7 Surprising Things You Can Clean in Your Kitchen with Toothpaste

Toothpaste, it turns out, isn’t just a bathroom essential. Thanks to its mildly abrasive properties, your toothpaste can be a handy tool for all kinds of cleaning jobs—especially when it comes to removing stains, scuffs, and smells in the kitchen. 

One important caveat, before you grab your toothpaste: If you’re using it for anything besides brushing your teeth, then it’s best to stick with plain old white paste. Colored gels or whitening formulas could potentially cause irreversible damage to surfaces in your home (which is a lot more annoying than the messes you set out to clean). On the flip side, white toothpaste with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide could be especially useful for certain chores.

Read on to learn more about seven surprising things in your kitchen you can clean with a tube of toothpaste.

Copper Pots and Pans

Toothpaste is a great way to polish copper pots and pans to restore their brightness. Just grab a soft cloth, dab a little toothpaste on tarnished spots, and rub gently in a circular pattern. When you’re done, rinse the copper with warm water and dry it with a clean cloth. 

Chrome Fixtures 

If your chrome faucet, drawer pull, or appliances are starting to look a little cloudy, toothpaste to the rescue. Put a bit of toothpaste on the affected area, then buff it with a dry cloth to restore its shine. It should look good as new!

Tarnished Silverware 

Silverware (the actual silver kind) is no match for your toothpaste. Dab a bit on the tarnished pieces, then rub out the tarnish with a dry cloth. Afterward, rinse the silverware in hot water and dry with a clean cloth.

Cutting Boards and Tupperware

Along with removing stains, toothpaste is great for cutting through unwanted food smells on cutting boards, in plastic food containers, or even on your hands. All you have to do is add a little toothpaste to the affected area, scrub with a wet dish brush or an old toothbrush, then wash and rinse.

Linoleum Tile

If you have linoleum tile in your kitchen (or honestly, anywhere in your home), toothpaste is a super easy way to remove annoying scuffs. Just squeeze some on any visible marks and buff at it with a dry cloth until the scuff fades. Wipe away excess toothpaste with a wet cloth if needed.

Grout Lines

Grab the toothpaste if your backsplash or floor tile grout lines are looking dirty and discolored. Simply add a pea-sized dollop to an old toothbrush or small cleaning brush, and scrub the grout lines until they look bright again. Then, wipe away remaining toothpaste residue with dish soap and water. 

Coffee-Stained Mugs

Just like it removes stains from your teeth, toothpaste can tackle tea or coffee stains on your coffee mugs. Add a little toothpaste directly to the stain, then work at it with a sponge or dish brush. Wash and rinse as normal once the stain fades. You can also use toothpaste to tackle pesky coffee rings on your countertop or kitchen table!