11 Unexpected Things You Can Clean With Your Old Toothbrush

Whether they are standard or electric, toothbrushes don’t last forever. But when it’s time to retire that old toothbrush, don’t just toss it out! There is plenty more you can do with it—or more specifically, clean with it! Think of your old toothbrush as a ready-made scrub brush that is perfectly suited for small cleaning jobs. The bristles are great at breaking up grime, and they can fit into tight spaces easily. (This is especially true of electric toothbrushes, which often have extra small brush heads. They can also provide extra scrubbing power when tackling tough messes! But a standard toothbrush often gets the job done just as well, so just use what you have!)

To help illustrate just how useful your old toothbrush can be, today I’ll be sharing a some of the more surprising things you can clean with it. My hope is that the next time you’re ready to retire a toothbrush, you’ll stick it next to the rest of your cleaning tools. I think you’ll be surprised at how often you end up reaching for it! :-)

11 Things You Should Clean With Your Old Toothbrush

1. Hairbrushes

An old toothbrush makes a great tool for scrubbing gunk and grime off of your hairbrush. You’ll be able to get into all those nooks and crannies easily! Check out the link below for some great tips on cleaning different kinds of hairbrushes.

Related: How To Clean Any Kind Of Hairbrush (And Why You Need To)

2. Shower Head

If you have hard water like I do, then you might notice mineral deposits building up on your shower head over time. Those deposits can eventually block the flow of water, so its important to clean your shower head regularly. The easiest way I’ve found is to remove it, drop it in a container of vinegar, and let it sit for an hour or so. Then I use a toothbrush to scrub all the loosened gunk away, and it looks good as new! :-)

3. Jewelry

Your old toothbrush may be too soft to scrub your teeth clean, but it’s perfect for scrubbing jewelry! Add a drop of gentle soap to a cup of warm water, then dip your toothbrush in and scrub rings, necklaces, and bracelets clean.

4. Kitchen Sink

Use a toothbrush to scrub around the drain in your kitchen sink. It makes it much easier to get into all the divots of the rubber guard that covers your garbage disposal.

Related: The One Clever Toothbrush Hack That Makes Cleaning Easier

5. Car Vinyl

Use an old toothbrush to help clean the vinyl surfaces in your car! A toothbrush is the perfect tool for scrubbing ground-in dirt out of all those crevices.

6. Hair Dryer

Use a toothbrush to scrub the filter on the back of your hair dryer. That filter tends to be a magnet for hair, dust, and hair products, so it could use a good scrubbing every once in a while.

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7. Dishwasher Filter

If your dishwasher has removable filters or screens, it’s important to keep them clean. Use a toothbrush to scrub away any grease or grime that may have built up on them.

8. Window Tracks

A cloth can help you wipe away most of the dirt and dust from your window tracks, but it might not be able to grab everything. Use a toothbrush to get at any grime that’s left in the corners.

9. Bathroom Faucet

Use a toothbrush to scrub out all the nooks and crannies around your bathroom sink’s faucet. You never know what kind of gunk is hiding in those small spaces!

10. Washing Machine Seal

For front-loading washing machines, one of the biggest challenges of maintaining them is keeping the rubber door seal clean. Use a toothbrush to scrub away any gunk that may be lurking in and around the seal.

11. Kitchen Tools

A toothbrush makes a great helper when it comes to cleaning your small kitchen tools! Use it to clean your cheese grater, garlic press, microplane, sieve, or any other kitchen tools with small holes.