Saving with 6abc: Cleaning with toothpaste

AMBLER, Pa. (WPVI) -- If you've messes to clean up -- anything from a gunky curling iron to dirty sneakers -- toothpaste may be the inexpensive miracle cleaner you need.

Beth Allen of DIY HipChicks says, "Toothpaste is a great cleaner and it saves you money because not only does it just cost pennies, but it will save your items. It'll save your iron and then your clothes that you don't get rust stains on. It can save your sneakers that your kids say, 'Oh, they're ruined, I need new ones' just by cleaning up the white rubber."

Allen showed us how she uses a wet toothbrush and toothpaste to get hard water and rust stains off the bottom of an iron. The same technique works on a hairspray-coated curling iron. Just make sure you use a white paste, not a gel or blue or green paste.

Toothpaste is also good for dirt stains off the rubber soles of sneakers. Just scrub with the toothpaste and brush and wash away. You'll be amazed who white they can be.

And if you have a young child, you'll love THIS use for toothpaste. If your child colors on a wall with crayons, toothpaste can also be used to clean off the wall, without ruining the paint. that will save you the time and expense of repainting.

Finally, you can even use toothpaste and dry toothbrush to clean the ivory keys on a piano.

For more DIY money-saving tips, check out Allen's DIY HipChicks blog.