Toothpaste can be good for more than your teeth! Here are ten “other” uses you may find for your toothpaste when you travel.
#1: Bee and Insect Sting Ointment – If you’re traveling, it might be hard to find ice for a bee sting. Instead, dab a little toothpaste on it. Of all the bee sting home remedies, it’s rumored to be the very best. (It also works as a mosquito or insect bite itch reliever.)
#2 Soothe a stinging burn. For minor burns that don’t involve an open wound, toothpaste can deliver temporary cooling relief. Apply it delicately to the affected area immediately after a burn develops; it temporarily relieves the sting and prevents the wound from weeping or opening.
#3 Clean up your fingernails. Our teeth are made of enamel, and toothpaste is good for them, so it stands to reason that toothpaste would also be good for our fingernails. For cleaner, shinier, and stronger nails, simply scrub the underneath and tops of fingernails with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
#4 Overnight Zit Cream – Have a zit you want to get rid of? Try dabbing just a spot of it on it and you may find it nearly gone by morning.
#5 Keep hair in place. Gel toothpastes contain the same water-soluble polymers that many hair gels are made of. If you’re looking to style and hold an extreme hair creation, try gel toothpaste if you’re out of regular hair gel.
#6 Shoe Cleaner – Toothpaste and a cloth (or an old toothbrush) are great for cleaning the white rubber parts of tennis shoes. Be sure to use white toothpaste, rather than a colored gel.
#7 Bathroom Mirror Defogger – When in the shower and the mirror fogs up, simply squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the mirror and wipe it clean.
#8 Jewelry Polisher – Rub toothpaste on your silver jewelry and let it sit overnight. In the morning, buff it out with a soft cloth and watch it shine. You can also restore sparkle to diamonds and other jewels by using a little toothpaste, an old toothbrush, and some water. (Note: Avoid using toothpaste on pearls as it dulls the finish.)
#9 Snorkel Mask Defogger – If your scuba, snorkel mask, or swimming goggles fog up when you’re in the water, rub a small amount of toothpaste on the inside, then rinse clean. (Tip: Avoid abrasive toothpastes for this one.)
#10 Remove stains. Toothpaste can make tough stains on both clothing and carpets disappear. For clothes, apply toothpaste directly to the stain and rub briskly until the spot is gone, then wash as usual. (Note that using a whitening toothpaste on colors can sometimes bleach the fabric.) For carpet stains, apply toothpaste to the stain and scrub it with an abrasive brush, then rinse immediately. This also works with crayon stains on painted walls.
