If your life is hectic, finding ways to make cleaning faster and easier is probably a priority. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a small fortune on miracle cleaning agents to make life easier, as what you need is sitting in your bathroom right now. Toothpaste is a surprisingly versatile cleaning substance that can be used in almost every room in the home.
So the next time you need to clean something in a hurry, ask yourself: “Can I use toothpaste to make things easier?”
1. Cleaning mirrors
Cleaning mirrors, particularly those in bathrooms, can be a painstaking job that often leaves streaks behind. Apply a little white toothpaste to your mirror, and rub it in with a paper towel until it sparkles. Not only will you be left with a spotless surface, the mirror won’t steam up whilst you take a bath or shower.
2. Cleaning an iron
Do you have dark deposits on the underside of your iron? These can interfere with the function of the iron, and leave residues on your clothes. When the iron is cool, rub in some white toothpaste with an old rag, then clean it off with a clean, damp cloth. The surface should be shiny and smooth afterwards.
3. Removing watermarks from furniture
Are rings and watermarks ruining the look of your dining, occasional and coffee tables? If so, rub in some white toothpaste with a microfibre cloth. Allow at least ten minutes of contact time, then wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth. This is great for removing coffee and tea rings from wooden table tops.
4. Cleaning jewellery
Instead of paying a jeweller to clean your favourite rings, necklaces and earrings, do it yourself with some toothpaste. Squirt a little onto a new toothbrush, and scrub it in as hard as you can. Finish by cleaning the residue with a damp, microfibre cloth. Toothpaste containing bicarbonate of soda works best.
5. Clean and repair CDs and DVDs
If you have old CDs and DVDs lying about that are covered in general gunk and scratches, don’t throw them out just yet. Squirt some white toothpaste onto a clean microfibre cloth, and rub in across the entire playing surface of the disc. Clean it off with a slightly dampened microfibre cloth, and many of the tiny scratches and dirt particles will be gone.
6. Polishing silverware
Instead of relying on expensive store-bought silverware cleaning agents, use toothpaste containing bicarbonate of soda instead. Use a toothbrush to buff up particularly dirty areas, and polish with a microfibre cloth. Along with a little warm water, this should be all you need to make your silverware, chrome, aluminium, steel, brass and copper shine brightly.
7. Cleaning hair straighteners and curling tongs
Over time, hair straighteners and curling tongs can become encrusted with a nasty coating. This is a collection of the different products you regularly add to your hair. To remove these coatings and ensure your tongs and straighteners are working properly, rub a little white toothpaste over the affected areas — whilst they are switched off and cool, of course. Clean away the residue with a dampened microfibre cloth, and you should be good to go.
8. Cleaning metal sinks
If you need to shine up your metal kitchen sink in a hurry, just a little toothpaste containing bicarbonate of soda and a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush should suffice. This will also help to eliminate odours that lurk in the sink and down the drain.
While there may be more effective products on the market for these important cleaning jobs, toothpaste can be a quick fix when you need to clean in a hurry.
