Toothpaste protects your teeth against tooth decay. This thing also plays a big role in keeping your mouth healthy. But beyond cleaning your teeth, toothpaste has many other uses as well. Read through to find out more!
Domestic Cleaning Uses
Toothpaste has abrasives which makes it a good cleaning agent. These abrasive also works wonders in cleaning other things.
- Clean bottles and containers
It is common for baby bottles to have a sour-milk smell. You can get rid of this by washing the bottle with toothpaste instead of dish soap. Scrub the bottle and rinse thoroughly afterward. You can also do this to other containers like a thermos.
- Clean foggy headlights
Toothpaste can easily clean a foggy headlight. Just use a sponge with toothpaste a scrub in a circular motion. Then remove the toothpaste using a damp washcloth.
- Clean foggy goggles
The abrasives in toothpaste remove the fog that covers your goggle. It also prevents fogging. Just coat your goggles with toothpaste and wipe them using a cloth. But be gentle so you won’t cause any scratches.
- Defog mirrors
Like goggles, you can also defog your mirrors using toothpaste. Use a damp cloth with toothpaste and wipe your mirror down. Do this in a circular motion. Let the toothpaste dry and then wipe away with a dry cloth.
- Remove tea and coffee stains on mugs
Toothpaste removes stains from your teeth. So there’s no wonder this can remove stains on your mugs as well. Just apply a little toothpaste and leave for a few minutes. Then wash the mug as usual.
- Remove watermarks on furniture
You can also remove watermarks on furniture using toothpaste. Put toothpaste on a soft cloth and scrub on the furniture gently. Then wipe using a dry washcloth.
- Refresh food containers
Unused food containers are likely to smell musty and old. Get rid of this smell by brushing the inside with toothpaste. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse as usual.
- Remove odor from your hands
Toothpaste has deodorizing properties that remove foul smells. This makes it a great substitute for soap when washing your hand.
- Eliminates leather scuff
You can remove scuff by applying toothpaste on a dry cloth. Use this to scrub the marks away. Then wipe the toothpaste using a clean dry cloth.
- Remove crayons from walls
It is no surprise if toddlers used the wall as their canvas. But you can easily remove these crayons from the wall. Just get fluoride toothpaste and a rag or brush. Apply the toothpaste on the “artworks” and gently scrub. Then rinse using a damp cloth.
- Polish metal instruments
Toothpaste gives metals a brilliant shine. All you need to do is dab toothpaste on a cloth and rub vigorously on the metal. Once you’ve cleaned enough, remove toothpaste residue using a damp cloth.
- Get rid of carpet stain
Apply toothpaste directly on the stain and scrub using a firm brush. Repeat as needed. This method works on stains like ink, makeup, and grass stains.
- Shine jewelry
You can make your jewelry sparkle by rubbing toothpaste. Just put some toothpaste and leave it overnight and wipe it the next morning.
- Improve the looks of diamonds
Make your diamonds look prettier with this easy step. Just get toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Use these to gently rub the face of your diamonds and rinse. Note that you should not use this method for cleaning pearls.
- Clean a hair straightener or curling iron
You may have noticed a sticky residue on your hair iron and hair straighteners. These are build-ups from the oils in your hair, shampoo, and other styling products. Wipe the build-ups away by using a clean cloth and toothpaste. Then wipe using a damp cloth and let it air dry. This method will effectively remove the build-up without damaging the product.
- Clean up messy hair dye
It is impossible not to get colors on your skin when dyeing your hair. But you can remove these stains by dabbing toothpaste on them then rinsing afterward.
- Polish and clean chrome fixtures
Like the other methods, you just need to rub toothpaste on the chrome fixtures. Make sure you rinse with cold water then buff with a soft cloth afterward. Do this to make your fixtures shine.
- Freshen your car interior
If you want a minty smell in your car, you can use toothpaste too. Do this by putting toothpaste on a paper towel. Fold the towel and put it in your car. Eventually, the smell of the toothpaste will spread throughout the car.
- Clean keyboard
Get rid of the grease and dirt off your computer keyboard by using toothpaste. Dab your fingertips on the toothpaste and gently clean your keyboard. Make sure not to drop any amount of toothpaste in the gaps between keys.
Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses
- Reduce skin irritation
Bug bites cause skin irritations or itching. Treat this by applying toothpaste to the affected area.
- Reduce the appearance of bruises
Toothpaste helps reduce the swelling and breaks the clot of bruises. Do this by applying toothpaste to the affected area every night for two to three days. Cover it with a bandage and rinse the next morning.
- Treats acne
Some toothpaste contains baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. These help in dehydrating the pimple and absorbing the oil. But make sure to use non-gel and non-whitening toothpaste. Also, note that this method may irritate sensitive skin.
- Treat poison ivy stings
Contact with poison ivy cause rash and irritations. Use toothpaste to get rid of these irritations. Just apply toothpaste to the affected part and leave it for ten minutes. Then wash it with cold soapy water. Apply toothpaste again and repeat the procedure until the sting sensation subsides.
- Remove gum from hair
Instead of cutting your hair because of that gum, remove it using toothpaste instead. Apply it to the gum and it will break down the stickiness of the gum. Then you can now easily remove it from your hair.
Takeaway
Toothpaste has many uses that go beyond taking care of your oral health. Aside from cleaning your teeth, it is also a great substitute for cleaning other things. You can use it to clean things in your bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and even outdoor.
Toothpaste also has therapeutic uses. It helps soothe irritation, acne, and even bruises. So the next time you need a cleaning agent or soothing ointment, remember that toothpaste can be an option.