Don’t throw your old toothbrush away just yet! As well cleaning plaque from your teeth, bristles on a toothbrush are incredibly useful for removing dirt and grime. You will be amazed at the versatility of the lowly toothbrush.

We have picked out our favorite cleaning tips using a toothbrush. As you will see, toothbrushes can be used for diverse cleaning jobs from polishing silverware to the removal of crayon marks from walls.

Before you start

You need to clean your old toothbrush before you use it! One way to clean it is to soak the toothbrush overnight in mouthwash or vinegar. You should rinse it well with water before you use it.

Another way to clean your old toothbrush is by using your dishwasher but note that this could damage the toothbrush. If you don’t have any vinegar, mouthwash or a dishwasher at home, then you could just scrub the toothbrush with washing-up liquid and warm water.

If the cleaning tips require toothpaste then we recommend that you use non-gel white toothpaste. Gel toothpastes could contain dye which could discolor the materials you are trying to clean.

Polishing silver

There are a couple of steps you should follow to get the best results. First, put the silver item in water and take it out after a couple of seconds. Second, apply the toothpaste on the toothbrush and start brushing the item with it.

If you are polishing bigger items, then you could use a dry cloth to rub and spread the toothpaste. Once the toothpaste reaches an almost black color (if using a cloth, you will see black stains on the cloth) you let it sit for a couple of minutes.

Finally, you should wash the silver and you would see the immediate improvement of the silver item.

Removing stains from your carpet

It might sound surprising but using toothpaste and a toothbrush for cleaning stains on your carpet is a useful and easy way to do it.

The only thing you need to do is squeeze the toothpaste directly onto the stain and use a toothbrush to scrub it. Then rinse the area and repeat until the stain has disappeared.

Cleaning your sink

If you are brushing your teeth in the morning and you drop some toothpaste in the sink, just take a wet sponge and use it to clean the entire sink. Then just rinse it and the sink would be clean and the drain would smell minty.

Cleaning white-soled sneakers

Your shoes will look like new after cleaning them with your toothpaste and toothbrush. Just grab the toothbrush and apply some toothpaste on it and start brushing the white sole of your dirty sneakers.

Leave the toothpaste on the shoes for around 10 minutes and then wipe with a damp towel. You can repeat the process if necessary. Remember not to use colored toothpaste because it may stain your shoes!

Removing crayon marks

If there are small crayon marks on your walls, a great way to get rid of it is by using toothpaste and a toothbrush.

Apply the toothpaste on the toothbrush or on a cloth/sponge and rub it gently. Finish by rinsing or cleaning it with a damp cloth and repeat if needed. Be careful, if you have high-gloss walls, because it could remove the shine! Test an area before you try to clean the marks.

Cleaning your fridge

Have you ever wondered how to clean the dry stains in the fridge? Try using toothpaste!

Use a damp cloth and toothpaste for most of the inner part of the fridge, but it is helpful to use a toothbrush to clean the spots on the gasket seal.

Conclusion

There are many other cleaning applications for toothbrushes such as cleaning car interiors, hairbrushes, taps/faucets etc. We hope that you have found our selection helpful and easy to put in practice.