Toothpaste might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to cleaning your silver, shoes or walls, but it's actually the secret weapon hiding in your bathroom. It has many uses that go beyond dental hygiene. If the rubber part of your trainers looks worse for wear, apply some toothpaste and scrub gently with an old toothbrush. Then clean with a damp cloth. Similarly, to remove scuff marks from leather shoes, dab a tiny bit of toothpaste onto the marks, rub the area with a soft cloth and wipe with a damp cloth. Toothpaste can be used to clean silver, although, because it is abrasive, use only a tiny amount. Dampen the silver then rub a bit of toothpaste onto a small area with your finger. Rinse the spot well with warm water and dry with a soft, clean cloth. Avoid toothpastes that have tartar control or whitening properties. Use toothpaste to remove crayon marks from your walls - run a damp cloth and some toothpaste over the marks and rinse with a wet cloth - and to make chrome taps shine. For a coffee table littered with water rings, rub paste on the marks with a soft cloth then dry with a damp cloth. Finally, toothpaste can be used to calm an unsightly zit, and to take the itch out of an insect bite and the pain out of a bee sting. sdenman@thenational.ae Follow us
