Toothpaste is not just for cleaning teeth. In fact, there are all sorts of cool uses for it that most people have never thought of before. From polishing your silverware to treating mosquito bites, this list has it all.
We’ve gathered 41 of the most bizarre and unexpected uses for toothpaste that are guaranteed to blow your mind and change the way you think about this fascinating minty paste.
For most of these alternative uses, we recommend buying any basic white variety of toothpaste (not the gel kind). You’ll also want to make sure it is free of any additional additives like tartar removers, teeth whiteners, etc.
You might be surprised to learn that toothpaste is actually a great way to stop acne. Just apply a little bit to the affected area and it will help to dry it out. It will also diminish the appearance of the spot.
For mild carpet stains, toothpaste is exactly what you need. Squeeze a little bit onto the carpet and then scrub the area with an old toothbrush. Rinse and repeat as many times as necessary until the stain is gone.
Toothpaste is great for soothing stinging burns. The next time you nick your finger or arm on the stove, first rinse off the area with cold water. Then put a dab of toothpaste on it for a nice cooling sensation.
Scrub scuff marks off your shoes with ease. Just put some toothpaste on it and use a toothbrush or cloth to gently scrub away the mark. This works especially good for leather shoes. After you are done with the toothpaste treatment, they will look as good as new.
Cell phone screens get scratched up easily when they are unprotected. However, buffing your screen with a little toothpaste will go a long way towards getting rid of all those unsightly scratches. You can use a damp cloth to rinse the screen off after, but just make sure not to get water in your phone.
Scrub your nails with a little toothpaste to clean them up and strengthen them. Apply it to the tops of the nails and gently polish away. Keep in mind that this hack is only recommended for people with healthy nails. If you have brittle nails already then polishing them can make them worse.
The plates on the bottom of clothing irons can get pretty gross over time. Luckily, toothpaste is able to clean all that grime right off. It provides the perfect amount of abrasion to get the job done.
Toothpaste works just as good on clothing as it does on carpet. Wet the stained area and scrub it with some toothpaste before popping the item in the washer. It will come out stain free.
Anyone who has ever brushed up against poison ivy or poison oak knows how annoying it can be. However, toothpaste can take away the majority of the irritation. Apply the toothpaste to the rash and let it sit for around 10 minutes before washing it off.
Make your diamonds and other gemstones sparkle like new by hitting them with a splash of toothpaste. Then use a toothbrush to scrub them. This technique works just as good as all those other fancy expensive cleaners, but costs basically nothing.
Kids love getting in trouble with crayons. Leave them unattended for any amount of time and you’re bound to end up with some new artwork on your walls. Luckily, toothpaste will take the crayon right off. It is recommended to do a small test area on your wall first though to make sure it doesn’t also remove the paint.
One major downside of cooking with strong smelling ingredients like garlic or fish is the interesting odor it leaves on your hands afterward. No matter how many times you wash your hands with soap, you still get hit with the smell. The real trick to removing odors is to wash your hands with toothpaste.
It’s pretty common that bathroom mirrors will get fogged up after taking a shower. One way to prevent foggy mirrors is by hitting them with a coating of toothpaste occasionally. Just apply the toothpaste and wipe clean.
Scrub your patio furniture with toothpaste to give it a nice clean shine. The toothpaste will help remove all the dirt and grime that accumulates as a result of being outdoors. If the furniture is white, using teeth-whitening toothpaste will make it look extra clean.
Most people have no idea that you can use toothpaste to reduce the appearance of bruises. The secret is to mix the toothpaste together with equal parts of skin lotion to make a 50-50 solution. Apply it to the bruise and cover the area with a bandaid. By the next day, the bruise will be significantly less noticeable.
Leaving drinks sitting on wooden tables without a coaster is a good way to get water stains. However, one little known fact is that you can basically wipe the marks away with toothpaste. No longer will you have to fear water marks ruining your table.
Sinks can get pretty gross if they aren’t cleaned regularly. You don’t need any special cleaning chemicals to remove the grime buildup though. Just scrub your bathroom and kitchen sinks down with toothpaste a few times per month.
If you have the unfortunate experience of getting gum stuck in your hair, don’t worry! Toothpaste will help work it out with minimal damage. The toothpaste breaks down the sugars in the gum, making it much easier to remove.
Some beaches actually have a little tar mixed in with the sand that gets stuck to your feet when you walk across it. Toothpaste will make cleaning it off a whole lot easier. It also works for cleaning off tar from roads or other sources.
Mosquito bites are the worst. Surprisingly though, toothpaste is just what you need. Apply a little bit to any bug bite whether it be a mosquito, ant, bee, or any other insect bite and you will notice instant relief from the itching and irritation.
When dying your hair a different color, it is almost inevitable you will get a little dye on your skin as well. Toothpaste can help clean up the spots around your hairline that accidentally got touched by the coloring solution.
