Chances are that there’s dental floss sitting in your medicine cabinet or vanity drawer. At least there should be, since flossing every day is recommended by the American Dental Association, but we won’t judge. While cleaning between your teeth is important, if that’s the only way you use floss, you’re not taking advantage of its full potential. The thin yet strong thread can be used in the garden and around the house for cleaning, mending, and decorating.
From super floss that is more like yarn to the thin kind made for compact spaces, all types are durable, flexible, and easy to use. Standard nylon floss can stand up to 25 pounds of tension before snapping, while strands coated in wax have lubricant properties. Further, since the strands are only between 0.001 to 0.003 inches, they can easily get into places our fingers and brushes (whether for teeth or cleaning around the home) can’t. Soon, you’ll not only keep your floss in the bathroom but also start storing packs in your toolbox, shed, and car as well.
Clean tight spaces
We all know that dental floss cleans the tight spaces between our teeth, but it can do the same for any small crevices around the house. Floss computer keys to dislodge dust, use it around the faucet to unstick grime, or thread it inside reusable straws to get where the sponge can’t. Just use your favorite soap along with the string to get a thorough clean.
Use it as emergency thread
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A loose button or unraveling hem but no thread? Quick, get the dental floss! That’s right — the teeth cleaner is a thread substitute. You might not want to use it with the sewing machine (since it could damage the device), but it’s handy for temporary repairs. You can even turn the small plastic pack into an emergency sewing kit. Add a needle to the floss container and leave it in your car or bag.
Unstick items
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The thin yet sturdy nature of floss makes it great for sliding between stuck objects and loosening them. Think of a picture stuck to the photo album page. Shimmy the peppermint thread behind the photo and gently pop it from the sheet without any tears. Perhaps a Command Strip broke off mid-removal, and the backing is still glued to the wall. Floss the string between the wall and the strip to pop it off without peeling the paint.
Secure your plants
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Climbing vines and plants with heavy produce are prone to drooping. Thin stems cannot support large tomatoes or cucumbers on their own — they need some type of support. Luckily, dental floss can take the weight off their shoulders. Insert a few stakes into your garden beds and tie the vines to the poles with floss. The waxy coating on the floss will withstand weather conditions like rain and wind while keeping the foliage upright.
DIY a trellis
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Apart from stakes, you can also use a trellis to support your plants. The structure helps climbing vines, shrubs, and young trees. DIY a mini one with two dowels and some dental floss. This hack might take a few feet of string — perfect if you have any floss that has lost its minty flavor. Plant your stakes, then thread the floss from one post to the other, creating multiple horizontal ties. Next, thread the vertical lines, weaving them through the horizontal floss lines. Once you’re done, you’ll have a homemade garden trellis.
Make garlands
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Garland is a popular decoration for the Christmas season, but it is not limited to just December decor. The pretty pieces are typically strung with leaves, but you can thread popcorn, pompoms, beads, dried fruit, or whatever else your heart desires onto the dental floss to make easy and sustainable garlands. Wrap them around your stair railing, mantel, vase, window, or door frame for a unique statement piece.
Hang ornaments
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The tiny strings or wires used to hang ornaments seem to disappear into thin air. When you’re in a pinch, head to the medicine cabinet and grab the dental floss instead. Simply loop the floss through the ornament and tie it into a bow before hanging it from garlands, wreaths, or door knobs. You can even color the white twine with markers or paint to elevate the decoration.
Mount artwork
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Canvas art and framed photos usually have a wire on the back so they can be mounted onto a hook. However, if the ready-to-hang wire snaps or the piece you’re hanging just doesn’t have it, dental floss can make a great substitute. Tie or staple the tooth cleaner from one end to the other on the back of the artwork. Then, hang it from any hook. You’ll have stunning art hung on your walls and a minty secret in the back.
