What do you do with your old toothbrush?

@kykidd (6812)
United States
August 10, 2009 11:03am CST
What do you do with your old toothbrush? Do you just automatically throw it away when you switch to a new one? Or do you use it for something else around the house. We have a tendency to use these old toothbrush for cleaning different things. If you looked around our house, you would see old toothbrushes in many areas. Under the sink, there are at least 2. One is for scrubbing odds and ins that you can't get to with just a rag. And the other probably has black polish on it. That is because I use one to clean my boots when they get too soiled to be cleaned with just a rag. You can also find at least one old toothbrush in our garage for cleaning this or that. What about you? Do you recycle those old toothbrushes for cleaning other things, or do you just pitch them?
9 people like this
59 responses
@icehut (508)
11 Aug 09
Those old toothbrushes are great for cleaning mesh structures and grilles. If you have an analog mouse, remove the ball and brush those rollers with that toothbrush. Dust build-up on and around computer fans are easily removed with a toothbrush. Heatsinks can benefit from the same treatment, but difficult to get at fins require the complete removal of the heatsink for a wash'n'dry before reapplying with heat transfer compound. Another good use is for cleaning keys on a keyboard. Dismantle the keyboard, remove the membrane and circuitary. Washing-up liquid in hot water makes a good dip for the toothbrush. Brush away at the keys. Rinse off and dry before reassembling the keyboard.
2 people like this
• India
11 Aug 09
Right, old toothbrush can be used for cleaning the small nook and corner which is not easily accessibly.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Wow, you have came up with a lot of great ideas here IceHut. Thank you for sharing all of this information with us. I have taken apart keyboards and mouses to clean them before, and it is no easy project. But it is better to have them cleaned and in good working order, than to struggle with getting keys to work, etc. Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day!
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
4 Oct 09
It depends on how many old ones are already laying around the house. My husband likes to use them for his hobbies and such, so I try to remember to keep a few old ones around for him. The rest I will chuck into the garbage because we just don't need that many old toothbrushes around the house. Happy mylotting!
2 people like this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
9 Oct 09
Yes, I know at times they can accumulate. So if I do have too many old ones in use at the time, I might chuck some of the more worn brushes. It is good to refresh them from time to time. Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day here on myLot!
• United States
10 Aug 09
Funny you have a conversation about this-I just tossed my old toothbrush last night and replaced it with a new one, and as I tossed I thought about keeping it because I could use it for something in the cleaning department. LOL But I didn't save it. I sued to keep a handful of old toothbrushes when I was a teen, saving them always, but really the only thing I ever used them for was cleaning my shoes. LOL Now I don't really care if my shoes are clean or not, and I really have not seen any point to keeping them. I use a bristle brush for cleaning crevices in dishes (but who would want to use a used toothbrush to clean dishes?? LOL) If something needs small detail, I use cotton swabbed q-tips.
2 people like this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Yes, I agree, I don't think that I would want to use an old toothbrush for cleaning dishes. I guess you could boil the old toothbrush, and it would be clean enough to use for just about anything that you wanted to though. However, I usually use them for cleaning other items, not things that need to be as sanitary as plates. Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day!
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Aug 09
You are right, we can still use the old toothbrushes to clean the stuff. I will use it to brush my comb. And sometimes I will use it to clean the sink and so on. So at least the old toothbrush can be still a little be useful and I don't want to waste it yet. I love China
2 people like this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
11 Aug 09
It seems that the more people that respond to this discussion, the more ideas we get and more uses for that old worn out toothbrushes. This makes me wonder if I shouldn't be taking notes for my blog or something. LOL Thank you, Youless for your response in this discussion and have a wonderful day here on myLot!
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Occasionally I will keep one for small cleaning jobs that need scrubbing with something little. I always keep an old toothbrush in my gadget drawer, you never know when you are going to need a small brush to clean something. I will likely be getting a new toothbrush this week because I am going to the dentist, my old one will go in the gadget drawer.
