9 Secret Ways to Use Toothpaste

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You already know that toothpaste helps keeps your choppers healthy — not to mention pearly white. But there is more magic in that long, thin tube than you ever imagined.

From cleaning piano keys to zapping pimples, toothpaste has many great — and cost-effective — applications. Hint: Remember to avoid gel-based toothpastes and instead use a plain white paste when employing these ideas.

Following are nine surprising uses for toothpaste that have nothing to do with teeth, but will make you smile nonetheless.

Get rid of pimples

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Pimples always seem to pop up at the absolute worst times. Your skin stays clear until your wedding weekend, or right before a big job interview, and then the eruption ensues. Zap that pesky pimple with a little dab of toothpaste, and it should disappear within 24 hours. According to Reader’s Digest:

The toothpaste dehydrates the pimple and absorbs the oil. This remedy works best on pimples that have come to a head.

Shine up jewelry

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Is your diamond grimy? If your bling has lost its gleam, take a little toothpaste and a brush and go to work on it.

I first tried this trick years many ago when I ran out of jewelry cleaner. And now I regularly use toothpaste to clean my wedding and engagement rings. It’s cheaper and equally effective, if not more so!

Clean piano keys

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Piano keys traditionally were made of ivory from the tusks and teeth of animals. So it makes perfect sense that toothpaste would bring a new gleam to them.

Today, most piano keys are made of plastic. But toothpaste still does a great job of shining them up. According to Coupon Sherpa:

Rub each key gently with a damp, cotton swab and a touch of paste. Wipe dry and buff with a clean cloth. It takes time, but you’ll be stunned by how nice your keyboard looks at the end of the project.

Banish car interior smells

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If your car smells a little funky, try a trick recommended by the folks at Carefree Dental. It’s quick and dirt cheap:

Take a couple of smears of toothpaste on a paper towel. Fold the paper up and place it underneath your car seats, but only when the vehicle is parked in sunlight. Once it heats up, the toothpaste will begin to melt and soften, and the car will fill up with a minty smell.

Whiten your sneakers

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This next tip may have you sprinting to the medicine cabinet! If your favorite pair of sneakers is looking a little dingy, whiten them up with toothpaste and a rag. They’ll look brand, spanking new in no time.

Scrub stains off your nails

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Dark polishes can leave your fingernails discolored. So grab a tube of whitening toothpaste and start scrubbing. According to Today.com:

Use a nailbrush or unused toothbrush to scrub the stains away — really get in there, especially under the nails. Follow up with a nice lemon juice soak.

Deodorize containers — or your hands

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Does your baby’s bottle smell of sour milk? Are you having trouble ridding your hands of that fish or garlic smell? In both cases, toothpaste acts as a great deodorizer. Just scrub the bottle or your hands with that paste.

Defog your goggles

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If you love to scuba dive, you know that your goggles can become pretty foggy. And a new pair of goggles often has a manufacturer film that you’ll want to remove. Toothpaste to the rescue! According to Wise Bread:

Simply squirt a dab in each lens and rub in thoroughly with your fingers. Rinse well.

Remove table rings

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Mom always urged us to use a coaster, but old habits are hard to break. If your glass leaves a ring on your coffee table, use a little toothpaste and a soft cloth to rub out the stain. Coupon Sherpa suggests the rest:

Apply a finishing shine with a touch of furniture polish or oil (olive oil works, too). Then break out the coasters and make sure they get used.

Do you know of other unusual tips for using toothpaste? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.

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