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Uses for an Old Toothbrush: cleaning jewelry, vents, bicycles | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Uses for an Old Toothbrush

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Before throwing the old toothbrush out, take a look at what it can do to improve the small things inside your home.

If you have concerns about using the toothbrush for culinary or cosmetic purposes, boil it with water in a pot for 3 to 4 minutes.

List of Items to Clean With a Toothbrush:

  • Use with an abrasive cleaner to scrub around drains and faucets, grates, vents, grills, and between bathroom tiles.
  • Cleaning jewelry and silverware
  • Cleaning between the teeth of a chainsaw
  • Applying pipe sealant in hard to reach places
  • Brushing the corn’s teeth.” Brushing away bits of silk that cling to the ears of fresh corn after husking.
  • Cleaning fish
  • Cleaning off mud and other debris from the soles of shoes
  • De-greasing bicycle parts
  • Sweeping crumbs away from a keyboard
  • Scrubbing small stains off of carpets or upholstery
  • Applying glue to grooves and joints
  • Personal grooming such as, brushing brows and lashes, teasing and curling small sections of hair, fixing mustaches, sideburns, and beards.

Tips:

  • To clean a vent that is removable, soak it in a strongly alkaline cleaner and solvent, then scrub using a stiff toothbrush to get into cracks and crevices. If it is not removable, dip the brush in a strong alkaline cleaner and scrub.
  • To clean gold jewelry, fill a small container with dishwashing liquid and 1 teaspoon of ammonia. Soak the jewelry in this strong solution for a few minutes, then clean with an old toothbrush. Rinse and pat dry.
  • To clean the filter on your washing machine, first use an old toothbrush to remove any lint. Soak the filter in vinegar overnight, then rinse it with water.

What do you clean with an old toothbrush?
 

About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill is a senior editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she focuses much of her time on managing content development for the Almanac’s line of calendars. Read More from Heidi Stonehill

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