2 people like this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Thank you for your response in this discussion Ladym33! I am glad to hear that so many people are putting those old toothbrushes to good use. Have a wonderful day here on myLot!
@kmaram (2533)
• Philippines
11 Aug 09
Hi there, well sometimes i just put it in trash can but sometimes I used it as a cleaning purposes. Like the other day I used the old toothbrush cleaning my daughter's shoes. And I also used it cleaning the tiles, well the reason i just put the other old tothbrush in the trash can is that because we do have many toothbrush already, well keep on mylotting.
2 people like this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Thanks Kmaram. I appreciate your response in this discussion. I think the idea of recycling them for cleaning the tiles is a great idea as well. Have a wonderful day!
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 09
Hi kykidd, it’s great to know that you do keep the old toothbrush to do other cleaning work. Yeah, nowadays most of us are more conscious about how useful is to live in a healthy environment. I believe everyone is more than willing to recycle the used stuffs like old clothes, toothbrushes, boxes and etc as well. This definitely could help a lot to protect our environment Besides other used stuffs I keep all the old toothbrushes instead of dumping it into the garbage bin. Toothbrush is small in size and has smaller bristles. This could enable them to serve their purpose extremely well in certain cleaning work. Apply some toothpaste on the toothbrush it could get rid of the stain on the porcelain mug, bowl and easily. It’s nice to keep our toes clean by moving it softly on them while having shower. It works well to clean the inner part of the shoes. There still lots of cleaning work could be done by using the old toothbrush Take care and happy posting
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
9 Sep 09
It's amazing how many different uses that one can get out of an old toothbrush. Toothbrushes are great, because they serve their original purpose, and then when you are done with that, you can come up with a number of other uses. I know I have two old ones just for cleaning foot apparel. One is for my black cowboy boots and shoes, because it gets black shoe shine on it, I can't use it for anything else. And then I have another one for cleaning the rest of my shoes. Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day today!
@mrakobesie (1246)
• United States
16 Aug 09
I use them for my art work, i like ceramics and toothbrosh can make interesting ornaments on the clay. looks very cool. also use it to polish some of the pieces if i do japanese fireings, ceramic piesec often have to be polished before raku fire and polished with wax after saga fire
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
17 Aug 09
What a unique thing to use the old toothbrushes for. I bet it is really cool to find the different types of toothbrushes for different designs, since nowadays some of the toothbrushes have different sizes of bristles on them. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas in this discussion and good luck to you with your art!
• United States
22 Aug 09
Wow - that makes a lot of sense - fantastic idea - thank you!!!
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Aug 09
We usually use them around the house also. Mostly for scrubbing the kitchen sink and around it. Sometimes it ends up back in the bathroom for scrubbing the corners and shower walls and search. After a while, we usually throw them away as old toothbrushes will go for so only long. Sometimes we buy new toothbrushes so we can use the old ones for cleaning! How ironic, I know.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
12 Aug 09
That's funny. You need new cleaning brushes, so you buy new toothbrushes so that you can retire yours. That sounds like me with the kitchen sponges. LOL Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day here on myLot!
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I too am glad that people aren't letting those old toothbrushes go to waste. In the world today, it seems that people are thinking of more and more things to do with those old toothbrushes, and everything else. It's a great way to recycle. Have a wonderful day!
