Below are some uses for old toothbrushes. What are your ideas?
Save Your Old Toothbrush
When replacing my old toothbrush with a new one I take the old toothbrush and place it in my dishwasher. When doing my next load it, too, gets nice and clean. If you do not have a dishwasher, place the toothbrush in the bottom of your sink the next time you do a load of dishes. Rinse well and air dry. Here is what I use it for:
I clean the bottom of my sliding door casement area and it gets into the nooks and crannies very well. I clean the dirt and buildup with the toothbrush dry. Then I take a wet sponge with liquid cleaner and then dry well with a paper towel. I also use the toothbrush to clean around any and all faucets. Use the brush dipped into jewelry cleaner or toothpaste (that's right, good old-fashioned toothpaste) and gently clean around the stones and all cracks and crevices. Air dry the jewelry on a paper towel and cloth. Clean the keyboard on your computer and if you still use a typewriter do that too. Disconnect your toaster and clean the hardened on crumbs on the wire areas and the sides of the toaster. I could go on and on but I think by now you get the picture. Happy brushing.
By joesgirl (06/25/2004)
Cleaning Combs
I use old toothbrushes for cleaning combs. Swish around shampoo in a sinkful of hot water, soak the combs for a few minutes and brush. (09/04/2004)
By Michele
Making a Bracelet
I don't know if you'd want to use an old one for this, but you could heat one up on a cooking tray and bend it round into an oval or round shape (bristles out). It makes a very unusual bracelet for a teenager or younger! You could use a glass jar to shape it round. I've never done this myself, but there's a London company that sells things like this at unbelievably expensive prices. (09/05/2004)
An old toothbrush is perfect for cleaning between the tines of forks when washing dishes.
By Camilla (12/27/2004)
Cleaning Sinks and Faucets
I use mine to clean around my sinks and faucets. Gets all the slime out from under the faucet. I have a cheap one (not used) that I scrub my Foreman with, it fits perfectly into the grooves. I use them for cleaning aroung the hinges of the toilet seats! They are great for scrubbing the rocks in your aquarium, dusting the lint catch on your hair dryer (or any of your electronics FTM!) and for scrubbing the part of your coffee pot where the water comes out! (12/27/2004)
Since I do a lot of canning, there are always jars to wash. An old toothbrush gets right into the threads around the neck of the jars and cleans them up quickly. (12/28/2004)
1. I use one to clean my garlic press. The bristles are great for pushing the garlic out of the holes.
2. I keep one to scrub out my bird bath. It's labeled "BIRDS" so I won't use it for anything else, to keep prevent spread of disease. (12/28/2004)
By Lynne
In the Laundry Room
I use my old toothbrush in the laundry room and scrub like crazy when using Shout or other cleaning products to spot clean rather than rubbing the fabric. Works great! (12/30/2004)
I use an old cleaned toothbrush as an eyebrow brush instead of using those flimsy ones that you can buy.
(01/03/2005)
By Alpha
Spot Cleaning Fabric with Bleach
All the ideas above are great and I've done most of them. The one additional use I have for the toothbrush is for taking stains out of fabric that has designs in it. I dip the toothbrush into the bleach and, very carefully, remove a set-in stain without bleaching the surrounding colored areas. I've used this many times for my grandchildren's baby bibs, gowns, etc. (01/07/2005)
By Bonnie
Cleaning Fingernails
Save old toothbrushes to clean your fingernails after gardening. Recycling old toothbrushes become inexpensive cleaning tools!
By Anita Roberson (07/22/2005)
Detailing Car Interior
I also use old toothbrushes for most of the chores already listed, mostly the faucets. I also keep one in my glove compartment in the car. When I'm waiting in the car for some reason and have nothing to do, I always whip out the ol' toothbrush and start "detailing" the interior of my car. It gets all the dust and crumbs around the hard-to-reach areas: radio knobs, parking brake, gear shift, and best of all, it fits perfectly between the air vents for cleaning.
I also have a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner for my home (I HIGHLY recommend those!) and I ALWAYS use a toothbrush to clean the dust from its hard-to-reach areas.
Quick joke: How would you know the toothbrush was actually first invented in Tennessee?
Because if it was invented anywhere else, it would have been called a "teethbrush." :o) (07/22/2005)
By Jo in TN
Cleaning Window Screens
I use old toothbrushes to clean window screens. Most likely, the debris will fall off and you don't have to get out the water hose. I use them to clean and disinfect toys, clean sippy cups and the inserts, tile grout, corners on window sills and french doors, toilets, and more! (07/22/2005)
By suzi homemaker
Cleaning Combs and Brushes and Overspray
I also use a toothbrush for cleaning combs and brushes. I learned from years of cleaning my mom's beauty shop that the best cleaner to use is shampoo in hot water. If it cleans the hair, it has to clean the combs and brushes as well. It's also helpful cleaning over spray from hairspray and various hair products. (02/11/2006)
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