Hopefully, twice a day you use your toothbrush to get your whites pearly and sparkling. Dental health is important, so as you read this article, make sure to remember the most important use for a toothbrush. That said, let’s jump in: A toothbrush is a handy dandy tool that should never be too far away from you.
There are lots of ways to use it to tackle those hard-to-reach spots, put some final detail on a job, and make sure your task is done right. Read on to find more uses for this simple item than you can shake a flossing stick at.
Clean up That Keyboard
You might know about some of the dirtiest places in your home or office. The skin, the toilet. You might even know about your phone. What you might not know about is your keyboard. The keys collect germs and debris at a high rate, ESPECIALLY if it's in any way public. We don't wash our hands when we use our keyboards, we often eat in front of them – there are lots of reasons.
A toothbrush can reach into those small cracks and crooks to get rid of debris, and can also scrub the keys themselves. Just be sure to use a cleaning solution that won't damage any electronics.
Keep Your Eyebrows on Fleek
We spend a lot of time on our hair, beard, outfit, and makeup, but for a lot of us, our eyebrows get pretty much zero attention. It's time to change that, and the toothbrush is the way to do it. Usually, it takes going to a salon to get those brows in a straight line, but you can use your toothbrush as a small, well, brush.
Just give your brows a couple of swipes to straighten out those small, fine hairs. It might not be the expert looks that some people can manage, but it will add a touch of style to your look, even if people don't actually know why.
Keep Your Hairbrush Clean
Using a brush to clean a brush! What will people think of next? If you have long or thick hair, and it's getting tangled around your hairbrush, you can use a smaller brush that usually goes in your mouth to keep it fresh and clean. Use the bristles on the toothbrush to lift the stray hairs and clumps out of the larger brush.
This will save you plenty of time and even some pain – you won't have to reach in with your fingers to pull the strands out. Just loosening the strands makes it that much easier for you to run the brush under warm water to clean it entirely.
Keep Flyaways Grounded
We all know how much work it is to style hair. Even if you have shorter hair you can spend plenty of time in front of the mirror with a comb. But just a little bit of wind or sweat will make all your hard work worthless. Flyaways, when little strands go against your chosen style, are a big part of this. Despite their small size, they can stand out and attract people away from everything else about your style.
You can insure yourself against these troublesome strands by spraying a toothbrush with some hairspray and smoothing it over the spots you know might pop up. It secures them in place and locks down your look.
Get Stains Out of Your Clothing
Finding a stain on your clothing puts a pall over your day. It's going to bug you until you're able to change, people might notice it and think you're a slob, and if you aren't smart about it, the stain might turn out to be permanent. There are lots of different hacks to help get stains out of clothing, from baking soda to hydrogen peroxide, but all of these tactics are made far more effective through the use of a toothbrush.
Use a toothbrush to work the baking soda or other cleansers into the stain and run it through the wash for a better washing outcome.
Getting Splinters Out
A lot of the uses for toothbrushes that are on this list are going to be in the vein of cleaning, but this one is a little different. We've all had splinters dug in underneath our fingernails or in our hands, and getting them out is a trial sometimes. The next time this happens to you, grab an old toothbrush and some baking soda.
Create a baking soda and water paste, then pat it onto the splinter's spot on your skin. After a few minutes, the mixture will soften the skin. Use the toothbrush to stroke the splinter in the direction you want it to come out.
Soft, Kissable Lips
If you're interested in making every part of your face look its best, you need a toothbrush for more than a few things. Aside from the obvious, you can use a toothbrush to freshen up your lips. Wet your lips with warm water and use a toothbrush to scrub them in a circular motion.
This will do away with dead skin on the surface, leaving them soft and fresh. Apply a little bit of moisturizer to keep them protected. You'll even find that your lips have a little bit more color. It's a win-win.
Getting That Corn CLEAN
Corn is the perfect addition to a big barbecue. You can just toss it right on the grill, next to the watermelon or cottage cheese or whatever it is you're grilling. But it takes some work before you can chow down. All that fibrous silk that surrounds the grains is not good to chew on.
