5 places to clean with a toothbrush

Even in an otherwise sparkling-clean bathroom, grimy or moldy grout is tough to ignore. While a grout brush is the best weapon for tackling an entire shower or tub surround, a toothbrush paired with the right cleaning solution will do the trick for smaller jobs. If you don’t have a commercial grout and tile cleaner on hand, Marla Mock, president of national housekeeping company Molly Maid, suggests making a DIY solution with equal parts baking soda and vinegar, with the optional addition of a degreasing dish soap such as Dawn “to help breakdown the buildup.” Mix the ingredients into a paste, then apply a layer onto the grout and let sit for at least five to 10 minutes before scrubbing.

Courtney Landry, product development manager at cleaning and home care company Norwex, suggests enlisting a hard-bristle toothbrush for this particular job. “Sometimes you [need to] repeat the task two to three times to fully lift the dirt and stains,” she says. “When you’re finished, rinse the area with warm water.”