
Toothpaste might very well be one of the most versatile products you have in your home. Beyond cleaning your pearly whites each day, toothpaste can be used in a variety of ways around the house. Exfoliating and whitening agents in toothpaste make it a great cleaning aid, and even an effective skin care solution! Check out some of the most clever uses for toothpaste below.
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Getty Images Clean a carpet stain.
For newer stains on carpet, you can use toothpaste (use non-whitening toothpaste for this hack only!) to lift and clean the area. Either use a small amount of toothpaste and an old toothbrush to scrub the stain, or make a cleaning solution using a small amount of toothpaste (like the amount you’d use to brush your teeth) and mix in a bowl with ¾ cup water. Use the solution and a scrubbing agent to banish a carpet stain for good.
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Clean your phone screen.
That’s right, you don't have to go out and purchase some special solution to clean your cell phone screen. In fact, all you have to do is take a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and rub it onto the screen. Use a damp cloth to wipe the toothpaste off, and voila! Clean screen.
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Getty Images Polish chrome, silver, and brass.
You can use any non-gel toothpaste to polish chrome fixtures like faucets, sinks, and other appliances in the home. Simply spread some of the toothpaste onto the fixture and wipe with a paper towel or dry cloth, and they will shine like new! This same hack can be used on silver and brass items!
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Getty Images Give diamond jewelry a fresh shine.
The exfoliating properties of toothpaste help diamonds shine like brand new. All you have to do is use a small amount of toothpaste on an old toothbrush and scrub the diamond, then rinse or clean any excess paste off with a dry cloth.
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Getty Images Refresh white sneakers.
Whitening toothpaste is a great cleaner for white sneakers that have seen brighter days. Bring them back to like-new by scrubbing them using an old toothbrush and your choice of whitening toothpaste. They will be brighter and whiter than ever!
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Getty Images Fill a Hole in the Wall
Don’t have time to go out and buy plaster? Fill that pesky nail hole with a small dab of whitening toothpaste. No one will know the difference!
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Getty Images De-gunk a hair straightener or curling iron.
You know that yucky film that builds up on your hair appliances after a while? Turns out, you can remove it with toothpaste! Just put a small amount of paste on your finger and rub it onto the appliance, then wipe clean with a dry cloth or paper towel. The built up hair product should be easily removed.
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Getty Images Spot treat blemishes.
It may sound crazy, but it works! If you’ve got a red, swollen blemish, applying a small amount of toothpaste directly onto the area as a spot treatment will help to reduce redness and inflammation. Plain whitening toothpaste works best for this hack, and be sure to test a small area on the skin for adverse reactions first!
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Getty Images De-fog car headlights.
The headlights on your car can become coated with dirt, but applying some toothpaste to a dry cloth and rubbing it on the glass will help to buff and shine them so they sparkle like new!
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Getty Images Deodorize stinky cooking hands.
Pesky garlic or onion smell lingering on your hands? Use a mint flavored toothpaste when washing your hands, spreading the paste all over before rinsing clean. The paste should lift any unwanted smell, just be sure to moisturize after, as toothpaste can dry out the skin!