Toothbrushes: 10 alternative ways to use them

by Mark Bennett

February 25, 2024

Toothbrushes: 10 alternative ways to use them
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Who said things can't have many different purposes other than its original one? And, in fact, there are many objects that can have some other function. An example of this is the humble toothbrush. Have you ever thought you could use your toothbrush for chores other than brushing your teeth?

If not, then check out 10 alternative ways you can use your toothbrush below:

Features of a toothbrush

Features of a toothbrush

Anderson Mancini/Wikimedia commons - CC BY 2.0 DEED

The small, overall size of a toothbrush, the tapered head and its variably-rigid bristles (ranging from soft to extra hard)  makes it an excellent ally for getting into hard-to-reach spot that you would not otherwise be able to clean. Curious to discover some of cleaning uses? Well keep reading:

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Taps covered in limescale and mold

Taps covered in limescale and mold

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You are probably familiar with mold or limescale forming around your taps (especially at the bases). These are usually awkward areas to clean thoroughly with a sponge. The bristles of a toothbrush, however, can easily get into these tight spaces around your taps.

Cheese grater

Cheese grater

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A toothbrush can also be used in the kitchen to, for example, clean the cheese grater. This is also a rather awkward object to clean with all its nooks and crannies. Clean thoroughly using a toothbrush and thereby, prevent the appearance of rust on your graters.

Gas oven burners

Gas oven burners

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It's nice to have clean gas stove, but getting into the burner housings is not easy. Well, your toothbrush can do this job with ease - seeing is believing!

Clean grouting

Clean grouting

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Over time, the grouting between tiles gets blackened with dirt and wiping with a simple rag won't help much. Well, a toothbrush to the rescue again! And for this type of job, you can probably use a toothbrush with hard bristles.

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Perfect for small appliances

Perfect for small appliances

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Cleaning small appliances properly can be a real challenge - but not if you have a toothbrush handy! Small and slim, your toothbrush will easily fit into the toaster, the microwave oven grills and the coffee machine. Crumbs, food residues and coffee grains can be effectively and efficiently removed using a toothbrush.

Clean car air vents

Clean car air vents

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A toothbrush can also be handy for cleaning objects in the car, like the air vents, for example.  Difficult to get into, the bristles of a toothbrush will get into the air vent slots, eliminating all the dust (and other grime) build-up.

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And PC keyboards...

And PC keyboards...

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A PC keyboard has similar vulnerabilities as the air vents in the car. And if we don't have a proper PC brush available, you can always use the toothbrush to clean between the keys on the keyboard. Keyboards pick up a lot of dust and grime and should be cleaned regularly.

Clean jewelry

Clean jewelry

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Jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings) can be cleaned using a simple toothbrush. With the right polishing/cleaning product and light use of the toothbrush, you can easily remove tarnish from your jewelry collection. 

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Handy for plants

Handy for plants

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And now, on to gardening. Here too, a toothbrush can be a useful aid for sowing. Don't believe it? Well try using the back end of the toothbrush to make the holes in the soil for your seeds. Water, then sit back and wait for your seedlings to sprout!

Now you've seen how handy a toothbrush can be, why not "put yours to the test"?!

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