17 Uses for Toothpaste

Note: For the results given in the article below, use a white non-gel toothpaste.

Clean Your Clogs

Your shoes go through a lot in their lifetime – especially their soles. Keep the rubber part of your sneakers spick and span with a bit of toothpaste and a used toothbrush. Scrub then wipe off the toothpaste with a damp cloth to give your soles a clean and whiter look.

Refresh Your Car

Besides combating plaque and tartar, toothpaste makes a great air freshener for your car. Take a paper towel and squeeze a small amount of toothpaste in the centre. Place the folded or rolled up piece of towel underneath your seat and set your car in the warm sunshine. When heated up the toothpaste will release a pleasant mint smell into your vehicle. Replace when needed.

Fill’er Up!

Nothing is a bigger eye sore than a wall full of pin and nail holes. Add a little filler – toothpaste – to the hole, let it dry and watch those holes disappear. It’ll be ready to paint over (if you wish).

Get Rid of Stinky Hands

What cleanses your mouth from bad odours will also help freshen your hands. If your hands have been into things that we’d rather not know about, wash your hands with toothpaste and they’ll smell great.

Baby Bottle Deodoriser

Toothpaste will remove that sour-milk smell from your baby’s bottle. Add some to your bottle brush, scrub and rinse thoroughly.

Polish Your Nails

Did you know that fingernails, toenails and teeth are made up of similar substances? Therefore keep your nails prepped and polished with toothpaste and a nail brush.

Poster Adhesive

Hang posters on the wall with – no, not tape – toothpaste. Dab a bit on the corners of your poster and bit in between on the edges. Put it up and – Presto! Stuck to the wall. Easy to remove.

Removes Watermarks from Furniture

Sweaty beverage = noticeable watermarks. Remove them by gently rubbing some toothpaste onto the surface with a soft cloth. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and let it dry before applying furniture polish.

Clean Your Keys

If you’re an avid pianist, then your piano becomes filthy easily. Keep them prim and proper by cleaning them with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Afterwards, wipe them down with a damp cloth. If your piano keys are coated with ivory, it makes perfect sense to maintain them with toothpaste since ivory is essentially elephant teeth. But it will work just as well on modern pianos, whose keys are covered with plastic.

Wipe Down Your Clothes Iron

Toothpaste contains a mild abrasive, which makes it perfect for getting rid of the build up on the bottom of your iron. Apply the toothpaste to the cool clothes iron, scrub and rinse.

Blast Away Beach Tar

After a long day on the beach, you may develop black beach tar on your feet. Not to worry. Just rub them with some toothpaste and take dip in the ocean to rinse!

Remove Scratches from Leather Shoes

To remove scratches from your leather shoes, squirt a dab of toothpaste on the scuffed area and rub with a soft cloth. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and watch those scuffs disappear.

Shine Bathroom and Kitchen Chrome

The fine abrasive in toothpaste works just perfect for shining chrome. Smear on the toothpaste and polish with a soft, dry cloth.

Jewelry Cleaner

Dazzle your diamonds and rejuvenate your rings with a bit of toothpaste. Use a soft toothbrush to lightly wipe your jewellery with a dab of toothpaste. Rinse it, polish it dry with a soft towel and – Voila! This works great on diamonds, watch bands and basically any jewellery you can find, except for pearls – toothpaste may ruin the finish.

Skin Ointment

Believe it or not, toothpaste works wonders as an ointment for skin relief. It works great on bees stings, bug bites, minor rashes and burns and cold sores. Just dab a little on the painful/annoying area for quick relief.

This also works for acne. Just dab a bit of non-whitening toothpaste on the offending spot, and it should be dried up by morning. The toothpaste dehydrates the pimple and absorbs the oil. This remedy works best on pimples that have come to a head. Those people with sensitive skin should not use toothpaste on acne as it may irritate skin.

Fog Resistant

Whether its steaming up a bathroom mirror or blinding you when wearing goggles, fog can be a huge pain in the rear. Prevent foggy mirrors and goggles by coating them with toothpaste and then wiping them clean with a damp cloth.

Stain Removal

Although not guaranteed with all fabrics and stains, it works very well on a lot of fabrics and stains. Scrub stain hard with an abrasive brush and toothpaste, rinse, and the stain will come right out. If it does not come out completely, repeat until it does. This works well on ink and lipstick stains and stains on carpets.

Tip: Getting The Most Out of Your Tube

If your tube is running low, don’t rush to chuck it out. Place the tube in warm water for a few minutes. Lay it on a counter or on the edge of the sink and use your toothbrush handle to push the warm toothpaste to the top of the tube, therefore getting the most out of your tube!