How to Use Toothpaste Around the Home

Toothpaste is a versatile and multi-purpose product that is typically used for oral hygiene. However, its usefulness extends far beyond just keeping our teeth clean and fresh. Believe it or not, toothpaste can be an effective and budget-friendly solution for various household tasks and challenges. From cleaning jewelry to removing stubborn stains, toothpaste can come to the rescue in unexpected ways.

Note: It’s suggested you use regular standard non-gel toothpaste for household chores and shy away from those colored gel-based varieties. The tube of white non-gel toothpaste is free of the colored dye that can stain or discolor some materials, including certain fabrics.

Here are toothpaste hacks to use toothpaste around the home. You can also check out these Alternative Uses for a Toothbrush

Toothpaste and Toothbrushes

How to Use Toothpaste Around the Home

1. Cleaning Jewelry

Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a soft cloth or an old toothbrush and rub your jewelry to remove the tarnish and restore shine. Rinse with water and pat dry to reveal the sparkling beauty of your accessories. Wipe off any extra toothpaste residue. This hack works on silver jewelry very well. My Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipe

2. Removing Scratches

Dab a small amount of toothpaste onto a soft cloth and gently rub it over scratched surfaces like CDs, DVDs, and smartphone screens to reduce their visibility. Wipe off the excess toothpaste with a clean cloth to reveal a smoother surface. Sponges as Survival Tools: 20 Uses for Sponges There’s no reason to replace the cell phone screen protector just because of some small scratches. Try this hack to see if it can save you some time and money.

3. Freshening Carpet

Put toothpaste directly on carpet stains, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a brush before rinsing. A little toothpaste helps break down stubborn stains and leaves your carpet smelling fresh and clean. How to Use a Vacuum Cleaner for Prepping We all want our carpets to look and smell fresh and clean. Try some toothpaste next time you need help with stain removal.

4. Cleaning Sneakers

Use toothpaste on a toothbrush to scrub away dirt and stains from the rubber soles and fabric of your sneakers. Rinse off the white toothpaste with water and let your sneakers air dry for a refreshed look. Quick And Easy Way To Get Rid Of Stinky Shoes

5. Polishing Chrome

Apply toothpaste to a soft cloth and use it to polish chrome fixtures in your bathroom or kitchen. You will want to rub the toothpaste onto the chrome surface in circular motions, then wipe it off with a clean cloth or paper towel to restore its shine. Silver: What You Need to Know

6. Removing Water Rings

For best results to remove water rings, apply a small amount of toothpaste to a cloth and wipe it over the water rings on wooden furniture to help remove them. The mild abrasive properties of toothpaste can help lift the moisture marks and restore the wood’s natural appearance. As a caution, first apply some of the toothpaste to a section of the wood furniture that isn’t easily visible to make sure the toothpaste doesn’t cause a reaction to the wood surface.

7. Cleaning Irons

Apply toothpaste to a cloth and rub it over the surface of an iron to buff it up and remove built-up residue. The toothpaste helps dissolve and remove any sticky or burnt-on substances, leaving your iron clean and sparkle-ready for use. 100 Items That Will Disappear After An Emergency

8. Removing Crayon Marks

Apply toothpaste to a damp cloth and scrub crayon marks on walls or furniture to remove them. The toothpaste’s gentle abrasive nature helps lift the wax-based crayon marks without damaging the underlying surface. Dollar Store Prepper Items Again, test it on a section of the wall or furniture surface that isn’t as visible first.

9. Cleaning Piano Keys

Apply toothpaste to a soft cloth and wipe the keys of a piano to remove dirt and stains. Avoid applying too much pressure to clean piano keys and make sure to wipe away any residue from those “ivory” keys with a clean, damp cloth. 12 Ways to Reuse Broken Household Items

10. Deodorizing Containers

Rub toothpaste onto plastic containers with strong odors, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse to eliminate the smell. For tougher odors, you may need to leave the toothpaste longer to be successful. The toothpaste absorbs the odors, leaving your containers smelling fresh and ready to use. How to Use Plastic Sheeting for Survival

11. Removing Coffee Stains

Apply toothpaste to a cloth and rub it over coffee stains on mugs or countertops to remove them. The mild abrasive properties of toothpaste help lift stubborn coffee stains, leaving your surfaces clean and stain-free. Enjoying a Cup of Coffee as a Prepper

12. Cleaning Tile Grout

Apply toothpaste to a toothbrush or small scrub brush and scrub it into the grout between tiles to remove dirt and stains. The toothpaste helps break down grime and brighten the appearance of the grout, making it look fresh and clean. 15 Ways to Clean Your Home with Borax

13. Removing Ink Stains

You can add toothpaste to a cloth and gently rub it over ink stains on fabric or upholstery before washing the material. The toothpaste helps break down the ink particles, making them easier to remove during the laundering process. 9 New Ways for Using Laundry Baskets

I’ve also read that you can use toothpaste to remove permanent marker stains. Try a dab of toothpaste on a microfiber cloth, and rub the stain in a circular motion without pressinging too hard. The marker stain should eventually fade away as you work the toothpaste magic.

