Most people know you shouldn’t drink tea that’s been left overnight. Its flavor deteriorates, nutrients like polyphenols and vitamin C break down, and bacteria can easily grow, making it unsafe to consume.

However, instead of throwing it away, you can repurpose overnight tea for several helpful household uses.

---

1. Watering Plants

Overnight tea can be used as a natural fertilizer for houseplants and flowers. Tea contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other trace elements that promote healthy plant growth. Caffeine also helps prevent bacteria and pests.

Tip:
Do not pour strong tea directly onto plant roots. Dilute it with clean water at a 1:10 ratio before watering.

Tea leaves can also be buried around the base of plants as organic fertilizer, or fermented with water and probiotics for a richer nutrient solution.

---

2. Washing Dishes

The natural oils and theophylline in tea help break down grease and remove odors. You can use overnight tea to wash lightly soiled dishes without detergent, then rinse again with clean (preferably warm) water.

---

3. Eliminating Bad Odors

Tea is excellent at absorbing and neutralizing odors.

• Place a bowl of overnight tea in the refrigerator for a few hours to remove unpleasant smells.

• Pour the tea into a spray bottle and mist it inside your trash can to get rid of foul odors. Use a lidded bin to prevent insects.

---

4. Cleaning Wooden Furniture

The tannins in tea can help clean and polish wooden surfaces. Use a soft cloth dipped in overnight tea to wipe furniture. It removes dust, refreshes the wood, and restores shine without damaging the finish.

---

5. Reducing Bad Breath

Although you shouldn’t drink overnight tea, you can use it as a mouth rinse. Gargle for 10 seconds and spit it out, repeating 2–3 times before brushing your teeth. This helps neutralize odor-causing bacteria.

---

6. Relieving Itchy Skin

If you have mild skin irritation or itching, apply warm tea to the affected area. Tea contains fluoride and anti-inflammatory compounds that can soothe itchiness and help prevent eczema flare-ups.