Everyone knows that a toothbrush is used to clean our teeth from the plaque and food particles that get caught behind and between each tooth. But did you know that there are many alternative uses for a toothbrush? From cleaning household items to personal hygiene, the humble toothbrush can be used for more than just maintaining dental hygiene.
I like to give my readers helpful tips to simply and safely make life easier. Check out my archive for tons of ideas to simplify your life with cost-effective tools and tips.
Read on to find out some of the interesting and unconventional ways you can make use of your toothbrush!
Alternative Uses for a Toothbrush
1. Cleaning bathroom tiles
A toothbrush can be used to get between the tiles in your bathroom and remove dirt and clean grout grime buildup. How To Love Cleaning Bathrooms There are lots of cleaning solutions you can use around your house. I suggest you use a baking soda and white vinegar mixture with that toothbrush to get the job done. The texture of the mixture should be fairly creamy for the best results.
2. Polishing Jewelry
A soft-bristled toothbrush is a perfect tool for giving your jewelry a gentle polish, and it’s much easier than using a cloth rag! My Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipe You can use the same baking soda and white vinegar formula with a soft bristle toothbrush if you don’t have any silver cleaner.
3. Cleaning crevices in shoes
To keep your shoes in good condition, use an old toothbrush to get into the hard-to-reach tricky spots of your shoes. Quick And Easy Way To Get Rid Of Stinky Shoes Of course, shoes come made with all kinds of materials for leather, canvas, rubber, and more. Do your research to see what cleaner works best with the type of shoe and fibers you want to clean.
I’ve used non-gel white toothpaste to clean my canvas and rubber sneakers. You can also use a mild laundry detergent on most shoes that aren’t leather or suede. Generally, a damp cloth will work on leather shoes to get the surface clean before you use shoe polish to make them shine like new.
4. Detangling hair
If you’re looking for an easy and painless way to detangle knots in your hair, a toothbrush is a great option! How to Prep Your Home for Allergy Season Due to the size of the toothbrush you’ll have to be patient as you work through those snarls, particularly if you have long hair.
Often our hair dryers will get some hair tangled up in the front vent. You can use your toothbrush to clear those out and make the dryer more efficient. Too much hair could be a hazard with the electrical parts too, so be faithful about keeping it clean.
5. Exfoliating skin
Massage some scrub designed for the skin onto your skin and then use a toothbrush in gentle circular motions to exfoliate away dead skin cells. Strange to think about it, but you can also use your toothbrush to clean between your toes and under toe nails and finger nails after a day at the beach or when working the soil in your garden.
6. Cleaning keyboards & computer components
Your toothbrush is the ideal tool for getting into narrow spaces on tech gadgets like keyboards and computer components to remove dust and debris. They can also clean your TV remote, cell phone case, and other items that tend to get grease and grime from our hands.
7. Cleaning blinds
The toothbrush’s handle makes it the perfect tool for reaching up to clean dust and dirt off of window blinds, particularly around the string cords used to open and shut the blinds.
8. Pet grooming
Your pet’s fur can be kept soft and clean with gentle brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush. What to do With Your Pets in an Emergency You can get some pet shampoo from most grocery and pet stores.
9. Cleaning car air vents and home air ducts
The small, soft bristles of your toothbrush are perfect for getting into the tight crevices of your car’s air vents to remove dirt and debris. Infection Prevention: Tips to Stay Healthy They also can clean the air ducts that gather pet and human hair, dirt, and debris.
10. Scrubbing garden furniture
A toothbrush can be used to scrub away dirt, algae, and other grime buildup from garden furniture such as patio chairs and tables. I mean no one wants to scrub stuff with a toothbrush, but sometimes it has to be done. How to Garden With 5-Gallon Buckets
11. Cleaning ceramic tiles
Use a toothbrush to get into the grout between your ceramic tiles and remove any built-up dirt or mold. This is one of my favorite ways to use an old toothbrush. The ceramic tiles have got to be cleaned. You may need to research what cleaners to use as a tough stain remover if you’ve got kids who have worked on crafts while on the tile floor or countertops.
