RENA NERBAS

Long ago, people did not use toothpaste to clean their teeth. Instead they used: ground-up chalk or char-c o a l , lemon juice, ashes and tobacco and honey mixed together. Now, we not only use toothpaste for teeth, it is also a versatile cleaning product.

Toothpaste can be used to clean the plate of a household iron which often becomes stained with melted fabric, watermarks and calcium deposits. Rub toothpaste onto the plate when it is cool. Leave for five minutes and wipe. Before applying the iron to fine fabrics, heat as usual and rub over a scrap of cloth.

When toothpaste hardens and sticks to the sink, apply cooking spray to the affected areas. It will loosen the sticky mess. Wipe and apply dish soap to remove the oily residue.

On the other hand, you can use toothpaste to clean your bathroom sink. Rub it around the bowl and rinse. This freshens the drain and prevents stale smells.

Zap sticky tar on feet by rubbing them with non-gel toothpaste. Rinse.

Do your hands smell from onions or garlic? You bet they do! Wash your hands with toothpaste, and they’ll smell great.

Toothpaste deodorizes bottles and jars. It also works for sour milk in babies’ bottles or any drink that has sat too long in a glass, mug or bottle. Fill the container with warm water. Add a dab of toothpaste, let sit for an hour and rinse.

Remove scuff marks on shoes. Apply non-gel, non-bleach toothpaste with a tissue, rub and wipe off.

Apply non-gel, non-bleach toothpaste to stains such as ink and lipstick. Squeeze on the spot, scrub and rinse.

Clean your nails by squeezing toothpaste onto an old toothbrush. Wet nails and brush them thoroughly.

Use toothpaste to put up posters without damaging walls. Caution: Avoid using toothpaste for valuable posters; the ink may become damaged over time.

Use an old toothbrush and non-gel, non-bleach toothpaste to clean costume jewelry. Rinse thoroughly.

Tip: Toothpaste cleans diamonds. Squeeze a dab on an old toothbrush, wet the diamond and gently scrub. Rinse and wear.

It can take until age six for kids to learn to spit out toothpaste instead of eating it. Encourage children not to swallow toothpaste by using adult flavours instead of yummy kid flavours. They both contain the same amount of fluoride.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, “Regular exposure to slightly elevated amounts of fluorides during the period of tooth formation, from birth to approximately six years of age, is associated with dental fluorosis. This is characterized by white areas, and occasionally brown stains, on the teeth.” Think you are not getting enough fluoride? Remember that fluoride is found in air, water and soils. As well, vegetation and many foods contain at least trace amounts of fluorides. Foods that contain the highest levels include fish, shellfish, meat and tea.

Consider using an alternative to commercially sold toothpaste.

Recipe No. 1

Combine 2 tbsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. sea salt, 1 tsp. vodka, 2 drops of wintergreen and 2 drops of peppermint oil. Shake and use.

Recipe No. 2

Combine 1 tsp. baking soda and 1/4 c. water. Swish and use.

Reena Nerbas is a professional speaker and the author of three national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives available online or by calling: 204-320-2757.

I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming!

Check out my website: www.householdsolutions.org.