There are several unconventional uses of toothpaste out there if you're in a bind. We've rounded up a few of them here.
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There are plenty of household items you can use in a pinch if you find yourself stuck. Toothpaste is one of them. While it may not be the best option or the most cost-effective in the long run, it’s perfectly serviceable as a swap if you need to get things done quickly and can’t find or get a hold of the typical products and tools. We’ve found several unconventional uses of toothpaste to get you started.
In the long run, of course, it’s better to use more specifically designed cleaning products for the different tasks at hand. Toothpaste is rather expensive, relatively speaking, so you don’t want to make it your solution for everything. But sometimes you’re just out of dish soap or car air fresheners or what have you and you need to remedy the problem as soon as possible. In that situation, toothpaste makes a lot of sense.
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FAMILY HANDYMAN
Mark Nail or Screw Placement
When you think of unconventional uses of toothpaste, you might not jump straight to home decor. But toothpaste can help immensely when hanging pictures or art around the house. You can place a small dab of toothpaste on the hanger and then press it against the template once it’s on the wall. Remove the frame, and the spot of toothpaste on the template will mark the nail’s placement.
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Last-Ditch Patching Fix
You’ve made two trips to the home center store already but you’re eyeing a tiny hole in your wall that you’ve got to patch up and you’ve run out of material. Head to to the bathroom and grab that tube of toothpaste for a quick fix. If you’re a renter, try to make sure that the toothpaste color is a similar shade to that of your walls. If you’re planning on painting over the patch anyway, this step is less important.
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Baby Bottle Deodorizer
Baby bottles will develop a smell after prolonged periods of use and getting rid of the smell isn’t always easy. Toothpaste might be the solution you’ve been looking for to remove the smell. A little bit of a water and toothpaste solution will reduce the smell of sour milk.
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Revamp Tupperware
Next on the list of unconventional uses for toothpaste: cutting down tupperware smells. Similar to your baby bottles that see a lot of use, Tupperware can take on a funky smell after awhile. Fortunately, you can eradicate that smell by cleaning it with toothpaste. Just rinse it off after cleaning it so that there’s no buildup. To prevent the smell from returning, remember to keep the lid off when the dish isn’t in use.
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Liven Up Car Interior
If you like that minty smell of your toothpaste, but haven’t had a chance to replenish your car air fresheners, toothpaste can bridge the gap. Put some toothpaste on a paper towel and place it in the car. Eventually the smell of the toothpaste will permeate the car. It’s not as effective as an air freshener but it will get the job done until you can get a proper one.
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Clean Outdoor Plastic Furniture
Bring out the good plastic outdoor furniture for company and make sure it impresses by cleaning it up with toothpaste and water. The cleaning combo will remove stains and make the furniture more presentable. Depending on how stained the furniture is and how many pieces there are to clean, this hack may not be the most cost-effective. But if you’re in a pinch and need the furniture cleaned immediately, it will do.
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ANDRANIK HAKOBYAN/GETTY IMAGES
Clean Watch Scratches
The face of a wristwatch can get beat up over time. You can buy watch polish to repair some of the wear and tear, but if you don’t have any on hand and can’t make it to the store, toothpaste is an acceptable alternative.
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Sink Cleaner
There might be toothpaste stains around your bathroom sink but they’re pretty easy to remove with more toothpaste when you’re cleaning the sink. A little elbow grease and some rinsing will leave your sink as good as new!
Author
Rebecca Wright Brown
Rebecca has been her dad’s DIY assistant since she was old enough to walk. Prior to FamilyHandyman, she worked as a freelance writer and editor across industries.
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