Chances are – you have at least one tube of toothpaste in your house at this very moment, but you’ve probably only been using it to brush your teeth, right? Well – you’ve been missing out!
Sure, toothpaste keeps your teeth pearly white and your breath smelling fresh, but it has so much more to offer than that. Keep reading to find out the dozens of ways that ordinary toothpaste can simplify your life.
Don’t waste any more money on fancy or expensive car detailing kits, and give your headlights shine with toothpaste. You can even use a toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
2. Clear Foggy Swimming Googles
Swimming goggles are great- until they fog up with steam. You can keep that from happening and keep your underwater view clear by rubbing a thin layer of toothpaste over the lens. The light film will prevent that annoying fog.
Want to make your kicks look as sweet as the day you first took them out of the box? Use some toothpaste to get rid of the dirt and restore that new-shoe shine. Just use an old toothbrush to give them a good scrub and voila!
You may have heard of this one before, but for those who haven’t, prepare to be amazed. The properties in toothpaste dry out acne and pimples! Amazing, right? Put toothpaste on those blemishes at night and in the morning, they’ll be a distant memory.
Whether you got hair dye on your favorite nightie, food dye on your favorite apron or some other type of dye on your carpet, furniture or article of clothing, you can use toothpaste to eliminate the stain. Just rub it in, let it dry, and throw the item in the wash.
Phones are a breeding ground for germs and smudges, and wiping yours across your tee every 20 minutes will do nothing to disinfect it. Toothpaste will though. You can use the stuff to make your phone look shiny and to rid it of germs!
7. Get Rid of Stinky Shoe Odor
If your shoes stink, rub some toothpaste along the soles to give them a fresh scent. Make sure to let the toothpaste fully dry before slipping your feet inside (make sure you’re wearing socks!).
8. Get Rid of Carpet Stains
If you spill wine or coffee on your carpet, never fear, toothpaste is here! Toothpaste can penetrate even the toughest of stains and leave your carpet looking like new again. Just give it a good scrub with some paste, let it dry, then dab it up with a wet, clean cloth.
9. Repair Scratched CDs and DVDs
Ever had your CD skip in the middle of your favorite track, or have you ever been watching a movie and have it jump three scenes in the middle of the most important scene? Yeah, we’ve all been there, and it sucks. Fortunately, toothpaste can help. Rub some toothpaste on the surface and it will play perfectly.
10. Repair Minor Car Scratches
If you’re mad at your friend or partner for dinging your car with his door the other day, put on your happy face and bust out the toothpaste. A little bit of toothpaste, a soft cloth and some TLC will go a long way towards making your car look like new again.
Don’t you hate when you forget to take a pen out of your pants pocket before throwing them in the wash, only to remove your clothes and discover an ink stain on
every item? We do too. Fortunately, there is a fix to this problem, and no, it’s not a magical way to remind yourself to remove that pen from your pocket (though that would be nice too). It’s toothpaste! All you have to do is rub some paste on the stain, let it dry, wash it the next day, and like magic – your clothes are stain free for another day.
Have some old silver you have no idea what to do with? Shine it up and use it at the next family feast! Rub some toothpaste on each piece with a soft cloth and your grandma’s silver will be shining in no time.
If you’re tired of getting yelled at to use a coaster after you’ve soiled yet another wooden table, bust out a tube of toothpaste and show some magic. Toothpaste can get rid of those stubborn water spots that you accidentally left over the years.
Piano keys can get dirty and grimy after continual use, making
no one want to go near those bad boys. With a bit of toothpaste, you can smudge away the dirt and have spotless keys once more.
15. Soothe Mosquito Bites
You may have heard once or twice that by itching your mosquito bites you only make them worse. This is true, but if you’re like most people and itch them anyways, rub some toothpaste on the infected areas and experience instant relief.
16. Remove Nail Polish From Skin
Doing home manicures is a great way to save some money, but of course, there’s bound to be some imperfections. If you happen to get some nail polish on your skin or cuticles, just wait for the polish to dry, rub on some nail polish, and wipe away! Plus, your hands will smell great.
Is your iron leaving residue on your favorite garments? Turn it off and let it cool down (this part is important!), then rub some toothpaste along the surface. Wipe it off and proceed to iron your clothes – without the dirty streaks.
Do you live in an apartment or rental where you cannot put nails in the wall? Or maybe you just don’t have picture nails on hand but really want to hang your new poster? Use toothpaste! Toothpaste acts as an adhesive but, unlike glue or nails, won’t damage your wall once you remove it.
19. Super Clean Your Hands
You may use hand soap to wash your hands, and that’s great! But, toothpaste is a great deep cleaner and can remove more dirt and grime than your standard hand soap. So, lather up and smell minty fresh!
20. Clean Your Thermos or Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Thermoses can get pretty gross fairly quickly. If you don’t want to drink out of a stinky canister or eat soup out of a thermos that smells like mold and mildew, add some toothpaste your thermos and fill it with water. Shake it around, then wash as normal. Your thermos will smell fresh and clean like brand new.
