Easy Toothpaste Lifehacks You Never Knew You Needed

We all have toothpaste lying around the bathroom, but freshening your breath and whitening your teeth isn't the only things toothpaste is good for.

This inexpensive little bathroom item has a surprising amount of utility around the rest of the household, and it can improve your life in a number of ways. From cleaning to cosmetics, you can get an incredible amount of length out of that tiny bottle.

Assuming you're using plain white toothpaste, and not anything natural or too fancy, there are some easy toothpaste lifehacks you should start using immediately.

Some of these are simple, but many of them are unique and surprising, things you likely never would have attempted with basic bathroom toothpaste. Read some of the best here and begin making your life a little easier.

Relieve Bites and Burns

Eucalyptus has a calming and cooling sensation, and because it's one of toothpastes main ingredients, it's one of the best toothpaste lifehacks. If you've got a particularly pesky bite or burn, just dab a little bit of toothpaste on it and watch the pain and redness dissipate.

This is an old school method that most peoples don't give much credit or thought to, but it's likely something your grandma did to heal burns you inflicted on yourself while playing as a kid.

Remove Carpet Stains

Stuff is going to get spilled on your carpet: coffee, wine, soda, etc. Don't freak out or spend a ton of money to remedy the situation, simply use one the best toothpaste lifehacks.

Just squeeze a bit of toothpaste onto the effected area, take a cloth or sponge, rinse the area with some water and scrub as needed. Wipe the excess away and allow the carpet to dry before going over it with a vacuum—problem solved!

Defeat Acne

You could save yourself a lot of aggravation and money by skipping the pricey acne treatments in favor of cheap toothpaste. It's a great alternative if other methods just haven't been working, and it's one of the most practical toothpaste lifehacks.

Dab a small amount on the problem area before you go to bed, and when you wake up in the morning I bet the results will impress you. It operates by drying out the pimples, leaving your skin smooth (and a little crusty from the dried toothpaste). It works very quickly on red problem pimples, and it'll help you at during an emergency.

Clean Your Refrigerator

The crevices of your fridge can be incredibly hard to reach and clean, and you're going to want to clean it because it can be shockingly grimy. Over the years tons of food and other beverages drip all over it, and it could really benefit from a good scrub once and a while.

Put a healthy amount of toothpaste on a brush and get in and clean those seals. The brush makes the perfect tool for getting into tiny areas, and it's one of the best toothpaste lifehacks for a spring cleaning session.

Clean Jewelry

Toothpaste can really make your dirty jewelry sparkle with just a touch of elbow grease. It works great on old chains and diamond rings, it's definitely among the toothpaste lifehacks everybody should be doing.

Grab an old discarded brush, wet the end, and liberally apply the paste. Scrub vigorously while also being mindful not to break the jewelry, and once you're done rinse it under warm water. Your favorite old pieces will now sparkle like the day you got them!

Remove Clothing Stains

Don't toss perfectly wearable clothing just because of a few tough stains, try one of the most useful toothpaste lifehacks. Whether you've got grass stains, lipstick residue, or spilled some coffee, trying a little toothpaste can make it wearable once again.

Dab a healthy amount of toothpaste directly to the stain, fold the fabric over the stain, and rub it together like you're trying to start a fire. Don't go to hard and rip the fabric, defeating the entire purpose, but don't be too gentle. Rinse it under warm water and put it in the laundry as you would with any other piece of clothing.

Deodorize the Dog

Dogs can get awfully smelly playing outside and, worst case scenario, sprayed by skunks. If your dog has a little funk smell on it and you aren't sure what to do, don't stress out, try one of the most helpful toothpaste lifehacks. Wet down your dogs coat and then apply a bit of toothpaste all over the problem spots.

Massage it into the coat for a few minutes—until the paste is worked into the coat—and then rinse it clean with warm water. Whether he got into the trash or was sprayed by a skunk, the foul smell will be masked by a minty fresh scent.

Style Your Hair

If you ever find yourself in a tough spot with your hair and have nothing to style it with, grab a bottle of toothpaste. It works just as well as hair gel in a pinch, mostly because they contain many of the same ingredients. Take a little dab of paste and put it in your troubled area, and I think you'll be impressed with the quality of the hold.

It will not stain or damage your hair in any way, and the things you can do with it makes it one of those toothpaste lifehacks you should consider if you find yourself in a tight spot.

Defog Mirrors

After a hot shower the mirror can get pretty fogged up, making it unusable if you need to get ready and be out the door in a hurry. Instead of waiting for it to defog after a shower, be proactive and apply a thin film of toothpaste and wipe it down with a wash clothe.

No need to wait to style your hair or trim your beard—the mirror is completely clear! It's one of the more surprising toothpaste lifehacks and can greatly improve your morning routine.

Clean Scratched CDs and DVDs

Finally, we all know our favorite CDs and DVDs usually have a bunch of wear and tear on them—we've literally worn them out. However, a few scratches on your favorite disk need not be a death sentence. Take a clean cloth and rub a tad of toothpaste on the scratch. Rub it till the scratch breaks, then follow it up with a clean cloth, brushing away the rest of the debris.

Pop it back in your CD player and hear it like you just bought it once again. You wouldn't think a bathroom item could fix electronics, but it's one of the best toothpaste lifehacks you are likely not utilizing. Don't toss your favorite CD's away again, fix them.