5 Things To Do with Toothpaste

From: Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things, Reader’s Digest Canada

It turns out the usefulness of toothpaste extends far beyond the bathroom! Here are five clever new ways to put toothpaste to work around the house.

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Did You Know?

Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of ox-hoof ash, burned eggshells, myrrh, pumice and water to clean their teeth. It wasn’t until 1850 that a formula we would recognize as toothpaste was developed.

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Use Toothpaste to Prevent Fogged Goggles

Whether you’re woodworking, going skiing or scuba diving, nothing is more frustrating (and sometimes dangerous) than fogged goggles. Prevent the problem by coating the goggles with toothpaste and then wiping them off.

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Use Toothpaste to Clean Piano Keys

Has tickling the ivories left them a bit dingy? Clean them up with toothpaste and a toothbrush, and then wipe them down with a damp cloth. (Makes sense since ivory is essentially elephant teeth.) However, toothpaste will work just as well on modern pianos that usually have keys covered with plastic rather than real ivory.

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Use Toothpaste to Deodorize Baby Bottles

Well-used baby bottles inevitable pick up a sour-milk smell. However, toothpaste will remove the odour in a jiffy. Just put some on your bottle brush and scrub away. Make sure you rinse off the toothpaste thoroughly.

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Use Toothpaste to Remove Scuffs from Shoes

A little toothpaste does an amazing job of removing scuffs from leather shoes. Just squirt a quick dab on the scuffed area and rub with a soft cloth, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. The leather will look like new.

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Use Toothpaste to Clear Up Pimples

When your teenager moans about a prominent pimple, have him or her dab a bit of non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste on the offending spot, and it should be dried up by morning. The toothpaste dehydrates the pimple and absorbs the oil. This pimple-clearing remedy works best on spots that have come to a head. WARNING: This remedy may be irritating to sensitive skin. Try it on a small area of skin first.

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