Before you get to cooking, use a toothbrush to brush away the strands of silk that may still linger in the crevices of the cob. Just like getting food out from between your teeth, this will get in deep in between the rows and leave you with a fresh cob.
Getting Your Stove Like New
You might not think about it very much, but your stovetop is probably pretty messy. As long as you have a traditional stove, there are lots of places where food residue, grease, and dirt can sit for a long time. Once again, a toothbrush is going to come to the rescue.
If you need the dexterity to get into the small crevices of the stove, create a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar and use a toothbrush to scrub it into the caked-on stains. The mixture loosens stains, while the size of the toothbrush makes it easy to get into all the small places.
Smooth Out Mascara
We all know that if you want the best lashes to make your eyes pop, you can't just be slapdash about the execution. A lot goes into making a lash look that lasts. If you're finding your mascara keeps clumping after you've applied it, keep an old toothbrush around.
When the mascara clumps, use the toothbrush to brush the extra mascara away. This is especially necessary if you like the thick look, and put a lot of mascara on at once. It will make it a little less thick, but having eyelashes that look tangled and messy might be more important than the darker look.
Make Jewelry Sparkle Again
Small, precious items like jewelry might be really important to you, but they can still get dirty. Sometimes it isn't enough to just give them a wipe with a cloth, you have to get in there with a special item. Even small items like earrings can have crevices that will accumulate gunk.
A toothbrush, designed to reach into crevices, is the obvious choice. The small, fine bristles can reach into tiny corners. Whip up a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or another simple solution, and get scrubbing for jewelry that has its old shine back.
Make Sure Velcro Sticks
The advent of Velcro came about from cockle-burrs sticking on a dog's shaggy coat, and since then it's been helping people secure things all over the place. The thing about Velcro (or the generic term, hook-and-loop closures) is that stuff sticks to it. You've probably noticed dust and dirt getting stuck to one or both of the pads, which keeps it from sticking the way it should.
All you need to get them back into sticking shape is a toothbrush. Give the pads a good brushing to remove the lint, hair, and other materials that have been getting in the way of the hooks and loops. With a little bit of time it will all be much better.
Freshening Up Your Cutting Board
We really hope you've been giving your cutting boards regular washes. Even if you haven't been using it to cut raw meat, there are plenty of opportunities for germs and bacteria to grow on them. You may have noticed your plastic cutting boards getting discolored as time goes on.
Get rid of grime and bacteria while also restoring the color of the cutting boards by using a baking soda mixture with a toothbrush. You may have to use a little bit of elbow grease, but you'll end up with a cleaner, healthier-looking cutting board than before. This can even help to prevent sickness.
Removing Stains in the Carpet
Getting a stain on a carpet puts a bad mood on your day. It's not like you can put it in the washing machine. There are lots of expensive ways to get carpets clean again, but one thing you can try is using a toothbrush with baking soda or a carpet cleaner. You'll have to act fast – once the stain is set in you'll have to go for more extreme measures.
This will loosen the elements of the stain, allowing you to safely dab them away. It might not get rid of it entirely, but it will probably make it look a lot better.
Get Air Vents Cleaner
If you have a mind to clean the air vents in your home, you'll usually just give them a quick pass with one of the vacuum cleaner's attachments. It helps, but you could be doing more to reduce the dust and particles in your home. Dust catches and collects between the grates of the vents, and many attachments or dusters can't penetrate deep enough. Instead, grab a toothbrush to get inside those gaps and really clean things up.
You don't have to do this often – every few months is fine, and it can make a big impact on the quality of the air you breathe every day.
Give Your Bike Some TLC
If you're an avid biker, then you know that your ride needs to be taken care of. But how often do you take care of the chain, one of the most important parts of the bike? If you see it getting dirty, the best way to get it sparkling again is with a toothbrush and some baking soda.
You don't want to make it perfectly clean, of course – the chain and gears need to have grease on them in order to function properly. If you're having problems switching gears, this might be a tactic to try before you go for anything more expensive.
Retouch Roots
Dyeing hair has never been more popular, whether you're just changing from lighter to darker, or you want something like green or blue. After time, of course, your hair will start to grow out and reveal your natural color near your skull – the roots. If you need a touch-up, just use a toothbrush!
