H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 30

30

Fix It With
Toothpaste
By Brett Martin

The ingredients in toothpaste that keep
your pearly whites looking vibrant also
allow toothpaste to perform a variety of
other tasks around your home.

Chrome Cleaner
The next time you're brushing your teeth and notice the water
spots all over your chrome faucets, put the toothpaste to work.
Rub it gently on the chrome with a soft cloth, then rinse it off.
The faucet will shine so brightly that you'll see your reflection.
This will work for any chrome, from plumbing fixtures to car
wheels. That said, don't make this your regular daily or weekly
cleaner. Over time, the abrasives in the toothpaste can gradually wear away the finish. Use this trick occasionally and you'll
be fine.

Sink Shiner
When you drop a glob of toothpaste in the sink bowl (it’s okay,
we’ve all done it), don’t just let it dry into a ball. Turn the mess
into a cleaner by rubbing it around the sink with a soft cloth,
then rinse it off. This also helps to tame any foul smells emanating from the drain.

Goggle Defogger
A ski instructor taught me this trick. For goggles that don’t
have an antifog coating (like the cheap ones I wear), rub a tiny
amount of toothpaste in a circular motion on the inside of
each lens. Rub gently to avoid scratching the lens. It’ll keep the
goggles from fogging up when you’re racing down the mountainside. This also works for swimming and motorcycle goggles.

Use your normal
white toothpaste.
Avoid gel
toothpastes.