H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 31

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Clothes-Iron Cleaner

Shoe Shiner

Sooner or later your iron will end up with mineral buildup
that looks likes hardened gunk along the bottom. Remove
it by wiping some toothpaste onto the bottom of the iron
(called the soleplate) with a damp cloth. Make sure the iron
is cool and unplugged. Then wipe the soleplate clean with a
second cloth. This also
works for cleaning haircurling irons.

Dark scuff marks ruin the appearance of white or light-colored gym shoes. The fix is easy. Just scrub off the scuffs with
toothpaste. You can also remove scuff marks from leather
dress shoes the same way.

Headlight Cleaner
I can thank my mechanic
for this tip. The covering on
vehicle headlights can get
dirty and scratched over
time, reducing the brightness of the lights. First clean
the covering with soap and
water. Then buff it with
toothpaste and a polishing
pad or cloth.

Silver Polisher
Revive tarnished silver—whether it’s forks
and spoons, candlestick
holders, or ornaments—by polishing
it with toothpaste on a
soft cloth (it’s like waxing your car). Get into crevices with an
old toothbrush. Then wipe down the silver with a dry cloth.

Hand Freshener
I learned this at a cooking class. Regular soap won’t remove
the heavy smell of fish, onions, or other stinky foods from
your skin. But toothpaste will. Thoroughly wash your hands
with a dab of it just like you would with soap. Then apply a
squirt of lotion as moisturizer.

Stain Eliminator
Toothpaste can remove stains from a variety of fabrics, including lipstick on shirt collars, spaghetti on table cloths, and
juice on your favorite T-shirt. Apply the toothpaste directly
to the stain, then rub the cloth together rigorously before
tossing it in the washing machine. Be sure to use a non-whitening toothpaste on coloured fabrics.

Diamond and Gold Sparkler
DVD Scratch Remover
Toothpaste can remove minor scratches and smudges from
discs. Rub a tiny amount (go easy—too much will make the
problem worse) gently from the center outward with a cotton or microfiber cloth. The mild abrasives in the toothpaste
will smooth out the disc surface. This won’t fix deep scratches, but it’s worth a try, as opposed to dealing with skips or
trashing the disc.

Few cleaners make diamond wedding rings, gold earrings,
and other jewelry sparkle like toothpaste does. Rub them
with a tiny amount of toothpaste on a soft-bristle toothbrush. Be sure to rinse off all the toothpaste so it doesn’t
harden, then shine the jewelry with a cloth. But don’t try
this with pearls. Abrasives in the toothpaste can scratch the
surface.

Drink-Dispenser Purifier
Shower-Door Revitalizer
Glass shower doors get scummy fast. To make the door look
new again, wipe it down with a squeeze of toothpaste on a
damp cloth or sponge. For stubborn scum or stains, let the
toothpaste sit for a few minutes. Then rinse off the door. To
keep the door clean in the future, spend 30 seconds wiping
down the glass with a squeegee immediately after showering.

Nail-Hole Filler
One thing I learned as a renter who wanted his security
deposit back is that toothpaste is a great makeshift hole filler.
Yes, joint compound or spackling are more ideal solutions,
but toothpaste works to fill small nail or pin holes. Just apply
it to the hole and wipe away the excess.

Favorite thermoses and plastic-drinking containers can start
to smell foul after constant use. Simply washing them with
detergent and water may not eliminate the smell. What does
work is scrubbing the inside with a brush and toothpaste,
then running the container through the dishwasher. T