The humble yet mighty toothbrush – among all the things that mankind has invented, this simple tool that we use to clean our teeth is one of the most celebrated.
In a 2003 index survey by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, toothbrushes outranked other conveniences.
When respondents were asked about something they couldn’t live without, toothbrushes outranked cars, mobile phones, and computers.
But there is one problem with this simple invention.
Most of the toothbrushes we have now are made of plastic.
This substance, as we all know, is virtually indestructible.
You might even come across a toothbrush made from the 1930s and still see it intact!
Now, imagine that polluting our oceans.
So, instead of throwing them away, we have other simple solutions for you.
In a video posted by the crafts YouTube channel Simple & Fast, used toothbrushes have now found a new life!
This time, it’s not for cleaning your mouth – it’s for surfaces and hard-to-reach areas in your house.
Say goodbye to narrow gaps and awkward corners!
Your used toothbrushes are now here to save the day!
First, she made a toilet brush.
Using a torch or any similar open fire source, brush the back of the brush over the flame.
The flame should touch the area on the back just below where the neck of the brush meets the handle.
When you feel that it’s soft and malleable enough, fold the toothbrush toward itself.
Now, you have a brush that can reach the underside of the inner toilet edge.
This part rarely sees the light and who knows what fungi and grime are lodged in there!
Next, she made a double-headed scrubber.
To make one, you can use two toothbrushes. Line up the two brushes so their bristles face each other.
Using a rubber band, tie the brushes together by the base of the neck and the lower end of the handle.
Make sure that both brushes are secured.
You can use this brush to clean thin surfaces or items that need to be cleaned on both sides like grills, trivets, or coasters.
You can modify this design for other uses.
To start, take two toothbrushes and line them up so that the bristles are facing away from each other.
Just like the first one, tie both tools with a rubber band at the same spot as the first design.
You now have a tool that can clean opposite surfaces.
Use this toothbrush technique to make a tool for cleaning tubes and pipes.
You can reach the insides of your sink drain or pipes that need cleaning.
People all over the internet loved the ideas!
“I have been using old toothbrushes for cleaning aids for many years, especially around the bathroom sink drains, crevices around taps, and where the basin meets the countertop,” said one commenter.
“You have given me some new ideas so thank you very much!”
Another wrote:
“Solid ideas all. I’ve been using my old toothbrushes singly for cleaning tasks, but these duo brush ideas never occurred to me. Thanks!”
Give these a try and tell us what you think!
Watch how you can reuse old toothbrushes and turn them into great cleaning materials in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
