Fix a Scratched CD with Toothpaste!

You might think of toothpaste as only being useful for brushing your teeth and good dental hygeine, but toothpaste actually has many interesting uses - you can even use it to fix a scratched CD!

Before I go into more unusual uses for toothpaste, let's take a look at exactly what toothpaste and a brief history of toothpaste. Toothpaste was first developed in the 1800's and made with chalk and salt. Later peroxide and baking soda were added and now toothpaste has a variety of different ingredients that can make it useful for many household fixes.

Here are a few examples of things you can do with toothpaste besides brush your teeth:

Fix Scratched CD with toothpaste: If you've tried cleaning a scratched CD and it just won't seem to play or skips and can see a visible scratch on a CD toothpaste can actually work better than the commercially available (and more expensive!) polishes for scratched CDs. The theory is that by polishing the CD the scratches will become less deep and this can sometimes be enough to get it to play again. Use non-gel toothpaste that has baking soda added to it. Rub a small amount of toothpaste into the CD and polish off. Then rinse with water and let dry.

Tennis Shoe Cleaning: You can clean your tennis shoes with toothpaste - using an old toothbrush, simply use toothpaste and a small amount of water to brush your shoes. (Again, the non-gel kind!) Doing this can also help remove scuff marks.

Defogger: You can dab a small amount of toothpastse and rub on and rinse off goggles, windows, mirrors and more and it can act as a defogger and prevent these things from fogging up again!

Polish Anything Shiny: Using non-gel toothpaste and water and a soft cloth can make things like your faucets and stainless steel sinks shine! You can also use it to polish silver, chrome, jewelry, or any other similiar type of surface. Be sure to rinse all toothpaste off entirely so it does not leave a film.

Clean and Patch Holes in the Wall: If you have a small hole from a nail or poster, and your walls are white, you can fill it with white toothpaste and get away with not painting it or paint over it if you are not concerned about lasting durability over several years. Toothpaste can also be used to help remove crayon, scuff marks, and other stuff from the walls. It is like a magic eraser! (For a fraction of the cost!)

Use Toothpaste to Clean Your Nails: I didn't believe this one, so had to try it out for myself. If you're looking for a cheap way to give yourself a manicure, yes, using toothpaste really does make your nails look healthier and cleaner!

Deodorize: For sour smelling dishes, cups, or other things you might have that are stinky, you can get rid of that sour smell by cleaning them with toothpaste, since the baking soda is a natural deodorizer. If you've been wondering how to get the smell out of something and have tried soap and that didn't work, toothpaste might do the trick!

Bug Bites, Acne, Cold Sores, and Burns: If you have any problems with bug bites, cold sores, acne, or burns you can try putting toothpaste on these to help them heal faster and sooth the itching or pain. Be sure though if the problem persists or is severe you see a doctor! (Toothpaste cannot replace antibiotics or medical treatment!)

The next time you brush your teeth you can think about the mighty power of toothpaste and how it can do everything from fixing a scratched CD to soothing itchy bug bites! I bet you didn't know toothpaste could be so amazing!

Have any other amazing uses for toothpaste? Share it in the comments below!

Thanks to this site on the history of toothpaste for providing toothpaste facts and trivia.