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A person uses a toothbrush to clean the inside rim of a metal tumbler over a kitchen sink.
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How to Turn an Old Toothbrush Into a DIY Bottle Cleaner

Reuse an old toothbrush and a lighter to make a simple DIY bottle cleaning tool for narrow bottles, glasses, jars, and travel mugs.
Prep Time 5 minutes

Equipment

  • Old toothbrush
  • Lighter

Instructions

  • Hold the toothbrush near the middle of the handle and keep the bristles away from the flame. Use the lighter to warm one spot on the plastic handle for a few seconds, moving the flame slightly so it does not burn or bubble.
    A hand holds a toothbrush over a lighter, with the toothbrush head being exposed to an open flame above a wood-patterned surface.
  • Once the plastic softens, gently bend the toothbrush into a curved shape. The goal is to angle the brush head so it can reach inside bottles, glasses, and jars more easily.
    A person bends the neck of a blue and white toothbrush with both hands over a wooden surface.
  • Hold the toothbrush in the bent position for a few seconds while the plastic cools. Once it hardens again, check that the handle feels sturdy before using it.
    A person holds a bent cleaning brush with blue, yellow, and white bristles on a light wood-grain surface.
  • Work in a well-ventilated area and keep the flame away from anything flammable. Do not touch the heated plastic until it cools, and only heat the handle, not the bristles.