Apply a little bit of the coloring to areas that look bare. You don't have to go in for a lengthy or expensive salon appointment, and you don't have to spend all day coloring your hair. It's much easier, cleaner, and simpler to just do a little bit of spot-work.
Keep Fish Happy and Tanks Clean
Making sure your fishy friends have a clean place to swim around is paramount to their health. There are filters in most tanks, but algae and bacteria can still collect in certain places. Grab a toothbrush and a fish-safe cleaning solution to keep their home sparkling between more intense cleaning jobs.
Your fish are sure to thank you. This is especially important when it comes to the small nooks and crannies of the filters or shelters in the tank since they can more easily accumulate growths and bacteria. Just make sure to wash the toothbrush afterward. And don't even think about putting it in your mouth.
Make a Mess Instead of Cleaning One
If you or someone in your family is all about art, a toothbrush might just be what is needed. They can function as traditional small paintbrushes, but there are a couple of other uses as well. You can dip them in paint and flick them onto your preferred canvas, creating unique and interesting splatter art.
They can be used to mix shades to create interesting colors. Use them to clean something that shouldn't have paint on it to maintain crisp lines. We're sure the options are endless, so instead of tossing an old toothbrush in the trash when you're done with it, put it with your art supplies.
Get Rid of Wall Drawings
If your kids just help themselves when it comes to their artistic expressions, you're probably familiar with finding crayons or markers – or even paint – on the walls of your home. You might think you have to get out that nasty old sponge, but one of the best ways to clean up is to use a toothbrush.
The small, sharp bristles drive into the art and lift it out of the wall. It's one of many options of course, and we're sure the kids who have to help you clean will enjoy the choices you offer them.
Get at That Grout
For tiles in your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else, it's usually pretty easy to clean them. There are small spaces between the tiles, however, that can be missed by most traditional cleaning methods. This grout is a common meeting place for mold and bacteria, and if you're interested in achieving true cleanliness, you'll need to freshen up these spots of your home as well as the actual tiles.
The size of a toothbrush, as well as the stiff bristles, is perfect for cleaning those small spaces. It might take some time depending on how much grout there is, but you'll be happy with the result.
Detailing Inside Your Car
You spend a lot of time inside your car, but how often do you clean it up? You might remove garbage regularly, and vacuum the floors and upholstery, but what about the buttons, air vents, and displays? There are a million small places in and outside a car that can collect dust, grime, and even germs.
Spend a day cleaning up the dashboard, the license number plate, the steering wheel, and the other places you might not think need that much attention with a toothbrush. After the work is done, you'll be ready for your next joyride in a vehicle that will seem like it's brand new.
Remove Dirt from Veggies
Did you know vegetables come from the ground? It's true! Well, not all of them. Some of them hang on vines or flowers, but a good number of them like potatoes or carrots are root vegetables, meaning they function as the plant's roots under the ground. They're tasty and healthy, but you don't want to get dirt when you're eating them.
One expert tip for cooks who want to get the cleanest veggies is to clean them using a toothbrush. Depending on the vegetable, they might have plenty of small spaces where it can collect, so don't leave things to chance before eating.
Freshen up Your Kicks
If you like to take walks through the dirt or mud, then you'll soon see your shoes accumulating stains. If you're walking in the wrong places, you might even pick up some nasty animal leavings. The little spaces in the soles of the shoes can be difficult to reach through most cleaning methods.
If only you had a small brush that was nice for those crevices! Yes, once again the humble toothbrush comes to the rescue, allowing you to dislodge dried-on dirt, grass, and...anything else...that might be stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Get the areas around the laces and tongue cleaner to keep your favorite sneaks around longer.
Dislodge Crumbs From the Toaster
If you're the kind of person who fancies yourself a few fine pieces of toast daily, there's a pretty good likelihood that there are lots of crumbs stuck in your toaster. Even if you have a model that allows you to remove the tray and empty it into the garbage, there are probably a few morsels that remain.
