Should You Be Using Toothpaste To Freshen Up Your Washing Machine? TikTok Is Divided

Toothpaste is essential in our everyday lives, with billions of tubes flying off supermarket shelves every year. You likely already have a few tubes of it lying around your house. For the most part, many of us use it to keep our teeth clean and shiny. On the other hand, it can also be used for helping to remove stains and boasts plenty of cleaning uses. It's a versatile little product once you know how to use it. However, one user on TikTok shows how you can use the common household product to help clean up odors from your washing machine. While it may seem bizarre, it can actually work quite well.

Despite this, some users on TikTok are showing their concerns, clearly feeling highly skeptical about putting such a substance in their washing machines. After all, how does it even work? Below, we'll look deeper into the debate to see if you should use toothpaste to freshen up your washing machine. Afterward, you should be able to decide whether you want to try this useful trick. 

Yes, toothpaste may seem like a bizarre product to put in your washing machine. However, one TikTok user, who goes by the username @brunchwithbabs, claims that combining both lemon and toothpaste could transform the smell of your washing machine and eliminate any lingering odors. It's really as simple as that. In her TikTok video, she explains the method in more detail: "Just cut a lemon in half and remove the seeds. Next, take toothpaste and squeeze a swirl right on top of that lemon. Just put both halves in your washing machine and just run your speed wash on hot." Afterward, you can remove the lemons and do as you wish with the leftovers. Instead of throwing them away, you could even add them to your own compost.

As it turns out, there may be some truth behind the seemingly bizarre toothpaste method. Speaking to Homes & Gardens, Bret Jackson, a professional cleaning expert, explains: "Lemon juice is a natural disinfectant and will help to kill any bacteria," which may partly explain why this method works so well. However, this is just one part of the magic recipe. What about the toothpaste? Cleaning expert Robin Wilson tells the Daily Express that toothpaste "[is] abrasive, but it's not too abrasive," meaning that it could help remove any odors or extra dirt lingering in the depths of your washing machine. However, some people on TikTok still aren't so convinced.

While there is some logic behind the toothpaste and lemon method for washing machine cleaning, some TikTokers don't reflect the same opinions. For example, some people just don't like the idea of putting it inside their washing machine, with one user commenting: "What about the pulp from the lemon? Won't it get all over your washing machine?" However, these sentiments seem to just boil down to personal preference. On the other hand, others in the comments just seem to prefer using other methods that they find simpler. For example, vinegar appears to be a "go-to" choice for many, judging from interactions in the comments. Of course, both of these methods likely work well. 

But these aren't your only options. You could also try using mouthwash to clean your washing machine or even baking soda to eliminate odors. If you do end up opting to try the lemon and toothpaste method, it should be perfectly safe to do so. It all comes down to personal preference.