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Aug 09
I can't believe someone else does something similar! I'm glad my family isn't the only ones doing this. Have a good day and nice discussIon!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
31 Aug 09
good morning kykidd, always it is best to make maximum use of these about to be discarded items as a use can be found for them which can often prevent us having to shell out good money for something to do a job when we already have an old and worn out item to do the job without purchasing something new. A prime example is indeed a toothbrush which is reserved for getting into the difficult corners in the shower to brush up the grouting.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
4 Sep 09
We have always used our old toothbrushes for things like this. Not only to save money, but it just seems like the best tool for the job. It's just an advantage point that you don't have to go out and buy something new to do the work. I was trying to think of other items that we use for something different when they were worn out for their main purpose. The only thing that I can actually come up with at the moment is old socks. We use them for cleaning the interior of a car. And for cleaning other things. But I bet if we were to think about it, we could come up with a lot more uses.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
9 Sep 09
I like to wash the walls down with bleach as well. I usually use an old white t-shirt. They seem to work very well. Thanks again for your responses in this discussion, and have a great day!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
4 Sep 09
I now save all my sons old white vests and t shirts to clean the white walls with after a nasty experience with a bought yellow cloth. Unfortunately if it does rain excessively in winter we can get a little mouxla on the walls (mould) which needs attacking with bleach. Bleach and a yellow cloth combination produced a yellow patch on the wall so now it is always old white vests, which also come in very handy for dusting.
1 person likes this
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
11 Aug 09
What i do with my old toothbrush depends on if it is for the electrical toothbrush machine or the manual driven on human energy. The toothbursh for the electrical i normally just throw out, where oppoesed to the manual driven we all know, i sometimes save, my boyfriend uses it for cleaning "target reader machines" which is a part of his sparetime job his doing for fun and for an extra income... I must admit the idea for keeping it for the purpose of polishing shoes sounds tempting to me, i got a few pair of boots that needs regular polish in the "boots season"
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
12 Aug 09
I am not familiar with a "target reader machine", I'll have to look that up, as you have my curiosity going now. Thank you for responding in this discussion, and have a great day here on myLot!
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
12 Aug 09
Hmm, that's pretty interesting Downwindz. I have only been to a couple of shoots before, and they were the charity turkey shoots way out in the boonies. The only people who read are targets were a couple of white haired men sitting behind some tables. LOL Thanks for the information. I love it when I learn something new. And thank you for your responses in this discussion. Have a lovely day!
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
12 Aug 09
a "target reader machine" is a machine used to read paper targets from sport shooting. Its strickt and count all target the same, and you dont have to be in doubt if the specific shot is a 9 or 10. So less people can complain about thier scores in competitions.
1 person likes this
@voldrox (7191)
• India
10 Aug 09
hi i use some of my old brushes for cleaning my shoes and other small items that often catch a lot dust .... nice discussion
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Sounds like you have discovered some creative uses for those old toothbrushes instead of just tossing them out. That's great. By the way, that's a pretty neat avatar. I don't think I have seen one that looks like a video before. I have seen some animated ones that move, but nothing like that. I will have to go to your profile page and check it out, so that I can get a better view. Thanks for your response in this discussion, and have a great day!
1 person likes this
@voldrox (7191)
• India
11 Aug 09
hehe... thanks... well yeah it is actually an animated avatar and the camera moves away from the drums giving it a small video effect to it .... even i loved it so put it:)
@grace118224 (1038)
• China
11 Aug 09
We change our toothbrush every three months . We throw away some of them and use some of them as what you are doing. We use the old toothbrush to clean our cups , shoes , even the ground . They are very helpful in cleaning . We just cann't live without them.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
12 Aug 09
LOL, I like your synopsis Grace118224. We definitely make good use of ours as well, and if we didn't have them lying around, we would be lost when it comes to those tedious little cleaning jobs. Have a wonderful day, and thank you for responding in this discussion!
• United States
4 Sep 09
I keep my toothbrush until I notice that the bristles are starting to fray. When it is time to replace it we usually just throw them away, however, I do keep one in my cleaning bucket to scrub hard to reach areas such as around faucets and knobs. They work wonders there. I don't ever shine shoes, but I imagine they might be useful for that too.
