Home & Garden
8 things you can (and should) clean with a toothbrush
It turns out that if you’ve only ever used your toothbrush to clean teeth (like most of us), you’re missing out on a whole world of cleaning opportunities. The shape and size of the humble toothbrush makes it the perfect implement for tight spaces and cracks and crevices around the home. Grab a (clean) one next time you need to clean one of the following.
- Hair dryer vents – Hair and other lint caught in your hair dryer vents? Toothbrush to the rescue! Cleaning your dryer takes strain off the motor and can actually make it far more effective cutting drying time and power needs.
- Velcro – The big selling point for Velcro is the small hooks that help grip onto various things. Problem is those same hooks are a magnet for hair, dirt and lint. Brush it all out with a strong bristled toothbrush for clean and clear velcro every time.
- Stovetops – If your stovetop is looking a little bit worse for wear; a scrub with a toothbrush might be just the thing to brighten it up. The scrubbing action of the bristles can help shift even stubborn stains that wipes or rags struggled with.
- Grout – It may not be the most exciting job in the world but the results are often enough to keep you moving forward towards glistening clean grout. A toothbrush is the perfect shape and size for sneaking into the small crevices and removing gunk and stains.
- Car seat cushions – If you’ve ever had small children in your car, you’ll know they leave a trail of crumbs in their wake. If you’ve got a ‘crumb between the cushions’ scenario, run the rough bristles of a toothbrush along the crevice to dislodge then hoover them up and out.
- Taps and spouts – Prevent mildew and bacteria from growing by scouring hard to reach spots with soap and water.
- Drains – It might not be pleasant but cleaning your sink is a necessary evil. To do so quickly and easily, mix half a cup of baking soda with a quarter cup table salt and pour down the drain. Follow this with one cup of warm vinegar then scrub any leftover gunk away with your toothbrush.
- Fridge shelves and surfaces – The surfaces in your fridge can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep them spick and span by scrubbing regularly with a toothbrush to remove food and other debris even in the tightest corners.
Do you have an “unusual” cleaning implement in your house? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Related links:
How to stop crying when chopping onions
16 kitchen tricks foodies will love
5 foods you should never reheat