Bamboo toothbrushes are becoming a popular alternative to traditional toothbrushes for a number of reasons. The main one? Their environmental benefits. Unlike plastic toothbrushes, which can end up in landfill for over 500 years and contribute to harmful pollution, bamboo toothbrushes are sustainable, can be reused, and then take as little as 3 to 6 months to decompose.
Wondering how you can get the most out of yours? These are the top ways that you can reuse your old bamboo toothbrush:
- Cleaning Brush
- Plant Markers
- Compost
- Nail Brush
- Stain Remover
- Arts & Crafts
- Jewellery Restorer
- Firewood
1. Cleaning Brush
This one's a personal favourite. Your old and unused bamboo toothbrushes are great at getting in the otherwise hard-to-reach places around your home. Think kitchen tiles, bathroom corners and the edges around your tap... your space will be sparkling clean in no time.
Don't forget your kitchen devices either! Your cheese grater, peeler and garlic crusher will thank you for the thorough clean that a bamboo toothbrush can offer.
The bristles on your toothbrush are also great at cleaning out the dirt, grime and grease that builds up in and on your bike, or other outdoor modes of transport (skateboards, e-scooters, and so on). You can also clean the mud off shoes or trainers — just scrub the small spaces in the treads of your shoes.
2. Plant Markers
Old bamboo toothbrushes make the perfect plant markers! Cut off the bristles with a pair of pliers, recycle them, and then use a marker to label your brush. Once done, pop in your plant to help you identify herbs and seeds.
For a bit of extra pizazz, paint your brush a bright colour before you label it.
3. Compost
You can compost bamboo toothbrushes in your home composter, or bury them in your garden soil. As well as the environmental benefits, composting your bamboo toothbrush can improve plant growth and protect your plants from environmental stress and fungal diseases.
4. Nail Brush
Speaking of the garden, your bamboo toothbrush can be used as a nail brush if you often get dirt under your nails — just make sure to keep this one separate from your cleaning brushes!
5. Stain Remover
With the bristles still on, you can use an old bamboo toothbrush to remove tough stains. Make sure the bristles are clean, then gently scrub with a cleansing soap to budge persistent stains from your carpet or clothes.
6. Arts & Crafts
Old toothbrushes make great material for arts and craft projects. There are no limits to what you can do here — push your imagination to its limits!
Create a toothbrush house, photo frame, soap holder, or make goal posts for a game of finger football. Bamboo toothbrushes also make fantastic paint stirrers.
7. Jewellery Restorer
Over time, jewellery can become dirty, faded, dull or discoloured. When mixed with warm water and dish soap, you can use the small bristles on a bamboo toothbrush to give it a new lease of life.
Leave the jewellery to soak in the solution, then scrub for a few minutes with your bamboo brush. Once complete, leave to air-dry on a soft cloth.
8. Firewood
Have a fireplace, pit, or furnace? Once the bristles have been removed, you can use it as fuel for your fire — it might not be as effective as a regular firewood, but it still helps make a difference.
And there you have it — some of our favourite ways to reuse and upcycle an old bamboo toothbrush. As you should replace your bamboo toothbrush every 2-3 months (as long as you clean and care for them between uses), this means you can find new and exciting uses for your sustainable bamboo toothbrushes on a regular basis! Feel free to share yours below.
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Brush Fresh Co. is founded and run by a group of UK-based dentists, who specialise in environmentally-friendly and sustainable dental products. From biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes to zero waste toothbrush tablets, our product range has been designed to put both your dental health and the environment first. For more information and dental care advice, head over to our blog page or get in contact with us here.