Here are some downright nifty tips found online for how to use toothpaste; that is, beyond its normal way. It also can help to clean your house, remove stains, fix scuffed shoes and scratched phones, and even polish your favorite jewelry. Here’s how:

Polish your jewelry. To make your jewelry (yes, even diamond rings) sparkle and shine more, put some toothpaste on an old, clean toothbrush and gently scrub away any dirt and grime. When you’re done, clean off excess toothpaste with a damp cloth.

Clean gunk off your iron. Rub some toothpaste on the bottom plate of the iron and wipe it off with a damp cloth. Of course, be sure that the iron is unplugged and cool before you do it.

Brighten up your car headlights. If your headlights are looking dull and grimy, you can use toothpaste to clean them up. As long as your headlights aren’t glass (toothpaste won’t be abrasive enough), you can scrub your headlights with some toothpaste and a rag, using slow and steady motions. Rinse off with water when you’re done.

Deodorize hands after cooking. Toothpaste can remove the smell that cooking fish or chopping onions leaves behind on your hands. Just rub it on your hands and rinse it thoroughly.

Remove scuffs from your shoes. To get scuffs and marks off canvas-covered shoes, apply a little bit of toothpaste to a clean cloth and gently polish them away. Wipe off any residue with a clean damp cloth, and let dry when finished.

Take out carpet stains. Rub toothpaste into stains on your carpet, then rinse or wash as usual.

Fix a scratched phone. Dab a little toothpaste onto a soft cloth or cotton swab, then gently rub it in (in circular motions) until the scratches seem to be gone. Then, use a slightly damp cloth to wipe off any excess toothpaste.

Toothpaste – Not Just for Your Teeth Anymore