Bamboo Toothbrush Upcycle

This is probably one of my favorite upcycles! If you’ve been following me over on Instagram for awhile you have most likely seen it before.  Even if you don’t have Instagram you can see a photo of this project on the main page of my website! According to the ADA you should be changing out your toothbrush every 3 months. But what to do with your used toothbrush when it’s after 3 months?

Here is a little tutorial to make a soap dish with them. Just an fyi I only use bamboo toothbrushes. If your still using a plastic toothbrush you might be able to do this project. I would encourage you to switch over to a bamboo toothbrush though. You can see this past article on why. 

Step 1: Gather 4 used bamboo toothbrushes and start taking out the bristles with pliers. This step can be tricky. I’ve found that taking one small section as a time and twisting with the pliers makes the removal easier. If you don’t have any tools you can also just snap the head off of the toothbrush. 

Step 2: Arrange 3 of the toothbrushes on a flat surface with the bristle side facing up. (This will be the bottom side). I like to alternate the toothbrushes just for a visual look, but this isn’t necessary. 

Step 3: Measure two small pieces to sit on the bottom of all the toothbrushes. I like to have an overhang of 1/2 inch on each side. Once you have that measurement. Cut to size the remaining toothbrush. You don’t need fancy tools for this. If you have a serrated knife you can cut the toothbrush. (Just be careful!) 

Step 4: Now we are going to secure all the toothbrushes together. I like to use a produce rubber band. There are other ways to secure them, such as nails, screws, glue or twine. However over the years I have found that the rubber bands are the easiest way. You’ll need 6 rubber bands to secure at each intersection. 1. Start by wrapping diagonal with a small twist at the back (about 3 times) Then bring the entire rubber band on the other diagonal (about 2 times) and secure on the side. See how it makes an X look on the front. For more of a visual, you can check that out here. (you’ll need to click through the highlights, its towards the end.) Once everything is secured, you can easily push the toothbrushes back into place if anything is looking not straight. 

Step 5: Add your soap and you’re good to go!  See how there are built in drainage holes in between the toothbrushes now? (No more soggy soap!) Your soap will be able to drip through those holes and allow it to dry out faster between uses.

Some side notes. A lot of people over the years have always assumed this project won’t last or will go moldy quickly. I have personally never had that problem. My first toothbrush upcycle was made in 2019 before I even started with Sustainably Amber. I still have the original one since then and it looks great after lots of usage.  

As for mold, make sure you keep it out of the direct steam of water; and make sure your bathroom has ventilation. You may need to give it an occasional swipe down, but that is the same for any soap dish! 

A lot of people ask me how I thought of this. I try to look at everything as a potential upcycle. I honestly use all my upcycles on a daily basis and I try to make them practical for everyday usage. So when I started using shampoo bars I needed a way to store them and that’s how this idea started. You can make any size you want actually. I even have a little tiny one that I store my face bars on, plus I always take this smaller size on travels too. 

I even keep a hanging one in my shower to keep my loofahs on!

If you’re looking to make the switch to a bamboo toothbrush my favorite are from MeMotherEarth. They are reasonably priced at $2.25 per toothbrush with the four pack. You can use my code SustainAmber15 to get it a little extra off, which brings it down to under $2 per brush. 

Let me know if you end up making one. I always love see the creations from others. Happy upcycling and brushing

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