Everyone recognizes the importance of toothpaste for maintaining oral hygiene. That said, the morning ritual of brushing your teeth is just the beginning. Surprisingly, toothpaste isn’t limited to dental care—it’s a versatile cleaning product with various household uses. Discover the multi-functional uses of toothpaste around the house and learn why having extra tubes on hand can be beneficial beyond just your oral health.
17 Magical Ways to Use Toothpaste Around Your Home
Effective tooth brushing not only cleans your teeth and enhances your smile but also serves a dual purpose for various items in your home. Specifically, non-gel toothpaste, typically sporting a chalky-white hue, can be employed as a versatile cleaning agent to polish, deodorise and tidy up various household surfaces.
Let’s go through 17 clever ways to use toothpaste around the house.
Clean Sinks
Frequently, when brushing our teeth, we accidentally leave blobs of toothpaste in the bathroom sink. The next time this occurs, seize the opportunity to clean the sink by scrubbing away those stray toothpaste drops using a sponge, paper towel or even your finger. This handy cleaning trick can also be applied to the kitchen sink for a quick and easy cleanup. Besides, here are some easy DIY kitchen cleaning hacks.
Clean Foggy Mirrors
Surprising uses for toothpaste around the house also include cleaning mirrors. Dealing with a foggy mirror can be quite inconvenient when you’re trying to get ready after a shower. To tackle this issue, apply a non-gel toothpaste to the mirror and wipe it off just before using the shower. The simple trick prevents fog from sticking to the mirror and saves you the hassle of waiting for the bathroom to air out, allowing you to make the most of your time.
Clean Shoes for Shine
Toothpaste comes in handy for household tasks like revitalising your shoes. It effortlessly brightens up an old pair of sneakers with minimal effort. For a thorough cleaning, grab an old toothbrush to scrub out the rubber grooves and soles of the shoes. Afterward, wipe the shoes clean with a wet rag, and you’re all set for your next run or activity.
Iron it Out
Ironing a clean shirt, only to have it dirtied by the gunk build-up on the bottom of the iron, can be frustrating. Fortunately, clearing up a filthy iron is very easy with toothpaste. When the iron is cool and unplugged, scrub the bottom with toothpaste on a rag, then wipe the surface clean. It’s a simple yet effective solution to keep your iron in top condition.
Clean Scribbled Walls
A household with children often features walls with massive child art. Thankfully, removing waxy crayon stains from walls without damaging the paint is a breeze with a scrub brush and a bit of toothpaste. This simple and non-toxic process is so easy that you can even let your little ones clean up the mess. As for wall papers, go through these effective ways to remove wallpapers.
Remove Water Rings
Other uses for toothpaste around the house include removing water rings from table surfaces. At a party, or after any meal at home, a misplaced beverage can result in unsightly water rings on hardwood furniture. To remedy this, gently rub non-gel toothpaste over the stain until it lightens or disappears. Be cautious not to rub the area for too long, as it may risk discolouring the rest of the wood. Here is how to effectively clean wood furniture.
Clean Metal Surfaces
Important ways to use toothpaste as a cleaner around the house include using it to clean metal surfaces. Chrome appliances, fixtures and doorknobs are prone to accumulating dirt and grime over time. Fortunately, toothpaste offers a quick and gentle solution to brighten and clean these surfaces. Just scrub with a wet rag and follow up with a thorough wash for a brilliant, sparkling finish. Though toothpaste does not categorise among the must-have cleaning tools, it has many benefits.
Clean DVDs
Uses of toothpaste around the house include cleaning DVDs. A scratched DVD doesn’t have to ruin your movie night. You can rescue your favourite film by applying a small amount of toothpaste onto the scratch and gently rubbing it all over the disk in circular motions with a soft towel. Remove the excess with a slightly damp towel, and you’re ready to press play.
Remove Stench from Utensils
Toothpaste works wonders in eliminating stubborn odours from plastic food storage containers. Banish that unpleasant smell by applying a layer of toothpaste, giving it a good scrub, and then washing away the residue down the drain. Smart habits for maintaining clean homes include making use of effective tips such as using toothpaste.
Remove Coffee and Tea Stains
Toothpaste is also effective to remove coffee and tea stains. Using your favourite coffee mug daily may result in staining from tea or coffee, making it seem like a permanent issue. However, toothpaste can often easily remove these stains. Just apply a small amount of toothpaste onto your dish brush, scrub the affected area and then wash the mug as usual. Watch as the stains virtually disappear.
On a totally different note, here is how to create a coffee corner at home.
Remove Touchscreen Scratches
Smartphones and tablets come with delicate screens that are susceptible to scratches if not protected by a screen cover. While toothpaste won’t address major scratches or cracks, it can effectively buff away minor scratches. Apply toothpaste with your fingertip to the scratch, and then use a damp cloth to remove any residue.
Remove Makeup Smudges
Numerous cosmetic products are formulated to be waterproof for long-lasting wear, but this feature also makes them challenging to remove. If your sink or vanity has been stained with concealer, lipstick, or mascara, simply scrub toothpaste onto the spot for easy removal.
Clean Hair Tools
Individuals who frequently use a hair straightener or curling iron might observe a gradual buildup of grime on the tool’s surface, caused by the accumulation of hair products.
Toothpaste proves to be a gentle solution for removing this residue without causing harm to the delicate surface of the iron. To eliminate hair spray residue, apply toothpaste, rub it in with a microfiber cloth and then wipe the area clean.
Shine Jewellery
Other important ways of using toothpaste for cleaning involve using it for shining jewellery. Even though there are specialised products designed to polish fine jewellery, you might not always have them readily available when your favourite pieces start to lose their lustre.
In such situations, reach for a tube of toothpaste to bring back the shine to your silver, gold and diamond jewellery, making them look as good as new. It’s important to note that toothpaste should be avoided for cleaning soft gemstones like pearls and opals, as it can easily cause scratches.
Remove Carpet Stains
Discovering a stain on your carpet can be worrying, and although toothpaste may not be the go-to solution for significant spills, it works wonders for erasing the aftermath of a coffee, tea or pasta sauce mishap on your living room rug. Simply use a toothbrush to rub toothpaste into the stain and then rinse the area with a damp cloth. Moreover, here are some carpet cleaning tips.
Remove Cooking Odours From Hands
Whether you’ve been chopping garlic, dicing onions, or handling fish, lingering food odours on your hands can be challenging to eliminate with just soap and water. Fortunately, toothpaste can be your solution when stubborn smells linger. Simply apply toothpaste to damp hands, then wash and rinse thoroughly to bid farewell to unwanted odours for good.
Clean Piano Keys
Smart ways to use toothpaste around the house also include using it to clean piano keys. Historically, piano keys were crafted from ivory, but nowadays, they are typically made of plastic. Regardless of the material, both ivory and plastic keys can yellow over time.
To restore their original bright white hue, it’s beneficial to clean them with toothpaste at regular intervals. Simply apply a small amount of toothpaste to a toothbrush and gently scrub each key for a refreshed appearance.
That brings an end to our list of uses for toothpaste around the house. Using toothpaste can be effective to clean many house items. That said, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure compatibility with the material.
Moreover, here are some DIY tips to clean your house.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top property blog for more on home DIY solutions and much more.
