Even the perfect electric toothbrush ultimately reaches the tip of its dental profession, however that does not imply it is prepared for retirement. Earlier than sending it to the recycling bin, think about its untapped potential as a precision cleansing instrument.
The identical options that made it efficient for oral care — compact vibrating head, sturdy bristles, and ergonomic design, make it completely suited for family cleansing challenges that depart different instruments struggling.
From revitalizing dirty grout strains to tackling awkward jobs, your dental discard is about to grow to be your subsequent cleansing MVP.
These intelligent repurposing methods won’t solely prevent cash on specialty cleansing instruments but additionally lengthen the helpful lifetime of a tool that also has loads to supply. Here is 5 hard-to-clean areas your old electric toothbrush was made for.
1. Flip it right into a grout-cleaning powerhouse
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The nemesis of clean-looking bogs in every single place, grout strains between tiles are infamous filth magnets that normal cleansing instruments battle to achieve. Your electric toothbrush is about to alter that.
The mixture of the small head, stiff bristles, and motorized vibration makes it extremely efficient for deep-cleaning grout with out damaging your tiles. Merely dip the comb in a combination of baking soda and water (or a industrial grout cleaner), flip it on, and watch as years of collected grime disappears from between your tiles.
This repurposing saves you from buying a specialised sonic scrubber that may, whereas supplying you with comparable and even higher outcomes.
Even when the battery has died fully, the comb head itself nonetheless makes a superb handbook grout cleaner — although the motorized motion positively provides you an edge in opposition to cussed filth.
2. Sort out awkward kitchen cleansing jobs
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Your kitchen is filled with difficult-to-clean instruments with crevices that harbor meals particles and micro organism. Enter your repurposed electric toothbrush, which may attain locations your dishwasher and common sponge can’t.
The rounded head completely suits into the tiny holes of cheese graters, making fast work of eradicating trapped cheese residue. It is also excellent for cleansing blender blades (unplugged, in fact), garlic presses, can opener gears, and the ridges on meals processor attachments.
For further cleansing energy on stainless-steel objects, strive dipping the comb in an answer of diluted white vinegar earlier than scrubbing. The vibrating motion helps dissolve mineral deposits and meals residue, leaving your kitchen instruments glowing clear with out scratching their surfaces.
3. Rejuvenate your hairbrushes and combs
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Hairbrushes accumulate a stunning quantity of hair, mud, and product buildup over time. Even after eradicating free hair, the bottom of the bristles typically stays clogged with residue that is tough to dislodge.
Your electric toothbrush is the right instrument for this process. The vibrating head can loosen cussed buildup between hairbrush bristles, whereas the compact measurement enables you to goal particular areas. Merely dampen the toothbrush, add a drop of shampoo, and work it between the rows of your hairbrush for a deep clear that may lengthen the lifetime of your hair instruments.
This system works equally effectively on fine-toothed combs, beard trimmers, and even the brushes of your vacuum cleaner attachments. Your hair instruments will look newer and performance higher with out the drag of product buildup and particles.
4. Conquer impossible-to-reach crevices
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Each residence has cleansing blind spots, these tight areas the place mud, grime, and mould love to cover. Your old electric toothbrush can lastly show you how to entry these drawback areas.
The rubber seals round fridge doorways acquire meals particles and may develop mould over time. A fast once-over with your repurposed toothbrush removes this buildup, probably bettering your fridge’s power effectivity. The identical goes for window tracks, which accumulate filth that strange cloths cannot attain.
Lavatory fixtures current comparable challenges, significantly round faucet bases the place mineral deposits and cleaning soap scum construct up. The small head of an electric toothbrush can get proper into these tight areas, whereas the motorized motion makes fast work of cussed residue that may in any other case require harsh chemical compounds to take away.
Even keyboard keys, air vents, and the tracks of sliding doorways grow to be accessible cleansing targets with your electric toothbrush. The precision and energy mix to make it the last word instrument for element cleansing all through your residence.
5. Deep clear your jewelery
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Nice jewellery with intricate settings could be almost unimaginable to wash completely with common strategies. Skilled jewellery cleansing could be costly, however your old electric toothbrush presents a free different.
The mild vibration and delicate bristles can safely clear between the prongs of diamond settings and into the detailed metalwork of classic items with out scratching valuable metals. Merely use heat water with a drop of gentle dish cleaning soap, and let the toothbrush work its magic on tarnished silver or uninteresting gem stones.
This system works equally effectively for watches with metallic bands, costume jewellery, and even delicate chains that are inclined to accumulate pores and skin oils and lose their luster over time.
When it is lastly time to say goodbye
(Picture: © Erin Bashford / Tom’s Information)
After you’ve got maximized your electric toothbrush’s second life as a cleansing instrument, correct disposal turns into necessary. Electric toothbrushes comprise batteries and digital parts that should not find yourself in landfills.
As a substitute of throwing it in your common trash, make the most of electrical recycling factors in your space.
Some producers additionally run their very own recycling packages. Manufacturers like SURI have complete take-back schemes that guarantee parts are correctly recycled or repurposed.
No matter you do, do not throw your electric toothbrush within the common trash.
Now you’ve got discovered how one can repurpose your electric toothbrush to wash arduous to achieve areas, why not check out our different helpful cleansing guides?
Take a look at you may take away odors in your rubbish disposal with this frequent family ingredient — here is how and learn how to mop your flooring correctly — 5 ideas for spotless outcomes.
And if you wish to make your residence scent superb, strive these prime ideas.
