Tea is something of a wonder drink: A hot cup of tea is soothing and comforting; drink it iced and there’s nothing more refreshing. Google “health benefits of tea” and you’ll get pages of results. Well, besides being good for you, healing, soothing, and refreshing, there are plenty of other cool ways that tea can work wonders for you! Here are 14 to get you started:

1. Add flavor to grains. Add a tea bag while the water boils for pasta, rice, or other grains for a rich flavor. Remove the bag once the water has boiled.
2. Tenderize meat. Marinate meat in tea for a few hours or overnight and be amazed by how soft and moist it is!
3. For your plants. Sprinkle tea leaves around plants in your garden to fertilize and keep mice away.
4. Freshen the fridge. Place pre-brewed tea bags in the refrigerator or garbage bins to neutralize odors. Don’t store unused tea that you want to drink in the fridge or it will absorb the odors and the taste will be affected.
5. Remove odors from hands. Rub wet tea bags on hands to remove strong odors from garlic, fish, and onions.
6. Foot soak. Soak feet in tea to neutralize odors, soften calluses, and nourish skin.
7. Shoe deodorizer. Put a tea bag in each shoe and leave overnight. This may or may not work depending on how bad the odor is, but it’s worth a shot.
8. Soothe sunburn. And other burns, too. Apply wet tea bag to burn, or soak in a tea bath if you’re sunburned all over.
9. Help heal bruises. Apply to a bruise to ease discomfort and boost healing.
10. Draw out infection. Apply tea bags to warts, blisters, styes, and pinkeye to soothe and draw out the infection.
11. Reduce eye puffiness. Put a cold tea bag on each eye for about 10 minutes.
12. Shine glass. Brew some tea, let it cool, and put it in a spray bottle. Use it to clean mirrors and windows for a gleaming, streak-free shine.
13. Carpet freshener. Sprinkle dry tea leaves over the carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then vacuum.
14. Furniture polish. Spray onto wood furniture and rub with a soft, dry cloth.

Do you know any other brilliant ways to use tea? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!