3 uses for a teabag

The obvious use, of course, is to make tea. Some people switch to black tea from coffee so they don't have to hassle with grounds, filters and coffee pots. True coffee afficionados find this sacrilege, but it is one way to cut weight and add to simplicity. Remember, however, that because black tea still has caffeine, which is a mild diuretic, your liquid output will exceed your liquid input. Thus you need to drink extra water to make up your water loss.

But black teabags have two other very handy uses, before putting them in the garbage.

Because black tea is a mild astringent, it is very refreshing to use it as a face wipe. And it neither leaves your face sticky or makes it more attractive to bugs. Try it some morning and see for yourself.

Also because of that astringent quality, putting it in the same baggy you are using to store your used tampons or kotex will cut down on the odor. The odor is caused by bacteria, and the teabag will help control bacterial growth. A crushed aspirin has much the same effect.

Caution: DO NOT TRY EITHER OF THESE USES WITH HERBAL TEA. We think herbal tea is a great way to rehydrate ourselves at the end of the day, but it doesn't have the astringent qualities of black tea.

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