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The Secret Life of Toothpaste

The Secret Life of Toothpaste

Everything these days is so expensive that it’s a relief to find products that are multi-functional. With that in mind, let’s examine the many uses of toothpaste. Yes, toothpaste. If you're going to become a frugal living expert, you're going to have to start thinking outside the box (or tube, as it were)!

1. Remove crayon from painted walls.
Rub a damp cloth with toothpaste over the crayon markings and then rinse the wall with a clean, wet cloth. The crayon will come right off.

2. Clean baby bottles.
After a while, baby bottles get that sour milk smell that's hard to get rid of. Clean them with a little toothpaste and the smell will disappear. Just be sure to rinse the bottles really, really well before you use them again.

3. Brighten your nails.
For gleaming nails, brush your fingers and toes like you do your teeth. Who needs a manicure or a pedicure?

4. Zap zits.
Dab a little on the offending eruption and the acidic properties should help dissolve it overnight—or at least bring the redness down a bit.

5. Freshen the car.
Squeeze some toothpaste onto a paper towel and crumple it up. Stuff it under one of the seats in your car and as the inside heats up, your car will be minty fresh.

Interesting ideas. Do you think toothpaste really works on all this stuff, or are these uses merely old wives’ tales? Have you found creative uses for things around the house to help save money? [Wisebread]

Posted: 8/15/08
VictoriaB

I've definitely used toothpaste on skin eruptions and it works! You look kinda silly, but like it says if you put it on before you go to bed, you might be pleasantly surprised in the morning.

GeriGreene

Brush your diamond rings with toothpaste to make them shine like new!!

lilliede81

If you have silver wiretapped pendants or any kind of silver jewelry, toothpaste & a used, soft, toothbrush is the ticket to remove tarnish from the items. Rinse, dry or air dry -- or you may need to use a little soapy water to finish, then rinse, dry or air dry.

Sometimes toothpaste will take stains off wood floors, depending on what the stain is, also from some fabrics, carpets -- wet & dab dry with a towel, pieces of old T-shirt, or paper towels.

I have heard it's successful on certain types of pen ink, but haven't tried it.


MAGCo3

I learned this trick years ago when I had to move quickly. If you have nail holes in your wall and can't afford to buy joint compound, toothpaste(the paste kind) will fill them up and it doesn't shrink when it dries.

  • By MAGCo3
  • on 8/16/08 12:51 PM EST