@KaraKATAD (246)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
Well when I've used my toothbrush until it's icky and unusable, I use it for cleaning in my house. I usually use it for things like cleaning up the gunk in the sink or those hard to reach places in the bathroom. I also try to use it on my shoes when I can't find a proper brush or rag. I think it's important to recycle old toothbrushes since it will help the environment and save you money and effort as well.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
9 Sep 09
Some of the things that I use my old toothbrushes for, I wouldn't know what else to use if it weren't for having an old toothbrush lying around. It seems like they come in so handy. And it is hard to find a brush with such bristles at the regular department store. I guess there isn't much of a demand for them, since most people just use an old toothbrush. LOL
@yparson (581)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Good question. I use them to clean in areas like around the back of the faucets. I use them for small spaces in the car when I clean it. I pretty much use them to clean around small spaces or hard to get to places and then throw them out.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
30 Aug 09
The one thing good about an toothbrush is that after you use it on your teeth it is just getting broke in. You wouldn't want something so stiff to use as a cleaning brush, as you use on your teeth. But after you use it for so long it is broken in real well and is perfect for cleaning the sink and other things. It just seems to have the perfect flexibility. Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day on myLot!
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
11 Aug 09
We often keep some old toothbrushes for cleaning those hard-to-get at areas, such as those corners behind the sinks, taps or for digging out hair,dirt & dust from the drain-holes in the bathrooms. They are very useful indeed!
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
12 Aug 09
Hi there LazeeBee, and thank you for your response in this discussion. It seems a lot of people have come up with a number of uses for those old toothbrushes, just here in this discussion. They most certainly do save time and energy for cleaning those tight spots. Thanks again, and have a lovely day!
@haiershen (1080)
• China
24 Aug 09
hi,i never thought of old toothbrush can be used in such things, for cleaning boots,comb,flume,etc,i always throw it away and replace the new one,thank you for you information!learning.i learnt a lot. good luck and have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
25 Aug 09
I am glad that sharing this discussion here on myLot has not only helped me, but it has also given good ideas to other people. That is the probably one of the best aspects of myLot. I know that I learn something every day that I am on here. And I am one of those people who loves to learn something new every day! Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day myLotting!
@Ammudoll (549)
• India
6 Sep 09
I do not throw it in dust bin because I use it for cleaning other small things. For example I clean my hair brush and Iron box and will use it to clean other minor parts of any object. It works really great, dust can be removed easily :) If it is very old enough then it will obviously go to dust bin.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
9 Sep 09
The dust bin that you refer to must be what we call the garbage can. It is good that you have come up with so many uses for those old toothbrushes. I think it is amazing all of the different things that people have discussed for using them here in this discussion. Thank you for your response, and have a great day here on myLot!
• India
14 Aug 09
when ihav an old toothbrush i juz use it for cleaning tha house.because im sooooo lazy ot throw away the brush....
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
14 Aug 09
Well, I most certainly would not consider you lazy just because you don't throw out the old toothbrush. In fact, since you are using it for cleaning, you must not be too lazy. LOL Thank you for your response in this discussion, and have a great day here on myLot!
• United States
22 Aug 09
I keep them a bit for cleaning purposes. Good idea about cleaning and polishing the shoes. I use them to scrub small areas. I also find that they work great to scrub the grout between the tiles in the bathroom and kitchen. An old toothbrush and a Clorox bleach pen - no better combo for me! I actually used this method in the home of someone who I swear hadn't scrubbed the grout in the bathroom for the entire 10 years they were in their house, and it came out so beautifully white when it was previously black. And not for nothin, but with the price of toothbrushes, by the time you have used them up brushing, and then used them even just once to clean something, they have been well worth the money by the time you chuck them.
1 person likes this
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
25 Aug 09
Great idea about using the Bleach pen with the toothbrush to clean the tile floors. I wouldn't have thought about the combination of the two. And you probably don't get your hands as nasty as just using the Clorox bleach in water. I almost got chemical pneumonia that way earlier this year. I love to clean with bleach, but if you do too much at once, it can be rough on the old lungs. Thank you for the ideas and sharing them with us here in this discussion. I hope you have a lovely day!