12 Clever Uses for Old Toothbrushes
Buying a new toothbrush every three months may be dentist recommended, but it sure isn’t eco approved. Yeah, strict oral hygiene is important, but it still seems a bit wasteful to us green gals who rack our brains for ways to reuse things before tossing them in the trash. To spare you the headache, here are some ideas.
Dusting my keyboard has never been easier than with the help of an old toothbrush. This precise tool makes it a cinch to clean between the keys.
Scour the small spaces between the tiles on your bathroom and kitchen floors. (To paraphrase David Sedaris, you can have a clean floor or you can have a mop, but you can’t have both.)
Eliminate stains from your carpet or upholstery. The toughened bristles can provide some serious scrubbing action to targeted areas.
Groom unruly brows with an old toothbrush. And to think, some people actually invest in an unnecessary eyebrow comb when a used toothbrush works just the same! Ah, the satisfaction of resourceful thinking.
If you dye your hair at home, touch up your roots. (Another tip: stick to henna or herbal coloring and forego the harsh chemicals.)
If banging your shoes together won’t remove the mud caked in their soles, then use an old toothbrush to clean out the treads.
After a day in the garden, your nails look like you gave yourself a French manicure using soil instead of polish. A toothbrush is the perfect tool to scrub dirt from underneath your fingernails.
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly dust gathers in between the grates on my air conditioner. Keep them clean with a toothbrush.
I’m a stickler for spotless faucets, but my handy rag is no match for those hard-to-reach spots in between the knobs. Make every millimeter of your faucets sparkle with your recycled mini scrub brush.
Do you end up looking like you worked a full day as a mechanic every time you try to clean the chains on your bike? Get rid of grease the clean way with an old toothbrush.
Clean bits of food encrusted between the tines of your forks.
If you’re a fan of intricate jewelry, then you’re obviously aware of how difficult it is to polish. No problem! Just use an old toothbrush to get in between all the tiny nooks and crannies of filigree and beading.
For more ideas, visit our pals at Apartment Therapy Re-Nest and Green Daily. By the way, to cut down on virgin plastic use and waste, consider buying an eco-friendly toothbrush made from recycled materials.
Image: Anderson Mancini
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6 Comments
June 11th, 2009 at 7:46 am
HA! love the first one about the keyboard. My computer keyboard is filthy, despite trying to vacuum it out; the toothbrush idea is fab and my daughter has two old ones in the bathroom, so guess what I’ll be doing this evening!
I already use one for cleaning around the taps and grout, but had just never thought of the keyboard idea. Would I sound terribly sad if I said I was looking forward to trying this out LOL!
Thanks for the inspiration.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
There are endless uses for old toothbrushes – thanks for the suggestions.
I have to say though, I’ve never in my life replaced my toothbrush every three months, and I don’t intend to start. I’m sure that rule was made up by toothbrush manufacturers.
I replace my toothbrush when the bristles get bent, which is closer to six to 12 months. I have no fillings and I’m 33, so I must be doing something right.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
don’t forget toothbrush bracelets!
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Toothbrush-Bracelet
June 12th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Very good. This is much better than the unthinking, common practice of tossing them to a landfill where they will sit intact for thousands of years.
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