fries, but there truly are more uses for
toothpaste than you'd believe possible. We've
compiled tubes and tubes worth of ideas to
amaze and amuse you. Perhaps you'll even find
many of them useful.
But a few caveats first: We strongly recommend
you use one of the more inexpensive toothpastes
-- not gels, tartar controllers or whiteners unless
otherwise specified. Look for a mild abrasive,
stain fighter. Avoid toothpastes containing
"triclosan."
Naturally, you'll find the best prices on
toothpastes with coupons from major drug
stores.
Without further ado, here are unconventional
uses for toothpaste:
IN YOUR CLEANING KIT
1. Baby Bottles
Remove that sour-milk-smell baby bottles get
by scrubbing with a water-and-toothpaste
mixture. Rinse very thoroughly with water or
toss the bottles into the dishwasher.
2. Carpet Stains
Squeeze toothpaste directly onto the carpet stain
and scrub it with a toothbrush. Then rinse and
repeat the process until the stain disappears.
Not much different than brushing your teeth, is
it?
For truly stubborn stains, like vomit from aging
cats, you might need to go with a professional
carpet-cleaning product, like those available with
Pet Street Mall coupon codes.
3. Cell Phone Screens
Unprotected mobile-phone screens become
scratched to heck over time. Lightly rub the
screen with a touch of toothpaste and your
finger. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry. This
also works on watch crystals, for those of us
Luddites who still wear watches.
4. Clothing Stains
If toothpaste works on your carpets, it should
work equally well on cloth. Apply the toothpaste
directly to the stained area with a bit of water
and rub hard before popping in the washer. This
may not work on all fabrics or stains but it's
quite effective on ink and shirt-collar stains. You
may have to repeat this process if the stain is
old.
Of course, you don't want to use whitening
toothpastes on colored fabrics. Instead, use a
basic toothpaste without bleaching agents for
this purpose.
5. Crayon on Painted Walls
Children, crayons and walls are natural
attractants. No need to panic. Just gently rub a
damp cloth and some toothpaste on your child's
masterpiece, then inse with a wet cloth and dry.
Make sure you run a test on a small area of the
wall before applying to a large area, just in case
the paint can't handle even a mild abrasive.
For high-gloss walls where toothpaste might
remove some of the shine, purchase the
exceptionally handy Goo Gone. As with
toothpaste, make sure you try a test run first.
6. Leather
Put a dab on leather scuffs, rub in with a soft
cloth, and rinse with a damp cloth. Works well
on shoes, purses, coats or anything else made of
leather.
7. Linoleum Scuffs
Scrub scuff marks with toothpaste and a dry
cloth until no residue remains.
8. Piano Keys
Tidy up those ivories before you tickle them. Rub
each key gently with a damp, cotton swab and a
touch of paste. Wipe dry and buff with a clean
cloth. It takes time, but you'll be stunned by
how nice your keyboard looks at the end of the
project.
9. Patio Furniture
Apply some elbow grease, a brush and a mixture
of toothpaste and water. Use a teeth-whitening
paste on white furniture for the perfect shine.
10. Silver and Brass
Use a soft toothbrush to scrub lightly with just a
dab of paste. Rinse thoroughly and polish with a
dry, soft cloth. If toothpaste remains in any
cracks, clean the toothbrush thoroughly and
brush under water to dislodge the white paste.
Dry again and polish.
For heavy-duty grunge, apply paste and let it
soak overnight. Whatever you do, however, don't
apply toothpaste to pearls as the grit will
remove the shiny finish.ron Grunge
Apply a little toothpaste and rub into the iron's
plate, then remove the residue with a dry and
clean cloth.