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3 Cleaning Uses for Toothpaste

You use toothpaste on a daily basis — hopefully — to keep those pearlies bright and sparkling. But did you know that some toothpastes lead double lives? That’s right; plain, white toothpaste — and this would be the actual paste, not the gel — can also work some wonders as a household cleaning product.

Intrigued? Check out the following unusual cleaning uses for toothpaste.

Cleaning Silver with Toothpaste

Tarnished silverware, jewelry and silver pieces won’t impress anyone. Well, one of the many unusual uses for toothpaste is cleaning silver. You read that correctly; toothpaste can be the first step in restoring the shine to dull silver.

Note: If you’re trying to clean very expensive jewelry or family heirlooms, you should avoid DIYs and contact a professional. You should also avoid using toothpaste to clean silver-plated items. You’ll need:

  1. Use the dry microfiber cloth to rub the toothpaste onto the silver. Be gentle so that you can avoid scratching the surface while cleaning.
  2. Gently clean detailed areas with the soft toothbrush instead of the cloth. Take care not do scrub; you want to use a very delicate touch here.
  3. Rinse the silver under warm water until all the toothpaste has been removed.
  4. Wipe items dry using a clean microfiber cloth.

How to Clean Shoes with Toothpaste

Can toothpaste remove stains? It can when shoes are involved! If the rubber on your tennis shoes is scuffed or your canvas slides are looking dingy, you can clean them using a little toothpaste. Make sure you perform a spot test for both of the methods below.

Note: These cleaning tips should not be used on shoes made of suede, leather, silk or other delicate fabrics. You’ll need to check the manufacturer’s care instructions for footwear made of those materials.

For the rubber on sneakers

You’ll need:
  • Toothpaste
  • A soft toothbrush
  • A microfiber cloth
  1. Place a dab of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
  2. Gently scrub any scuffed areas until the marks are gone. You’ll want to use circular motions as you work.
  3. Dampen a microfiber cloth. Use this to remove any leftover toothpaste from the sneaker.

For canvas shoes

You’ll need:
  • Toothpaste
  • Microfiber cloths
  1. Wipe down the canvas part of your shoes with a dry microfiber cloth.
  2. Lightly dampen the part of your shoe that needs to be cleaned.
  3. Squeeze some toothpaste onto a clean microfiber cloth. You’ll want to use about the same amount as you would if you were brushing your teeth.
  4. Work the toothpaste into the stained part of the canvas. Keep this up for one to three minutes, until the stain has disappeared.
  5. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth and use this to remove any remaining toothpaste.
  6. Let the canvas air dry before putting the shoes away or wearing them again.

Removing Crayon Marks with Toothpaste

When your little Picassos and Kahlos leave murals on your walls, don’t fret. One of the amazing uses for toothpaste is making those crayoned masterpieces magically disappear.

You’ll need:

  • Toothpaste
  • A soft toothbrush
  • A microfiber cloth
  1. Spot test an inconspicuous part of your wall before you dive into this DIY.
  2. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush, just as if you were brushing your teeth.
  3. Gently rub the crayon off using the toothbrush and toothpaste.
  4. Dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe any remaining toothpaste residue or crayon wax from the wall.
Do these unusual uses for toothpaste have you wondering what other household items have secret scrubbing properties? Learn all about cleaning with lemon, then take a look at these tips for keeping a tidy home using vinegar.

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