15 Brilliant Uses for Toothpaste You’ve Never Considered!
Toothpaste can be used for so much more than just polishing your pearly whites. It actually possesses unique elements that make it a multi-tool you should always keep around the house. Whether it’s scratched CDs, dusty leather or even some impromptu hair styling, toothpaste has you covered.
Below are 15 unexpected ways you can utilize the toothpaste in your everyday life. After reading these innovative uses, don’t be surprised if you want to head out to the store and stock up on some tubes!
1. Cleaning Scuff Marks Off Shoes
Leather loafers can take a beating, but you don’t need to spend a ton of money having them professionally polished. Grab some toothpaste, squirt a dab onto your shoe and start scrubbing with a soft cloth. Your leather will shine with that new-shoe gleam, and you can also try this out on other leather attire.
2. Clean Piano Keys
Tickling the ivories can lead them in need of a cleaning, and toothpaste is one way to restore them to their former glory. Grab some toothpaste, a clean tooth brush and damp cloth. Gently clean the ivory keys with the brush and polish them off with the cloth. You can use this on older models as well as modern pianos, even if those tend to have plastic keys rather than ivory ones.
3. Alleviate Itchiness From a Bite
Summer months can be rough with mosquitoes out and always on the prowl. You’re undoubtedly going to get nabbed a few times, but you don’t have to suffer with the obnoxious itching for hours. Non-gel toothpaste can be rubbed over a mosquito bite to help reduce redness and soothe the itching. You can leave it on to deter scratching.
4. Deodorize Baby Bottles
Over time, baby bottles can collect an off-putting scent. If your baby’s bottles have begun to take on that dreaded sour milk smell, use some toothpaste and a bottle scrubber to clean them followed up by a thorough rinse with warm water.
5. Defog Mirrors and Goggles
If you want to keep the mirror from fogging up while you’re in the shower, rub a thin coat of toohpaste over the glass and wipe it off before you crank up the hot water. You can also use toothpaste in lieu of goggle defogging gel. Just rub a small amount of toothpaste on each lens and rinse well. Be cautious not to rub too hard, however, as the aggressive properties of the toothpaste can result in scratches on the lenses.
6. Remove Crayon From Walls
As much as you love your little Picasso turning your walls into his or her own personal art gallery, you probably want to mask their talent until they’re older. Or, you know, learn to use paper. Crayon sketching artwork on the walls can be removed by using toothpaste and a rag or scrub brush. Junior may even have some fun helping you out with this technique. Just make sure he doesn’t get so inspired that he decides to adopt toothpaste as his new medium.
7. Iron Cleaner
Toothpaste is great for breaking down the mineral deposits that collect on your iron or the remnants of cheese from that time you wanted make a panini. Use an old toothbrush on a cold iron and scrub the paste into all the little holes on your iron’s back plate. Wipe with damp paper towels until it’s clean .
8. Tidy Up Your Bathroom and Kitchen
Overtime, our sinks and their chrome handles lose their shine. You can polish up faucets and shower heads, as well as the sinks themselves, using toothpaste and a cleaning rag.
9. Get Gum Out of Your Hair
You’ve heard of peanut butter, but what about toothpaste? If you – or more than likely your child – ever have gum stuck in your hair, rub some toothpaste on the area and slowly work the gum loose as the properties of the toothpaste begin to break down the gum.
10. Remove Soap Scum
Scrubbing shower doors to their previous form is rough, but toothpaste can make the chore a lot easier. Use some paste, your trusty cleaning rag and some good old elbow grease to wipe away dirt and grime and leave your shower doors looking brand new.
RELATED ARTICLE: How to Choose The Best Toothpaste
11. Repair DVDs and CDs
You can fill in miner scratches on your favorite DVDs and CDs by rubbing a thin layer of toothpaste over the disk and wiping it down with a soft cloth. This won’t work for heavily damaged disks, but it should stop the skipping for smaller marks. Be attentive not to use a gel or to scrub the disk, as it could cause further damage.
12. Fix Nail Holes
The substitute caulking agent can fill in unsightly holes left behind from hanging paintings, shelves or other appliances. This fix works best if your walls are white, as well as filling in speaker holes on textured ceilings. If your walls are painted, you can mix some food coloring or eye shadow with the toothpaste to closely match the color.
13. Remove Stains From Fabric
If you have ink, mustard or another one of the deadly stains, you can use some toothpaste and a little scrubbing to remove the marks. Just dab some non-gel toothpaste on the affected area, rub vigorously and rise. Repeat the process as needed. It could save you some money on dry cleaning.
14. Clean Your Nails
Teeth and nails are made of very similar components, so next time you want to clean up your nails, grab a toothbrush and scrub away for some extra clean nails.
15. Diamond Polisher
Being careful not to cause any scratches, rub a bit of toothpaste over your diamond ring with a cloth and rinse. Your glamorous gleam will be restored in no time.
Have you ever tried any of these toothpaste hacks? Do you have any must-know toothpaste remedies? Be sure to share them with us or try one of these out and tell us how it goes!