Use a toothbrush to knock them out so they can be properly disposed of. It might not be the most critical cleaning job to do in the kitchen, but leaving crumbs on the kitchen counter every time you use the toaster gets annoying fast.
Cleaning Out the Dryer's Filter
You're likely familiar with the filter on your dryer, and if you aren't you're likely familiar with the friendly neighborhood firefighters. Keeping the filter free of lint and other debris keeps the dryer working the way it should without burning your house down. It's usually pretty easy to clean – just scrape it out with that big meaty paw that you have dangling off your wrist.
Sometimes, however, the filter needs a little more attention than usual, and that's where the toothbrush comes in. Use it to brush away all the debris that refuses to go away. It keeps you drier working and helps your clothes dry faster, too.
Take Care of Your Coffee Machine
Your coffee machine takes care of you every morning, so why not reciprocate? Even if you’re giving the old coffee maker regular cleanings, there are probably spots that you frequently miss. With all the water and other coffee things going through the machine, it might just be accumulating growth that won’t exactly help the taste of your coffee.
Use a toothbrush to get inside the small cracks that a normal sponge or a run through the dishwasher will miss. It will keep your coffee maker worker the right way longer, and there’s a good chance your coffee will come out tasting better, too.
Cleaning Under Your Fingernails
If you use your hands for anything even sorta messy (like gardening, baking, or working on the car), there’s a good chance you’ve got some gunk under your fingernails. Usually, it’s pretty easy to get that stuff out by just washing your hands or taking a shower, but certain substances might not be so willing to go.
Use an old toothbrush to scrape underneath fingernails - long or short - and to push out unwanted dirt and grime. All you need as far as cleaning material is a little soap and water. It feels nice on your nails, too. And shouldn’t they have the chance to feel nice every once in a while.
Give Your Garbage Disposal a Deep Clean
We don’t think we’ve ever cleaned under our garbage disposal, and there’s a good chance you’ve never cleaned under yours, either. Soap and water go down it all the time, why the need? Well, that rubber splash guard in the opening of your sink has little places to collect tons of bits of food, grease, and bacteria. Grab your cleaning toothbrush, some cleaning solution or a baking soda mix, and start scrubbing.
This is something to try if there’s an unidentifiable smell filling your kitchen, and you can’t figure out where it’s coming from. It might not be pretty, but this is a job that needs to be done every once in a while.
Dust Your Blinds
There are plenty of ways to get rid of the dust that collects on your blinds, but the toothbrush is by far the most versatile. You can easily brush away the dust that is on the long, flat blinds that are so common, and the small size of the brush can easily reach smaller areas that come about from different kinds of blinds.
If you're doing some spring cleaning and need a way to make sure EVERYTHING in your home is spic and span, you should never be too far from your toothbrush. This of course works best on vinyl blinds, not soft blinds.
Spread Some Glue
For most of these uses, you could use either a fresh brush or an old one, but this example is best using the soft, mushy, still sorta-stiff bristles that a toothbrush develops after a few months of use. Put a worn-out toothbrush back into service as a glue spreader instead of using your fingers, bits of wood, or one of those little plastic things they include with the glue.
It's easy to get a smooth, even spread of the glue. You just have to swipe it along the edge of the glue. Just make sure you store the brush in a glass of water or you'll only be able to do this trick the one time.
Getting into the Cracks in Baseboards
Baseboards are one of those things in the home that can be surprisingly hard to get clean. Using a rag leaves a lot of dirt behind if there are crevices that you can't reach. Using a toothbrush with a little bit of cleaning solution with broad, smooth strokes in those hard-to-reach areas is going to make everything much cleaner.
Just make sure you use something to wipe up the dislodged dirt and grime. When cleaning, it's the little things that sometimes mean the most, and baseboards are a prime example. They're everywhere in your home, and they need some attention.
Polish Metal
A lot of intricate metal items like fences, doors, or gates have swoops and swirls that will trap in dirt and other elements. We bet you can see where this one is going. Those small crevices won't be an issue for your toothbrush. Use a mixture of baking soda and water to polish metal.
