Things You Can Get Squeaky Clean With A Toothbrush (Who Needs Fancy Pants Products Anyway?)
Swap your feather duster for a humble toothbrush! [Photo: Rex Features]
We’re going to admit something now that may well surprise you…we like cleaning. Sort of. And we’re not the only ones. Previously the domain of the Stepford wife, a recent survey has revealed that women actually love doing certain household chores. The study conducted by Zoflora disinfectant, found that one in three women secretly love doing housework. But Shhh! don’t tell the other half as nearly four out of 10 of those partial to whipping out the marigolds confessed it was a passion they would never admit to their significant other.
So for those who love nothing more than a quick run round with the Cif, prepare to rejoice as we’re about to reveal the every day things you can get super shiny with a toothbrush (preferably not yours…or anyone you love). Yep, the humble toothbrush is the clean freak’s new bezzie mate. Because you don’t need fancy pants products to clean up…
Yvonne Manomano, Cleaning Operations Manager at Handy, a platform for connecting people with independent cleaners and handymen, shares her hacks on using a toothbrush to give your house a good spruce.
“An old toothbrush is a great item to have at hand, for a variety of cleaning purposes. Because of the relatively small size and the presence of bristles, toothbrushes are great for hard to reach areas that collect dust and lint,” explains Yvonne. “Additionally, an old toothbrush’s bristles are gentle enough to prevent any damage to fabrics or surfaces.”
The humble toothbrush is the Stepford’s wife’s best friend [Photo: Pietro Jeng via Pexels]
Cheese grater
Hands up who just sticks it in the dishwasher and hopes for the best? Yep us too, but turns out we’ve been cleaning our graters all wrong. “Clearing away the food debris left in your cheese grater after a meal can be a tricky task. However, giving it a scrub with an old toothbrush will dislocate the little pieces of food, making it easier to wash. Removing the food will also keep your drains from clogging further down the line.”
Taps
If you want to take a bathroom selfie a la Kim Kardashian the last thing you want spoiling your snap is a manky old tap. “If you feel like your bath or kitchen taps have lost some of their shine, an old toothbrush can make them look good as new again. Grab some lemon juice, or just half a lemon and gently brush the juice onto the taps until they are clean and sparkling once again.”
Keyboard
Admit it your grubby old keyboard has been giving you an attack of the guilts every time you use it, right? “Even if you don’t spend your lunch at your desk and drop any crumbs on your keyboard, it is still likely to collect dust and oil from your fingers, over time becoming quite dirty. A great way to give it a quick and damage-free clean is by using a toothbrush. Angle your keyboard so that it is vertical and gently brush between each key to dislodge any dirt.”
Suede
Who knew that this season’s on-trend pastel suede skirts could be cleaned with the humble toothbrush? “A suede item of clothing can look beautiful, but it is also easy to stain and scuff. A great way to treat suede damage is to very gently brush it with an old toothbrush. Make sure to brush in the same direction as the fabric, to prevent it from tearing.”
Who needs fancy pants cleaning products anyway? [Photo: Rex Features]
Shoes
Converse looking more beige than brilliant white? “If you find that your white canvas shoes have turned grey, or that your winter boots have water and salt stains on them, an old toothbrush can repair the damage. For canvas shoes, mix baking soda, a tablespoon of detergent and warm water to form a paste and gently rub the paste onto the shoe with a toothbrush, then rinse – the shoes will look brand new. For leather shoes, mix warm water and some soap and very gently brush the shoe with the mixture. For this, make sure to use a very old toothbrush and be as gentle as you can, to prevent the leather from scratching.”
Comb or Hairbrush
Particularly if you’ve been over-doing the hairspray on the Insta style stealing. “A great way to remove any excess product from a comb or the bristles of your hairbrush is to give it a good scrub with an old toothbrush. Simply run it under some warm water and brush until all the product is removed and the comb looks fresh again.”
Hairdryer
Unless of course you’ve invested in one of those super swanky new Dyson Dryers. “Over time, your hairdryer can become less efficient, due to the amount of lint that gets stuck in the ventilator. In order to improve the hairdryer’s functionality and have your hair dry quicker, brush away the lint with an old toothbrush.”
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