58 Household Items That Should Be Replaced More Often Than You Think

#19: Tea Bags

Tea bags are special in many kitchens, serving as a quick fix for tea lovers and a gracious offer for guests. But beware of the pitfalls of bulk purchases, as tea’s rich flavors begin to fade after a year, compromising its color, texture, and taste—though it remains safe to drink long beyond its best-before date, which merely signals a peak in quality.

Although brewing tea past its prime won’t pose health risks, it could tarnish your social reputation. Offering stale tea could inadvertently label your household as one with subpar brews, a minor but avoidable social blunder in the grand scheme of things.