Can Toothpaste...Do More Than Clean Your Teeth? Unusual uses of a toothpaste

Toothpaste isn't limited to just whitening teeth and improving dental hygiene; its versatility extends to various household applications. You'd be surprised to discover how many different ways you can utilize this multitasking product, your toothpaste. Here are some clever and practical ways to make the most of toothpaste's non-dental benefits.

Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of a toothpaste

Relief for a Stinging Burn: Apply toothpaste over a burn for a soothing and cooling effect after immediately rinsing the affected area with cold water.

Clear Spots & Zits Quickly: Apply toothpaste on a problem spot or zit overnight to dry it out and reduce its lifespan.

Keep Nails Strong & Clean: Brush toothpaste gently onto the tops of fingernails for a cleaner and stronger appearance.

Treat Poison Ivy Stings: Apply toothpaste to the affected area for 10 minutes to reduce the stinging sensation caused by contact with poison ivy.

Eliminate Nasty Odours: Scrub fingers with toothpaste to quickly eliminate odours from ingredients like garlic, onions, or fish.

Reduce the Appearance of Bruises: Mix toothpaste and skin lotion, apply the mixture to a bruise, and leave it on overnight to help reduce its appearance.

Remove Gum from Hair: Spread toothpaste over chewing gum in hair and wait for it to break down the sugar in the gum, making it easier to remove.
Tidy Up Messy Dye Patches: Use toothpaste to remove hair dye stains from the skin by applying small dabs to the affected area.

Domestic uses of toothpaste

De-scuffing Linoleum: Apply toothpaste to a dry cloth and use it to scrub scuffs and marks away from linoleum. Rinse with cold water when finished.

Remove Carpet Stains: Apply toothpaste directly to the stain on carpets and soft furnishings, then scrub with a firm brush. This works well on ink, makeup, and grass stains.

Make Crayon Marks Disappear: Remove crayon marks from wallpaper with toothpaste, which won't damage paint or wallpaper. Treat the marks, leave them to rest for a day, and then wash off with cold water.

Give Silver Jewellery Some Sparkle: Rub silver jewellery with toothpaste, leave it overnight, and wipe clean with a soft cloth in the morning.

Improve the Look of Diamonds: Use an old toothbrush and pea-sized amount of toothpaste to gently scrub the face of a diamond. Rinse thoroughly with cold water, but do not use this method for cleaning pearls as it will damage them.

Clean Baby Bottles & Containers: Use toothpaste and a bottle scrubbing tool to remove sour odors of old milk from baby bottles, but rinse them thoroughly to avoid sickness in babies from ingesting too much fluoride.

Make Straighteners More Efficiently: Use toothpaste to remove a build-up of hair spray, mousse, shampoo, gel, and anything else on the plates of hair straighteners.

De-fog and De-mist Goggles: Rub a small amount of toothpaste on goggles to remove the misty, foggy effect or on hard contact lenses to get rid of foggy patches.

Polish a Metal Instrument: Use toothpaste and a soft cloth to give metal instruments a brilliant shine, then use a damp cloth to remove the residue.
Hide Holes Left By Frames: Fill small nail, screw, or picture frame hanger holes with toothpaste when moving out of a rented home, but consider if the spot will paint over later.

Polish and Clean Chrome: Rub toothpaste onto chrome fixtures, rinse with cold water, and buff with a soft cloth.

Repair Marks on Leather: Apply toothpaste to a soft cloth and gently rub scuffs, marks, or scratches away from leather furniture.
Remove Watermarks from Furniture: Use toothpaste on a soft cloth to scrub away watermarks and stains from furniture, then wipe it dry with a dry cloth.

Give the Drain a Nice Smell: Squeeze toothpaste around the rim of the sinkhole in your kitchen, let it rest for a minute, then turn on the tap and let the toothpaste coat the inside of the pipe with a pleasant smell.

Refresh Tupperware Boxes: Remove unpleasant odors from unused plastic Tupperware containers by applying toothpaste, letting it rest for a while, then rinse it off.

Laundry uses of toothpaste

Apart from cleaning and maintaining oral hygiene, toothpaste has a few laundry uses too, including:

Removing stubborn stains: Toothpaste can be used to remove stains from clothing, especially those caused by coffee, tea, wine, or lipstick. Apply a small amount of toothpaste on the stain and rub it gently. Rinse the area with water and repeat the process until the stain disappears.

Whitening white clothes: If you want to whiten your white clothes, mix toothpaste with water and apply the paste to the stained areas. Leave it for a few minutes before washing the garment with your regular laundry detergent.

Deodorizing clothes: Toothpaste can also help remove unpleasant odors from clothing. Mix toothpaste with a small amount of water, and apply the paste to the smelly area. Leave it for a few minutes before washing the garment with your regular laundry detergent.

It's worth noting that not all types of toothpaste may be suitable for laundry use, and it's best to test on a small area first. Additionally, toothpaste should not be used on delicate fabrics or materials such as silk, leather, or suede.
These were a few of the common uses of toothpaste. In conclusion, toothpaste is not just for cleaning teeth. It has various surprising uses that can help you in your daily life. Toothpaste's abrasive properties and natural ingredients make it a versatile household item that can save you time and money.
However, it's important to note that not all toothpaste is the same. Some may contain ingredients that can irritate your skin or damage delicate surfaces. So, be sure to check the label and test the toothpaste on a small area before using it on a larger scale.