14. Cleaning Vases

Fill a vase with water and add toothpaste. Swirl the mixture around to clean the inside, then rinse thoroughly. The toothpaste helps remove residue and stains from the inside of the vase, making it look clear and sparkling. 10 Great Reasons To Try Raised Bed Gardening

15. Removing Odors from Hands

Rub mint-flavored toothpaste onto your hands to remove strong odors like garlic or onion after preparing a meal. The toothpaste’s minty fresh scent helps neutralize unpleasant odors, leaving your hands smelling clean and refreshed. 20 Things to Do in the Summer to Prep for Fall

16. Cleaning Thermoses

Fill a thermos with warm water and add toothpaste. Shake the thermos vigorously to clean the inside, then rinse thoroughly. The toothpaste helps remove stains and odors from the thermos, making it ready for your next beverage. What to Use for Insulation to Stay Warm

17. Removing Scuff Marks

Go ahead and put toothpaste on a cloth and wipe it over black scuff marks on walls or floors to remove them. The toothpaste’s mild abrasive nature helps lift those scuffs without damaging the surface underneath. 20 Items For Emergency Cleaning Buckets

18. Cleaning Headlights

Apply toothpaste to a cloth and scrub it onto the foggy car, truck, bike, or motorcycle headlights. Rinse thoroughly to restore clarity. The toothpaste acts as a gentle abrasive, helping to remove dirt and oxidation from the headlight surface, improving visibility while driving. Try the same approach to your goggles before your next skiing day on the slopes or the mask before that scuba trip to see if the toothpaste won’t remove small scratches. Best Vehicles for Surviving the End of the World

19. Removing Soap Scum

Put toothpaste on a sponge and scrub or dab it onto soap scum in the kitchen or bathroom sink. Rinse thoroughly. The toothpaste’s mild abrasive properties help break down and remove the soap scum. What You Need For Your Emergency Bathroom

20. Clearing Bug Bites

You can put toothpaste on bug bites to help reduce itching and swelling. The toothpaste’s cooling properties provide temporary relief and may help soothe the affected area. Keeping Pests Away from Food Storage

21. Removing Nail Polish Stains

Add toothpaste to a cloth and put it over nail polish stains on surfaces like countertops or furniture. The toothpaste helps break down the nail polish, making it easier to remove without damaging the surface. A small dab of toothpaste can go a long way. Nail polish remover doesn’t help to remove nail polish in all situations!

22. Cleaning Bathroom Fixtures

Apply toothpaste to a microfiber cloth and use it to clean faucets, the drain, shower heads, shower doors, and other bathroom fixtures. The toothpaste’s mild abrasive nature helps remove mineral deposits and grime, leaving your fixtures shiny and clean. How To Love Cleaning Bathrooms

23. Bring Leather Items Back to Life

One of my favorite clever uses for removing stains or liven those scuffs on leather material like handbags, jackets, shoes, and your leather sofa, is to apply a dab of toothpaste to a soft cloth and then blot it onto the leather to clean it. You would then wipe away any residue with a damp cloth and let the leather dry. Here is another application where testing it on an unseen area first makes sense. 45 Uses for Dawn Dish Soap

24. Treating Acne

Before you go to bed, take a little bit of toothpaste and apply it to your pimples before bed to help dry them out. The toothpaste’s ingredients, such as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, can help reduce redness and inflammation. A humble tube of toothpaste can turn into a major help in treating acne! 8 Important Benefits of Clove Water If you’re concerned, check with your doctor before trying this.

25. Whitening Shoes

Apply toothpaste to a toothbrush and it onto dirty or discolored shoe soles to help whiten them. The toothpaste’s abrasiveness can help remove dirt and grime, restoring the brightness of your shoes. Having white shoes again is possible! This is a great way to use toothpaste around the home.

More Tips

• 20 Survival Uses for Rubber Bands
• Survival Uses for Drinking Straws
• 7 Unique Uses For Shipping Containers

Final Word

Learning to use what you have at home already is such a good skill to possess. What are some ways in which you have learned how to use toothpaste around the home? If you have any tips to add, please let me know. Toothpaste is such a great tool to have on hand. May God Bless this World, Linda

Copyright Images: Toothpaste Depositphotos_1732709_S, Toothbrush with Blue Background Depositphotos_17395343_S