It will get rid of dirt, oil stains, and more, so any of the metal in and around your home is going to sparkle again. It might take some elbow grease, but hard work is its own reward. Eventually, you'll have metal that looks like it was just installed.
Get Into Those Cracks Around the Taps
The faucets in your home get frequently washed, but there are probably a few spots that get missed after a pass from the sponge. Whip up a white vinegar mixture and dip your handy old toothbrush in it to reach into the small openings, the little crannies, and the unusual angles of a sink's tap.
You can also get around the dials of the sink and inside the overflow hole. If you have some guests coming over and want to make sure every detail of your bathroom looks perfect, this is the track to take. You never know who might be stopping by for a visit. It could be the queen!
Clean Your Toilet
It's time to get creative. You most likely have a toilet brush that you use to clean up under the rim of your toilet bowl, but you might be wondering just how effective it really is in getting everything out. Now you don't have to leave it to chance. Take an old toothbrush and hold a lit lighter (carefully) about one and a half inches below the bristles.
This will soften the plastic of the brush's head, and you can bend it into a curved shape that is perfect for getting into those tough spots. This isn't just handy for cleaning the can, either – there are probably hundreds of places around the home where this kind of tool could be of use.
Make a Snazzy Bracelet
They aren't just for cleaning. These items can make a fashion statement. Whether you have a new one or an old one, you can place the toothbrush in a pot of boiling water until the plastic softens. Remove it from the water and bend it until it forms a circle. You can remove the head, smooth the ends, and add embellishments as you so wish.
The plastic will be malleable. Once the item cools, add it to your collection of unique items. It might take a few tries to get this right, but there are plenty of old toothbrushes out there.
Texture Your Hair
Is there anything toothbrushes can't do? They're cleaning items, personal care items, and now fashion help. If you're looking for a way to create a look that is all your own, use a toothbrush. If you have braids or other tight hairstyles, you can brush in the opposite direction of the style. This gives your hair a textured, roughed-up look.
It might not be for everybody, and doing it too much can make a style messy and undone, but it's a nice tactic to have in your repertoire. It really depends on what kind of look you're going for, but it might come in handy.
Fix Your Phone's Charging Port
If your mobile device of choice is charging the way it used to, there are several possible explanations. Batteries get old, of course, and certain apps will suck down the juice even while charging, but another option is a dirty charging port. Dirt and lint love to hide in those little spaces, so if you think this might be an issue for you, grab a toothbrush and clean out the port.
Be careful not to brush too hard or you could damage a sensitive electronic part, but most of the time there won't be an issue. We can't guarantee anything, but it might give your phone new life.
Make Your Toothbrush Like New Again
Okay, so maybe you aren't interested in using your toothbrush for something else. That's fine, we're cool with that. But eventually, your toothbrushes are going to become frayed and old, prompting you to throw them away. You should replace them regularly, but if it feels like it went bad a little too fast, there's something you can do about it.
Apparently, all you have to do to get them back to the out-of-the package quality is place them in hot water for about fifteen minutes. Once you let them cool, all of the bristles will have re-aligned themselves so you can keep cleaning.
Give Little Furry Friends a Brushing
Brushes that you might use for a cat or a dog or a lemur are a little too big to handle the smaller bodies of animals like hamsters, rats, or guinea pigs. In that case, there's only one thing to do – take an old toothbrush, make sure it's sanitized, and use that to give your pals a cleansing.
As long as the bristles aren't too tough, they'll enjoy it, and it's a good way to cleanse their fur and bodies. Again, it's important to clean the brushes before using them on your pets – you don't want to risk contaminating them with anything that might be hanging around.
Clean Up Around Your Cuticles
Not only can you use a toothbrush to clean under your nails, but you can also use them to spruce up the cuticles, the soft layers of skin that surround the upper part of your nail. We've all had hangnails or torn cuticles, but keeping them clean and neat is going to not only reduce the likelihood of these things but keep them from being too bad if they do happen.
A little bit of gentle brushing when you do the rest of your nail care can go a long way toward improving your fingers and keeping your nails healthy.
