I Tried 7 Toothpaste Hacks. Here's What Worked.

You know toothpaste keeps your teeth clean and your mouth healthy, but there are some uses of toothpaste that don't involve your pearly whites. A quick internet search will show you a zillion "hacks" for personal care products like toothpaste. But do they really work?

I decided to grab my favorite paste to test out some of these clever toothpaste hacks. Here are a few clear winners.

1. Clean Your Kicks

I love my sneakers, but I don't love how they look when they're dirty. A little toothpaste was all it took to breathe some life back into them. Add a small amount of toothpaste to the rubber parts of your shoe and scrub with a toothbrush. Wipe the paste—and dirt—away with a wet, clean cloth.

2. Remove Nail Polish

Whether you can't find your regular polish remover or, like me, you're looking for a gentler method, try toothpaste to help coax off that chipping color. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a common ingredient in toothpaste that acts as a mild abrasive to remove plaque from your teeth.

Interestingly, it can also help gently remove the polish from your nails. Massage the toothpaste onto your nail beds to loosen the polish. Then, rinse with warm water and peel it away.

3. Freshen Reusable Containers

My reusable mugs and food containers help minimize waste, but after a few uses, they can start to take on some funky odors. A little toothpaste rinse helps make your reusable containers fresh again. Scrub a small amount of toothpaste inside the container, rinse with warm water, and then wash.

4. Erase Crayon Art

Have a pint-sized Picasso at home? Chances are you've found some artwork in places it doesn't belong (like your walls). Use a little bit of toothpaste and elbow grease to remove rogue crayon marks without damaging your paint. Scrub some toothpaste on crayon marks and then wipe it away with a clean, wet cloth.

5. Hang a Picture

If you're trying to get some non-crayon art up on the walls, toothpaste can be a great assistant. Dab a tiny drop of toothpaste on the frame's sawtooth, then hold the frame up to the wall where you want it, and press. When you pull the frame away, you'll see a small dot of toothpaste on the wall exactly where the nail should go. Hammer the nail in and wipe away any excess paste.

6. Fill Holes

Now, if you hung a frame incorrectly before you read this list, that handy paste could also help you fill any holes you have in your walls. Larger holes will require some real spackle, but toothpaste works great on small nail holes. Smooth some toothpaste over any small pinholes and let it dry.

7. Make Your Bathroom Shine

If hard water leaves stubborn stains on your shower doors and fixtures, a little toothpaste can help them shine again. Rub some toothpaste onto any ugly spots and rinse away with warm water.

Special Bonus Hack

While these other toothpaste hacks help you out by using toothpaste, this clever viral hack gives you a hand if you or your kids overuse toothpaste when brushing. Simply empty your kids' toothpaste tube into a pump-style container, and say goodbye to sticky toothpaste all over the bathroom counter and tube waste. All you or your kids have to do is pump a small amount of paste onto their toothbrushes.

Personally, I was surprised by how well these toothpaste hacks actually worked, and I especially loved that I can get so much done with the toothpaste made with naturally derived and sourced ingredients that I already use. Who knew that something so good for the environment could also be so good for my shoes, walls, nails, and more?

Check out more hacks and tips on the DIY Naturally board by @tomsofmaine on Pinterest.

Image sources: Sher Warkentin

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