Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle … old toothbrushes?

By: pouch

pouch — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:15:34 +0000

I never know what to do with old toothbrushes – I have loads sitting in a jug in my bathroom, waiting to be used for household chores – it drives my husband mad! These suggestions are great, so glad I found this website!

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:34:26 +0000

Although, you may already do this, I use mine for cleaning. Great for tile & around faucets & any other tight spaces!

By: Covert_Operations'78

Covert_Operations'78 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:09:58 +0000

Thank you, Cheri! Sorry it took so long for me to reply to you! I will try making fruit skewers with them.

By: cheri fisher

cheri fisher — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:22:38 +0000

Ooops! I didn’t think my first post went thru.

By: cheri fisher

cheri fisher — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:17:59 +0000

Cut the bristle heads off and drill a small hole in each handle. Then, glue in a kitchen skewer (like those small ones that are used to truss poultry). Use it to make fruit kabobs (melon, pineapple, whatever…).
Or stab one into each end of an ear of corn on the cob. Or use the
skewers to stab olives, pickles, jalepenos……I hope this helps you.

By: cheri fisher

cheri fisher — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:16:12 +0000

Howdy CovertOperations78!
Those novelty toothbrushes are my favorite ones to repurpose!
They’re way too cool to go to the landfill. Try this: cut the head(bristles)
part off, then drill a small hole in the handle and glue in a kitchen
skewer (you could use those small ones that are usually used for trussing poultry). You can then make fruit kabobs (melon, pineapple,
etc…)or stab one into each end of an ear of corn on the cob. Also,
use em to spear pickles, olives, or Jalapenos, whatever. I use the
cut off heads(bristles part) for “scrubbers” in the bathroom/kitchen.

By: CovertOperations78

CovertOperations78 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:39:44 +0000

What about novelty toothbrushes, like those Zooth Batman ones? Their handles are like action figures, and much too nice to be discarded. I reuse all my toothbrushes as pet toothbrushes, and when I am through with using them on my dogs, I use the toothbrushes to clean tiles, bathroom fixtures and hard-to-reach places with. What happens when they outlive their useful lives — when the bristles are so damaged and flattened that I can’t use them for cleaning anymore? What can I do with the action-figure handles, apart from displaying them in a glass in the bathroom? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

By: alison bailey smith

alison bailey smith — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:14:16 +0000

Check out the early work of jeweller Peter Chang. He is trained in sculpture and jewellery design. His work in the 80′s used recycled plastic taken from toothbrushes, felt tip pens and discarded toys.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:42:37 +0000

Lift the lid and look at the hinges of your toliet seat. Gross? Use an old toothbrush to get that.

By: Bad Monkey

Bad Monkey — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:28:05 +0000

For all you fishermen, and women out there, cut the head off the toothbrush, and then drill a hole in either end, attach a swivel to one end and then the hook at the other end, make great spinning lures as they are often bright and multi coloured and the bodies make the perfect shape.

By: Clare

Clare — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:22:01 +0000

Just spotted this:

http://www.wikihow.com/Reuse-Old-Toothbrushes

By: Tin

Tin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:33:45 +0000

I keep an old toothbrush to clean the algae off of my fish tank’s glass. The long handle lets me scrub without getting arm-deep in fish water, and the bristles are effective at cleaning the algae off and not scratching the glass.

By: louisa

louisa — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:22:22 +0000

Not into the idea of a toothbrush bracelet? If you’ve got stretched ear-lobes (or other bits), you can make plugs out of slices of the handle instead:

http://news.bmezine.com/2008/08/02/dont-forget/

By: Hollie

Hollie — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:58:44 +0000

Ya, you have to use a certain kind of tooth brush to make one, so make sure you have the right tooth brush. I think this is an AWESOME idea!

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:31:45 +0000

I use them to clean the battery terminals on my car.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:16:38 +0000

remove the bristles, soak in boiling water (BE CAREFUl!) and bend to form a unique bracelet.

By: renee

renee — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:51:02 +0000

take out the bristles and wow! space age action figure weapons! Kids love ‘em

By: alternatives

alternatives — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:47:03 +0000

Whoa….check out this page…hmmm, and I thought this was only for the kids

By: Answerer

Answerer — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:08:04 +0000

Use for cleaning small spaces. Also, if you are an artist, toothbrushes make interesting strokes.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:39:32 +0000

If you’re using a plain, older, standard toothbrush, you can turn them into cool-looking bracelets. Varying colors can give you a unique set of bangles.

You can do this by boiling them for a few minutes. Using pliers, pull out the bristles. Then boil them a few minutes more and then mold them around a glass or other object, then try it on and make adjustments for it to fit your wrist.

Mine is a great conversation starter whenever I wear it.

Here’s a picture I found to give a visual aid:

http://www.spazzticcrafts.com/images/toothbrush/toothbrush-016.jpg

Good luck!

By: Jillian

Jillian — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:49:32 +0000

I use them to clean off rocks! playing out in the mud at the reservoir with the dogs finding crystals and agates, the old toothbrush gets into all the nooks and cranny’s either while your there in the creek or at home in the sink!

By: Amanda Kerik

Amanda Kerik — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:51:14 +0000

After soaking them in hydrogen peroxide I use them to clean the inside threads of baby bottles.

I soften the neck with a candle flame so I can bend the head back at an angle to be able to scrub bottom seams of bottles and the like.

I also use them to clean the gunk out of my combs.

I use old toothbrushes as an eyebrow brush.

Basically – any hard to reach area or places that need a gentle touch can be cleaned with an old toothbrush.

By: Erika

Erika — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 16:40:13 +0000

I use them as a paintbrush/paint splatter-er. When I’m through with that, I take the bristles off and bend them into bracelets ;)

By: Kristina

Kristina — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:40:50 +0000

I was just about to post the same thing. I’ve had the same Terradent 31 toothbrush for a year or so now, and I love it. At least when you throw the brush head away it’s a much tinier contribution to the landfill than a whole brush every few months.

By: Regina

Regina — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:31:26 +0000

I use Terradent toothbrushes. I’ve had the same toothbrush for the past couple years because Terradent allows you to change the brush part. It’s still an issue- what to do with th old brush part? Here’s Terradent’s website:
http://www.eco-dent.com/terradent.htm

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:44:38 +0000

If they are small enough they make good tools to clean jewelry, especially rings and the like.

By: Raintree writer

Raintree writer — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:12:00 +0000

If you have a lot then use them to clean the cat box out. I clean my catbox a lot and I don’t like to use something that needs to be cleaned because it just seems gross.

So, you can use it and throw it away!

By: Cadan ap Tomos

Cadan ap Tomos — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:17:13 +0000

I use them when cleaning bicycle chains, they make good scrubbing tools.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:51:02 +0000

I use them to clean mud off shoes and especially if we get any dog poo on them as can then throw brush away. Also same use for mobility scooter wheels.

Also use to clean overflow on sink.