Cheese graters, small jars, juicer parts, sink fixtures ... when it comes time to clean all these and more, I reach for a toothbrush.
Toothbrushes may not have been designed for the kitchen, but they are ideal for scrubbing everything from utensils to appliances. They help remove stuck-on food from the slots of a spatula and get the crevices of the sink drain sparkling.
I use brushes with straight, firm bristles and have them in a couple different colors – one designated for dishes and another for fixtures. These inexpensive tools form an essential part of my kitchen cleaning arsenal.
Do you use toothbrushes or any other unusual tools for kitchen cleaning?
Related: Ten Most-Used: Emily's Favorite Kitchen Tools
(Image: Flickr member tamakisono licensed under Creative Commons)
What Drink Do You Order at a Bad Bar? 25 Food Writers Share Their Safety Drinks
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Red-and-Pink-Stripe...
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
I use a denture brush for cleaning rather than a traditional toothbrush. The bristles tend to be firmer, the head just a little bigger, and there is a little detail tool on the back of the head to get into little spots. Super handy!
@Sara_B Ooh, I'll definitely try one of those next time!
Ya u r right :)
I keep all my ready to toss toothbrushes and always have half a dozen of them under the sink. They are so useful for so many jobs!
I also keep the brushes from ready to toss mascara for similar jobs, as well as nail polish applicators for odd jobs that are not necessarily kitchen cleaning jobs but more like very precise application jobs where you don't want to mess up other supplies.
Plastic netting from food packaging is real useful for scrubbing things you'd rather not scrub with steel pads or for scrubbing badly burnt food off pots so you don't mess up your good scrubbing pads with yucky gunk.
I keep a new toothbrush for scrubbing potatoes, brushing off mushrooms and other food cleaning uses. I pop it in the dishwasher after I use it.
I find it handy for so many things, but I've learned to keep it out of site of guests because they assume it's an old used toothbrush, ewwwwww.