rose bushes will give them a new lease on life in mid-summer. Tea provides tannic acid, which roses love.
• Take care of a messy shave. A wet tea bag is a soothing way to treat shaving nicks and cuts.
• Freshen your breath. A cup of mint tea is a good-tasting breath freshener for after meals, especially if you can�t brush your teeth, or don�t like gum or candy mints. Carry a few mint tea bags with you so you�ll always be prepared.
• Seed your lawn with a tea bag patch. Sow grass seed in small bare spots with a used tea bag. Make sure the bag is moist, and place it on the dirt where you want the grass. Sprinkle it with seed. The bag will hold moisture and gradually decompose.
• Out of the teapot and into potted plants. Place a few used Tetley tea bags in the bottom of a planter, on top of your drainage material (gravel, Styrofoam, etc.). Add soil and your plants as usual. The tea bags will hold moisture and gradually leach nutrients into the soil.
• Let chamomile tea steep, then place in a facial steamer. Your skin will appreciate it.
• If you have a broken fingernail that is still hanging on, cut a small piece of tea bag and coat in clear nail polish. Place over the broken nail (see photo at right) and it will adhere the nail together until it grows out. Cover in a colored coat.
• Fill a small gift bag with lavender tea and place under your car seat for a great air freshener. It also has a calming effect.
• Place tea leaves in a smoker box when grilling to give your foods a unique flavor.
• Freeze leftover tea in an ice cube tray. Use these tea ice cubes the next time you need to cool iced tea.
• Use a large sachet bag or small lingerie bag and stuff the "bath bag" with your favorite teas and herbs. Add salts, oils or flowers to enhance your bathing respite.
• Strong footbath of black tea will strengthen the pads of a dogs feet
• To eliminate food odors on hands, especially fish odors, rinse hands with tea
• To soothe a child after getting a shot, apply a cool wet green teabag to the shot site
• Clean Persian and Oriental carpets by sprinkling nearly dry tea leaves on it and then sweeping them away
• To heal plantar warts, place a hot wet teabag on it for 15 minutes a day
• Hot teabags make an excellent compress for the eyes to soothe pinkeye
• Place hot teabags on canker sores or fever blisters to draw out infections
• Wash face with tea to cure acne
• Cold, wet teabags will soothe beestings and insect bites