Bet you didn’t know there are a bunch of awesome things you can do with a toothpick, other than picking your teeth
Ah! The toothpick — an ingenious invention that has stood the test of time which can be found in most homes and in almost all cultures.
But, did you know that there are countless other uses for the humble toothpick that you’ve probably never thought of, even in your wildest dreams.
Before we delve into today’s genius Lifedaily list of awesome things you can do with toothpicks, we’d share a little history about the origins of the toothpick.
Toothpicks date back all the way to Neanderthals, before the arrival of early modern humans
With no dental care available, early man suffered terribly from toothache and other dental related pain. The skulls of Neanderthals show evidence of the use of toothpicks and other tools made from a variety of materials, including wood and metals such as bronze and silver.
We hope you find this list helpful and, if you have don’t have any toothpicks lying around, you’d better go buy some; you never know when they might come in handy:
1. Wood filler
One of the best and most popular uses for toothpicks is as a makeshift but sturdy wood filler. You can use them to fill screw holes, hinges, drawers and other spots.
2. Repair ornaments
A toothpick is a great tool to use to get into small spaces and on to small surfaces to apply glue to items such as figurines, statuettes and ornaments.
3. Sew buttons
Sewing experts like to keep a couple of toothpicks handy in their sewing kits to help them when sewing on buttons. The toothpick is used as a thread shank to create space between the button and the fabric and can save you a bunch of time.
4. Mark tape
Say goodbye to the days of not being able to find the end of the tape roll, something very annoying to most people. Simply use a toothpick and wrap the end of the tape around it a few times and voila! No more tape hassle.
5. Clean cracks and gaps
Simply dip a toothpick in rubbing alcohol or other sterile cleaning solution, then use it to scrape out cracks and gaps in furniture and gadgets. It also may be the only way to reach into small spaces and clear out cobwebs and dirt.
6. Repair a garden hosepipe leak
Just stick a toothpick into the hole in a leaking garden hose. The water will swell the wood and provide a good temporary plug, until you get round to fixing it, or buying a new hose.
7. Press the reset button
Toothpicks are the perfect size for reaching into the tiny recessed holes that house reset buttons on whole host of remote controls and other devices.
8. Test foods for “doneness”
One of the oldest and most effective tricks in the book. Just prod a toothpick into cakes and brownies while baking. If it comes out clean, the baked goods are done.
9. Design frosting
Toothpicks are also handy after the cake is out of the oven. The thin tip makes a nice “pencil” for sketching out designs and words on the cake before permanently applying your decorations.
10. Use when marinating
Just stick a toothpick through garlic cloves or other items you plan to remove from a marinade. It’s an easier, safer and more hygienic way to remove the garlic before serving.
Did we bet right? Did you know that toothpicks can be used for all the things in the above list?
If you have any awesome things you can do with toothpicks that we left out, feel free to share them with us in the comments feed provided below.
