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Toothpaste is something that most of us couldn’t imagine living without. But did you know that it can do more than improve your oral hygiene?
Toothpaste has a myriad of money-saving uses around the house. In almost all of these instances, white toothpaste with baking soda is the best. It has the necessary consistency to work as a powerful cleaner and DIY powerhouse.
Fill in Small Nail Holes
If you’re getting ready to paint but forget spackling to fill in your nail and screw holes, reach for your tube of toothpaste. You can safely use toothpaste to fill holes that are ¼ inch in diameter or less.
To fill a hole with toothpaste, squeeze a dollop onto a cloth or paper towel and press into the hole. Then, use a trowel or straight edge and run it over the toothpaste at an angle to smooth it. Allow the toothpaste to dry (at least one hour), then add more if needed.
Hang Wall Art
The hardest part about hanging wall art is lining up the brackets on the back of the frame with the nails on the wall. Fortunately, a smidge of toothpaste works as a guide for the perfect nail placement.
Here’s what to do: Rub toothpaste on the center of the mounting bracket(s) on your wall art. Press the frame where you’d like it hung, and then pull it off the wall. There will be toothpaste on the wall where you need to hammer in your nails.
Clean Headlights
Toothpaste has the ideal consistency to remove oxidation that makes headlights appear dingy or yellow. Add toothpaste to a microfiber cloth, gently scrub around the headlight, and then rinse with a damp cloth.
Erase Permanent Marker
A toothpaste with a paste consistency (not a gel) will remove permanent markers from most hard, non-porous surfaces. Squeeze toothpaste directly on the marker stain and use a damp cloth to rub in a circular motion. Wipe clean afterward.
Remove Crayon from the Wall
Gritty toothpastes are a saving grace when you need to get crayon marks off the wall. They work best on semi-gloss, satin, and eggshell paint sheens. If you have flat or matte paint on the wall, test in an inconspicuous place first to ensure the toothpaste doesn’t remove the paint.
Add a dollop of toothpaste to a damp microfiber cloth and rub in a circular motion to remove crayon marks. Wipe clean after you’ve removed all marks.
Defog a Mirror
It might seem like a weird hack, but toothpaste can prevent glass from fogging up. If you’re tired of being met with a foggy mirror after a hot shower, rub toothpaste on it with a soft cloth and then wipe clean.
Scrub Tarnish from Copper
We like lemon juice and baking soda for cleaning copper, but toothpaste works almost as well. Dampen the bottom of your copper pot or pan, squeeze some toothpaste inside it, and scrub in circular motions with a microfiber cloth. Once the pan is tarnish-free, rinse and dry it.
Remove Scuffs from Sneakers
Toothpaste will remove scuffs from any white leather sneaker. (It works on Crocs, too!) Squirt toothpaste on the scuffs, rub with a microfiber cloth and rinse off.
Banish Bathroom Soap Scum
Clean your shower, bathtub, or shower door with toothpaste to eliminate soap scum. Start by spraying the area with water to dampen it. Then, add toothpaste to a rag and wipe the dirty area in circular motions. For stubborn soap scum, add toothpaste to a soft-bristle scrub brush to clean. Rinse afterward.
Clean Grout
Pair an old toothbrush with some toothpaste for the ultimate DIY grout cleaner. Squeeze a bit of toothpaste into your grout line and use a damp toothbrush to scrub. Rinse with water afterward.
