The average toothbrush, according to the Aurora Dental Group lasts three months. After 90 days, you should swap yours for a new one provided you take care of your oral hygiene. But don’t just throw that old brush away – or at least not right away. First, use it to scrub the hard-to-clean areas of your home that don’t always get enough attention. Here are five ways you can make good use of your old toothbrush before you send it to the landfill.
Clean the nooks and crannies of your car
Cleaning your car usually consists of a good wash and a vacuum cleaner inside. The smaller crevices of the car are overlooked. Reader’s Digest suggests using a toothbrush to clean your car’s notoriously small air vents. Cleaning between the vents can be difficult with just a rag, but toothbrush bristles are easier to penetrate and loosen dirt and dust.
Housekeeping Page A good thing also recommends using a toothbrush to clean your car’s vinyl seat covers and other plastic surfaces. With circular movements, the small bristles remove deeply rooted dirt and loosen plaque on your teeth.
Clean your faucets and grout
Mold and debris quickly develop around your bathroom (and kitchen) faucets, causing a strange movie that can sometimes be difficult to remove with a rag or sponge. Bringing a toothbrush to your faucets can release stubborn powdery mildew and coarse debris. The small head carefully removes the gap between the faucet fittings and the rubber connections.
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Your toothbrush, which needs replacing, can also act as a reminder to clean the grout in your bathroom. I’ve gone through numerous scrubbers looking for the perfect brush to get between the tiles in my bathroom, but the perfect solution was right under my nose: using an old toothbrush is a tedious but effective way to clean up the grout in your Distribute bathrooms to thoroughly clean walls and floors until you replace your next one.
Refresh your devices
Replacing a toothbrush can also be a reminder to clean the hidden parts of your appliances that you normally don’t think of: your dishwasher’s filters, gaskets on your washing machine, and small kitchen appliances like your cheese grater and garlic press.Very efficient at collecting small bits of food and debris in cracks and crevices that are difficult to reach with a sponge or paper towel.
Use it in your home office
The New York Post 30% of Americans have lunch while they work. Now that our desk chairs are also our sofas and armchairs, they are prone to lunchtime accidents. I’ve tried using OxiClean in a spray bottle and scrubbing with a sponge, but nothing targets the stains like the little head of a toothbrush.
You can also use a toothbrush to gently clean your computer keyboard and get between the keys faster than a Q-Tip and more efficiently than a traditional duster.
Make your personal belongings look new
Sneakerheads long understood the practical uses of a discarded toothbrush. Not only can you use a toothbrush to clean the rubber and leather areas, but you can also make it easier to scrub the laces. Just remove them and run the toothbrush on both sides with soap and water. The New York Times notes: “The best tool for cleaning leather uppers, midsoles and outsoles is an old toothbrush with soft bristles.”
The worn bristles are also a delicate option for cleaning jewelry. A toothbrush is perfect for getting into the small corners and the fine filigree of your pearl earrings or rings set with precious stones. This will save you money and a trip to the jewelers.