12. Cleaning air conditioner filters
A toothbrush can help you get into hard-to-reach places in your reusable air conditioner and furnace filter to remove any dust or debris. We used them to clean our metal filters that used the airflow across the filter to create a magnet effect to catch the dirt.
Some people also use a fabric filter that can be cleaned with water.
13. Cleaning the showerhead and sink faucet aerator
For an easy and effective way to clean your shower head, use some vinegar and a toothbrush! You may need to get creative on how you reach the showerhead if it’s up too high. You can also use it to clean the removable aerator at the end of your sink faucet.
We also use a toothbrush to clean the sink stopper that often clogs up from hours of use with soaps and shaving cream, hair, and other junk.
14. Removing bugs from plants
To prevent bugs from infesting your plants, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub away any unwanted pests. This may take some practice, but this is a really good way to use those toothbrushes. Bugs You Can Eat for Survival
15. Preparing food
Toothbrushes can be used as an alternative when needing to clean some veggies before they can be used for meals, like carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and other items that tend to come with dirt on them. How Long Does Canned Food Last?
More Alternative Uses for a Toothbrush
- Clean appliances
- Clean microwaves
- Clean coffee machines
- Used to clean the soles of your shoes
- Toothbrushes can be used to help remove crayon marks
- Quick touch-ups
- Help get rid of stains in tight places
- Cleaning off the computer mouse
- Cleaning the toaster
- Help grease the bike chains
- Cleaning the tight parts of a toilet seat
- Scrubbing a cheese grater
- Brush down flyaway hairs on your head
- Get in those small nooks, crannies, and grooves
- Scrubbing the dishwasher and its filter
Can toothbrushes be recycled?
Yes, toothbrushes can be recycled! Many toothbrush manufacturers now make their products with recycled plastic. Some actually offer recycling programs where you can send in your used toothbrushes to be properly disposed of. Additionally, many local recycling centers accept toothbrushes and other oral hygiene products that are made from plastic.
Can you use an old toothbrush for cleaning?
The purpose of this post is to educate us on ways an old toothbrush for cleaning is one of the top ways that you can use one. You can clean so many different areas with an old toothbrush!
How can I reuse my old toothbrush?
You can reuse your old toothbrush in a variety of different ways! As mentioned above, here are some ideas:
- Use an old toothbrush to help clean bathroom fixtures such as faucets and shower heads.
- Use an old toothbrush for cleaning hard-to-reach spots in the kitchen or around appliances.
- An old toothbrush can be used to scrub away dirt, grime, and mildew from outdoor furniture or outdoor toys.
- An old toothbrush can be used for applying paint or glue in small areas or on intricate detailing of art projects.
- Old toothbrushes make great plant maintenance tools – use them to clean leaves, dust off the soil, and remove aphids from plants.
How can I use an old toothbrush to clean bathroom fixtures?
An old toothbrush can be a great tool for cleaning bathroom fixtures such as faucets and shower heads. It can help to get into hard-to-reach areas like the corners of the shower and tub, and scrub away dirt, soap scum, and mildew that can accumulate over time. To use an old toothbrush for cleaning bathroom fixtures, start by wetting the bristles with warm water then add a few drops of mild dish-washing liquid. Gently scrub the area you’d like to clean with the toothbrush and rinse off with warm water when you’re finished.
Final Word
Reusing an old toothbrush is a great way to clean around bathroom fixtures, hard-to-reach areas in the kitchen, outdoor furniture, art projects, and plants. It’s an easy and eco-friendly way to keep your home clean and tidy! I hope you were able to glean some new and unique ways to put that old toothbrush to use. Let me know what you’ve used yours for so I can share your ideas with my readers. May God Bless this world!
Copyright Images: Toothbrushes AdobeStock_144914203 By Africa Studio
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