21. Clean Faucets and Other Fixtures
Rubbing some toothpaste on your faucets with a wet sponge will clean away all the buildup on your faucets. Just wipe away any excess with a clean cloth. They’ll be sparkling again in no time!
22. Clean Up Spilled Makeup
Spilled makeup can stain, but with some toothpaste, it will come right off your countertops. Just use a wet sponge to rub the toothpaste into the makeup stain and it should disappear in an instant.
23. Remove Permanent Marker Stains
Toothpaste can also get out permanent marker stains, especially on wood. Use your finger, cloth, or a sponge to rub the toothpaste into the stain, let it sit for a minute or two – then wipe away.
Rub a mix of toothpaste and lotion on your bruises before you go to bed to get rid of them faster. Because, who wants to walk around with an ugly bruise for everyone to see?
25. Instant Relief for a Burn
If you accidentally burn yourself on a hot surface while cooking – reach for the toothpaste! First, cover the burn with cold water immediately, then cover the surface with a nice, cool layer of minty toothpaste.
26. Treat Poison Ivy Stings
If you’ve accidentally come into contact with poison ivy, it can leave an unpleasant rash or burn. For relief, gently apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the affected area and let it rest for 10 minutes. Wash away with some soapy water and the stinging sensation should subside. Repeat if necessary.
If you or your little ones have found themselves with some gum stuck in the hair, toothpaste can help! Just apply toothpaste to the patch of gum and it will help break down the sugars that are binding it to the hair. The gum should eventually crumble out in pieces.
28. De-scuff Your Linoleum
Even the highest quality linoleum can get scuff marks, but thankfully, they are easy to remove. Apply toothpaste to a dry cloth and use it to scrub the scuffs right off! Rinse with plain water to remove any excess.
29. Make Crayon Marks Disappear
If you have kids in the house, crayon marks on the wall are bound to happen. Toothpaste can remove the marks without damaging your walls or the paint. Rub the marks with toothpaste, let sit overnight, then wipe away with water.
30. Make Your Diamonds Sparkle
Is your diamond looking a little dull? Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and an old toothbrush to give it a good scrub. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Do NOT use this method to clean pearls as it will damage them.
31. Remove Build-up From Straighteners and Curling Irons
Flat irons and curling irons can get pretty dirty after a while. Build-up from hairspray and other styling products can leave a film on the plates. To remove it, use a soft cloth to rub some toothpaste on the plates or barrel (turned off, of course!) and then use another clean cloth to wipe it away.
32. Polish Metal Instruments
If playing the flute or trombone is a past-time of yours, you know that they can start looking a bit grimey after a while. Just dab a bit of toothpaste on the instrument, then buff away with a soft cloth like microfiber. Use a damp cloth to remove any extra residue.
Here’s another great hack for renters! If you don’t have spackle to fill in holes in the wall left by nails, just use some plain, white toothpaste. Of course, this hack works best for smaller holes.
34. Repair Marks on Leather
Leather is expensive! So when it gets scuffed or scratched, it can be quite annoying. Luckily, you can make them disappear with a little bit of toothpaste. Apply a dab to a soft cloth and gently rub the affected area.
35. Freshen Up a Stinky Sink or Drain
Our kitchen and bathroom sinks can sometimes get a bit of a funky smell. Just squeeze a line of toothpaste around the rim of the drain, let it rest for 10 minutes, then rinse away! The toothpaste will coat the pipe with a nice, pleasant smell.
36. Refresh Your Tupperware
Get rid of Tupperware stains and smells with a little bit of toothpaste. Scrub the inside of the container and lid with some toothpaste and an old toothbrush, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse away with water.
37. Clean Plastic Garden Furniture
Plastic garden furniture is bound to get some stains and scratches over time. Create a mixture of toothpaste and water then use a cloth to wipe it down. Your outdoor furniture will be clean and sparkling like the day you bought it!
38. Remove Grime From Refrigerator Seals
The seals of refrigerator doors can be one of the hardest, yuckiest areas to clean. Take an old toothbrush, along with some toothpaste, and give the seals a good scrub. The bristles will get into the nooks of the seal, and the toothpaste will disinfect and remove all the gunk build-up.
39. Remove Fingerprints and Dirt on Keyboard
You can use a very tiny amount of toothpaste to remove those yucky fingerprint and dirt stains from your computer’s keyboard. Just be sure that you don’t get any of the toothpaste in the cracks or crevices between the keys. A tiny dab on your fingertip should do the trick.
40. Neutralize Skunk Odor
If you, or your pet, has been unfortunate enough to be sprayed by a skunk – the smell is terribly unpleasant. First, rinse off immediately in the shower then rub your (or your pet’s) entire body with toothpaste. The flouride in the paste will help combat and neutralize the nasty odor.
Who knew toothpaste was so amazing, useful, and versatile? Keep this list handy to help you solve some of these common household problems. And next time you’re at the store? You might want to buy an extra tube or three.
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