7 Surprising things you can clean with toothpaste

Toothpaste contains mild abrasive properties effective at removing stains and debris while being non-harmful. This makes toothpaste a highly effective cleaning agent that can be used for many household items and common cleaning tasks, so it's a great tool to add to your fall cleaning checklist.

'You’ll be surprised that toothpaste is way more versatile than you think. Because of its powerful yet harmless ingredients, you can clean most things with it,' explains Bella Zinti, home builder at The Homey Space. 'By using a more abrasive brush and your toothpaste, you can remove stains from surfaces like walls, upholstery, and carpets in replace of harsh household cleaning products.' 

Our experts have explained seven surprising things you can clean with toothpaste and their cleaning tips for the best results. 

Surprising things you can clean with toothpaste

'Remember that when using toothpaste for cleaning, it's best to choose a non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste, as these tend to be less abrasive and work well for cleaning purposes,' advises Hashi Mohammed, president of Ivy Cleans. 'Additionally, always test a small, inconspicuous area before applying toothpaste to a more visible surface to ensure it won't cause any damage or discoloration.'

Some stains can also be tackled with the addition of baking soda, salt and lemon juice.

1. Water rings on wood furniture

Water rings can significantly downgrade the appeal of your wooden furniture, whether that be a coffee, dining, or console table. Luckily, toothpaste can be a surprisingly effective solution to reduce or remove water stains from wood.

'If you have water rings formed on your wooden furniture, a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda can help get rid of them,' recommends Petya Holevich, Fantastic Services' house cleaning expert and supervisor. 'After you apply it to the effected area, gently rub the mixture onto the water ring or scratch in a circular motion and wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth.'

You can also continue to rub until the mark is gone or significantly reduced. After wiping clean, you can apply furniture polish for a finishing touch.

2. Metal appliances

If you have copper or stainless steel appliances, such as a metal backsplash, copper pots, or a stainless steel oven that is dirty scuffed, toothpaste can be an effective cleaning agent.

To leave stainless steel appliances with a clean and polished finish and remove smudges and fingerprints, apply toothpaste and buff with a soft cloth.

'If you apply toothpaste to a soft, microfibre cloth, you can use it to polish copper items or surfaces and remove tarnish.

'Make sure to use gentle pressure and circular motions while doing this and finish by rinsing the metal under hot water and buffing it with a new clean cloth,' recommends Petya Holevich.

'If you’re dealing with deep tarnish, let the toothpaste sit on the surface for a few minutes before rinsing it away.' The cloth will pick up the tarnish.

You can find a microfiber cloth, such as these USANOOKS grey ones, from Amazon.

3. Glass and mirrors

'You can also use toothpaste for cleaning mirrors, glasses, and chrome faucets in your bathrooms, leaving the space sparkling,' explains Bella Zinti.

Use a non-abrasive, plain, white toothpaste to clean glass and mirrors. Apply a thin layer, wipe it with a clean using a damp cloth, and then polish it for a streak-free shine. This can also be ideal for preventing fogging on glass and mirrors.

4. Scum from soap

'Soap scum often builds up in sinks and on shower doors and luckily, it can be easily removed with toothpaste,' advises Petya Holevich. 'To clean glass shower doors and sinks, simply squeeze a small amount of it onto a damp microfibre cloth and apply pressure firmly while scrubbing the soap scum away. 

'Finally, clean the cloth, wipe away the remaining residue and let the area dry well.'

5. Grout

Toothpaste is excellent for whitening and cleaning grout in between tiles. Unlike when cleaning most other items, for cleaning white grout, whitening toothpaste can be a preferable option. The mild abrasiveness of toothpaste can help remove stains and brighten the grout. 

Apply toothpaste to a toothbrush or grout brush, scrub the grout lines, and rinse with water. We recommend this The Crown Choice grout cleaning brush set, from Walmart.

6. Stains

'Toothpaste is a surprisingly effective stain remover for fabrics and carpets. Whether it's a coffee spill, ink mark, or scuff on the walls, toothpaste can often work its magic to erase these stubborn blemishes,' says cleaning expert and founder of Muffettas Domestic Assistants, Muffetta Krueger. 

Toothpaste can be used to clean pen, marker and crayon stains.

'Toothpaste can effectively remove stains from painted walls, such as crayon marks or scuffs,' says Hashi Mohammed. 'Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a damp cloth or sponge and gently rub the stained area. Rinse the area with water and dry it afterward to avoid discoloration.' 

When using toothpaste to remove ink stains from fabric, apply a small amount, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub and rinse. Repeat as needed until the stain is gone. 

'Toothpaste can also remove permanent marker stains on quartz countertops,' explains Beth McCallum at Oh So Spotless. 'Apply the toothpaste to the stain and wait ten minutes before wiping it with a damp cloth. Cover the stain with lemon juice and table salt for a few minutes before wiping with a cloth.'

Finally, we often find our favorite mugs becoming discolored with tea and coffee stains, making them look dirty and worn out, however, toothpaste can leave your best espresso cups looking refreshed.

'Because toothpaste is formulated to remove coffee and tea stains from teeth, it can also do the same for mugs,' explains Petya Holevich. 'Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a wet sponge and scrub the mugs, making sure to rinse the mug thoroughly to remove both the toothpaste and coffee stains.'

7. Tupperware

After a while, Tupperware and other plastic containers used to store food can begin to smell, and washing them often doesn't effectively resolve this issue. 

If your plastic food containers have lingering odors, then toothpaste can be a good method to deodorize them. Smear some toothpaste in the container, leaving it overnight, and rinse it out the next day to help eliminate those stubborn smells.

FAQs

Alongside toothpaste, there are a number of other surprising home items that can be effective cleaners, such as denture tablets, a magic eraser, nail polish remover, and even dishwasher tablets. You can check out our guides for the things these can clean to ensure your home stays spotless and safe from toxic cleaners.