Cleaner Waffle Irons for a Cleaner Waffle
Nothing beats a pristine waffle early in the morning to start the day right. But there's no way to get a pristine waffle if the waffle iron isn't clean. After using the iron, while it's still warm (not too warm, obviously), scrub inside the cracks with a toothbrush to dislodge food particles, oil butter, or anything else that might be getting in the way of a perfect waffle.
Wipe it down with a paper towel or a rag to remove everything and rinse. Make sure to dry it properly, and then it will be ready for the next use. You might even want to do this between each waffle, just to get them all perfect.
Get Rid of Grime From Inside the Fridge
No doubt you're aware of just how dirty a refrigerator can become. With food coming and going, stuff from the shops, leaks, and dirty hands, it might just be one of the dirtiest places in the home, and isn't that a scary thought? Hopefully, you tackle this job with a big bucket of soapy water every once in a while, but there are lots of small places that won't want to get clean.
Grab your toothbrush and force the issue with the small, stiff bristles that can get into the smallest cracks. Once you're done, food will stay fresher, the fridge will smell better, and you can eat with a light heart.
Clean a Window or Door Screen
Those small openings might be able to let air in while keeping bugs out, but they're a magnet for dust. The bristles on most brushes are too large and unwieldy to penetrate the smaller holes, but a toothbrush is just the right size. Tackle this job a few times a year or during spring cleaning to keep your home fresh.
It might seem arduous, but just run the old toothbrush down the screen and then rinse with water to dislodge all the dust. You'll breathe easy before too long.
Make Cleaning Your Juicer Easier
A glass of fresh juice is a healthy way to start the day, but lots of pulp can accumulate inside the machine, which may start to go bad if it isn't washed often enough. To prevent this, give your juicer regular cleanings, juice large batches at once, and then use a toothbrush to dislodge all of the little particles of de-juiced fruit or vegetable pulp that remain inside.
Doing so means you can get fresher juice the next time, the machine will stay clean and won't grow anything unwanted, and it will work better for a longer period of time.
Keep Hair Straighteners Clean
You may not think it is, but a hair straightener can actually become pretty dirty. It isn't the kind of item that gets normal cleanings, and you can't just leave it in water and walk away – it has a heating element and electronics inside, it would get ruined. Instead, the tactic to try is to dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the contacts of the straightener.
If there's anything that is really stuck on, grab your toothbrush and scrub until it's clean again. Having a cleaner straightener means cleaner, fresher hair.
Make Sure Can Openers are in Working Order
If any food gets stuck between the gears of a can opener, suddenly the item is just about unusable. Thankfully, it's easy to get them moving again: grab a toothbrush to brush away the particles that have been clogging the apparatus.
This works on both hand-crank can openers and electric-powered ones, and should be done regularly to reduce build-up, keep can openers working the way they should, and keep your food prep areas as clean as possible. Done properly, this can even reduce rust build-up and get old can openers working again.
Get Rid of Nail Polish
After your big night, it's nice to keep a reminder around of whatever event you were just attending. But, eventually, it comes time to get rid of the nail polish that is on your fingers. An easy way to do this is to dip your toothbrush in a mixture of baking soda, water, and lemon juice and scrub until the polish is removed.
This is also a handy way to get rid of nail polish that has landed somewhere you don't want it, like somewhere on your skin, on clothing, or on a table. Now you're ready for a fresh coat.
Keep Watch Heads Ticking
We aren't about to tell you to use your toothbrush to clean the hands and gears of a clock or a watch. You could do that if you wanted, but it probably won't end up that well. However, if you have a quartz watch face that has seen better days, grab your toothbrush and some soapy water and start scrubbing to make it look as good as new.
This can also be done to clean up the back of the watch and the watch's band as well.
Let Your Graters be Great
Graters are super convenient if you want to shred up some cheese or make some homemade orange zest. The problem is they can get clogged up with little particles of food and using a sponge on them will often just result in a torn-up sponge. A toothbrush is the perfect way to dislodge little particles of food to make them easier to clean.
There's a good chance this will shred up your toothbrush, so don't do this if you have lots of other jobs you need the toothbrush for. Unless you have extra – and we think this article has proven that you should always keep some around.