Over time, the headlights on vehicles tend to get a little murky looking. The lights get dimmer due to the dirt film and can eventually cause safety issues if not taken care of. Clean your headlights with toothpaste whenever they start getting a little dirty looking to get them nice and clear again.
If you are in a pinch and need something to style your hair, toothpaste can actually be used as a replacement for hair gel. Because of the minty smell, it is probably not ideal. However, it definitely does work. Toothpaste contains many of the same water-soluble polymers as gels.
To remove the scratches from old CD’s and DVD’s, apply a little toothpaste to your finger and work it around the disk in a circular motion. You want to start in the center and work your way out. Rinse the disk off afterward and let it dry before using it.
Toothpaste is the perfect solution for polishing silverware and cleaning up silver jewelry. It will make it sparkle just like the first day you bought it. Nothing is worse than dingy and dirty silver. It is just so much classier when it shines.
In the construction industry, toothpaste is known as the poor man’s caulking agent. If you want to go cheap, it works pretty decently for filling up nail holes or completing any other caulking job. Tint the color of the paste to match the wall using eye shadow.
Piano keys get dirty pretty easily because of all the oil on your fingers. It transfers onto the keys while you are playing and then attracts dirt. Toothpaste is the perfect cleaning solution. Apply the toothpaste onto the keys with a cloth. Then use an additional lint-free cleaning cloth to wipe them off.
The more you use your hair straightener, the dirtier it gets. Once it gets dirty, it is also much less effective. Keep your hair straightener clean, free of grime, and functioning great by scrubbing it with toothpaste after using it.
They make all kinds of special liquids for keeping goggles from fogging up while swimming. However, toothpaste is an effective solution that works even better. Apply a dab in each lens of the goggles and gently rub it around with your finger.
Toothpaste is great for polishing metal instruments. It will have your trumpet or clarinet shining brilliantly. It is also a much more natural polish than some of the other professional grade ones which have a higher risk of toxicity.
Make your own DIY car freshener by applying some toothpaste to a paper towel and storing it under the seat of your car. It will heat up while the car is parked and the toothpaste will release its scent. It’s a cheap way to keep your vehicle smelling minty-fresh.
32. Skunk-spray deodorizer
Everyone knows how big of a disaster it can be when your dog or cat gets in a wrestling match with a skunk. However, toothpaste works as a nice deodorizing shampoo. Rub the toothpaste all through your pet’s fur and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing it off.
Toothpaste is the ideal cleaning paste for the refrigerator. It is great for removing grime and sticky stuff from those hard to reach corners way in the back. You can also use it in combination with a toothbrush to scrub the seals of the fridge
Are there funky odors coming out of the drain of your kitchen sink? Simply coat it with toothpaste to solve all your odor problems. Let the toothpaste rest on the rim of the drain hole and then wash it down with water to coat the inside of the pipes.
No longer do you have to live with scratches on your car. Buff away all those annoying little scratches on the exterior of your vehicle with toothpaste. Gently rub it in. Then wipe it clean. Repeat the process a few times until the scratch is no longer visible.
Baby bottles often start to stink over time from all that milk in them. You can keep them clean and odor-free by using toothpaste. Since babies can be sensitive to the fluoride found in most toothpaste though, make sure to rinse them thoroughly afterward.
Leather is a tricky material. However, you can get rid of marks on leather furniture or clothing by rubbing a small amount of toothpaste on the area with a soft cloth. The scuffs and scratches will begin to subside as you rub it in.
Toothpaste also comes in handy for cleaning tennis shoes. New shoes start looking dirty and old so quickly. However, applying some toothpaste to your tennis shoes will have them looking nice and white again in no time.
Refresh old Tupperware containers by brushing the insides with toothpaste. It will get rid of that musty smell that tends to develop over time if they sit around too long unused with the lids on. Store them with their lids off in the future to keep them smelling clean.
Toothpaste actually is just as effective as most glues for sticking up posters and signs on the wall. It also won’t leave any marks or holes and will be able to be washed right off whenever you decide to take the posters down.
Yep, you read that right. While it may sound weird, toothpaste keeps your house from smelling like chemicals so it’s ideal when you have guests who are about to come over. It takes 30 seconds and really does work. Just squirt a little inside the bowl and use a brush to clean. You can use a wipe to clean the outside. Note, do not clean the outside of your toilet using toothpaste or it’ll make a mess. Stick to just the inside bowl.
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Toothpaste is not just for cleaning teeth. In fact, there are all sorts of cool uses for it that most people have never thought of before. From polishing your silverware to treating mosquito bites, this list has it all.
We’ve gathered 41 of the most bizarre and unexpected uses for toothpaste that are guaranteed to blow your mind and change the way you think about this fascinating minty paste.
For most of these alternative uses, we recommend buying any basic white variety of toothpaste (not the gel kind). You’ll also want to make sure it is free of any additional additives like tartar removers, teeth whiteners, etc.
