8 Inventive Ways To Use Those Freebie Toothbrushes From Your Dentist

Do you actually use those toothbrushes your dentist gives you at the end of each appointment? The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, but if you use an electric toothbrush, those manual freebies from your dentist are probably piling up somewhere, unopened. Instead of leaving them hidden away in a drawer for who-knows-how-long, there are plenty of ways to use them on things other than your teeth.

1. Sanitize Your Remote Control

You probably don't really think about it too much, but your TV's remove control is likely riddled with germs. In fact, Web MD reports that a University of Virginia study about germs on household surfaces revealed that half of the remote controls tested were positive for cold viruses.

Every now and then, wipe down your remote control with rubbing alcohol to kill hidden germs and bacteria lurking on the surface. You can use a dampened toothbrush to gently scrub away any visible grime in-between the buttons, especially if it's been awhile since you last cleaned it.

2. Remove Pulp from Your Electric Juicer

Centrifugal juicers have a mesh screen that filters out the pulp from the juice. This screen can be a challenge to clean with a sponge or dishcloth because its rough texture tears them up. However, a toothbrush works great at scrubbing away pulp remnants from the mesh screen.

3. Freshen Your Reusable Coffee Filter

Many people have a reusable filter in their coffee maker to avoid buying paper filters. After awhile, this mesh filter can get grimy and clogged because of the oils in coffee beans. Simply scrub the mesh filter with a soapy toothbrush under running water to clean and freshen it.

4. Reach the Nooks and Crannies in Your Car

No matter how hard you try, it is nearly impossible to get all of your car's nooks and crannies clean. The narrow air vents in your dashboard are particularly hard to get clean, but they seem to need it the most. Using a toothbrush is the easiest way to reach those tiny areas in your car that get covered in dust and debris.

5. Remove Dust from Your Blow Dryer Vents

Turn over your hand-held blow dryer to see firsthand how much dust collects in the vents. If you don't clean out the vents every once in awhile, your hair dryer won't run as efficiently and could catch on fire. A toothbrush is the perfect size for reaching and cleaning those little clogged spaces between the grates of the vent.

6. Apply Highlights to Your Hair

Adding highlights to your hair can be a messy job, especially if you don't have the right tools to do it properly. A toothbrush is just the right size to apply small streaks of dye to your hair. A toothbrush works great for root touch-ups, too.

7. Eliminate Grass Stains

Stubborn grass stains usually don't come out in the wash, so they must be pre-treated or spot cleaned. A toothbrush works very well at gently scrubbing away these unsightly stains from the knee and elbow areas of your child's clothing.

8. Clean Under Your Nails

If you like to get your hands dirty, one of those unopened toothbrushes can be used to clean under your fingernails. Whether you fix cars, work in the garden or paint houses, the bristles of a toothbrush can reach dirty, stained areas under your nails that hand washing alone won't reach.

Even if you've graduated to a Sonic-powered toothbrush, don't toss out the free manual toothbrush given by your dentist. Because of its compact head and rugged design, you might just find that a standard toothbrush can be quite handy around the house.

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