13 Weird Ways to Use Dental Floss Around the House

In nearly every bathroom, you'll find at least one package of dental floss, whether it’s waxed, unwaxed, monofilament, or multistranded. Believe it or not, that little bundle of cord can do much more than clean your teeth—and it’s particularly handy as a stand-in for string, wire, or thread. Here are 13 amazing things you can do with dental floss.

By Donna Boyle Schwartz | Published Dec 12, 2017 06:00 PM

Slice Soft Foods

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How to Cut Food with Floss

Unwaxed dental floss can effortlessly cut through soft cheeses, cheesecakes, jelly rolls, and other delicate treats. Simply grab a long piece of floss, hold it across the food item, and press down firmly on both sides to get a smooth slice. 


Related: 11 Home Hacks You Can Do with a Bag of Groceries

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Cut Hard-Boiled Eggs

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How to Cut Boiled Eggs with Floss

Use unwaxed dental floss to cut hard-boiled eggs into thin slices. You’ll wind up with picture-perfect pieces for salads or hors d'oeuvres.


Related: 21 Home Hacks That Are Crazy Enough to Work

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Make a Popcorn Garland

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How to Make Popcorn Garland

To create homemade holiday decor, first thread a needle through a long strand of waxed dental floss. Use the needle to puncture popcorn or cranberries and slide them along the makeshift string. Your simple, festive garland will be infused with the romance of Christmases past.


Related: 12 Christmas Tree Decorating Fails

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Hang Delicate Ornaments

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Fix a Broken Ornament Hanger with Floss

Did you lose or break an ornament hanger while trimming the tree? For a quick solution, thread floss through the metal eye on top of the ornament, then tie a loop to create a sturdy support.


Related: 12 Other Ways to Decorate with Xmas Ornaments

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Mount Photos

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How to Hang Pictures with Floss

Redecorating your living space? Rely on a few strands of dental floss to mount photographs, mirrors, or other small objects. Unlike traditional picture-hanging wire, it won’t scratch your walls!


Related: 9 DIY Ways to Redo Your Wall—Without Paint

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Protect Precious Memories

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How to Remove Pictures from Sticky Albums

Old-school sticky photo albums preserve precious memories, but your pictures can be tough to remove from the pages, or they can get stuck in the wrong place. For fast removal without the risk of tears, gently slide waxed dental floss underneath each photograph.


Related: 8 Clever Ways to Use Post-It Notes

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Replace Kitchen Twine

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How to Cook with Dental Floss

Unwaxed dental floss can be used in place of twine in your kitchen, and it’s perfect for trussing up your stuffed pork roast, brasciole, chicken, or turkey.


Related: 11 Totally Unexpected Uses for a Crock-Pot

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Tie Up Seedlings and Vines

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How to Tie Up Seedlings and Vines with Floss

Stash a pack of dental floss in with your gardening supplies. It’s the perfect tool for tying up delicate seedlings and climbing plants, such as tomatoes, morning glories, clematis, climbing roses, and honeysuckle.


Related: 8 Smart Ways to Put Your Garden on Autopilot

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Make a Trellis

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Make a Trellis with Dental Floss

Make a trellis for your garden by tying lengths of waxed dental floss between stakes. You’ll get the perfect scaffold for climbing vegetables like cucumbers, beans, squash, and peas.


Related: 10 Things to Do Now for a Better Garden Next Year

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Silence Dripping Faucets

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How to Quiet a Dripping Faucet with Floss

Nothing is more annoying than the steady “drip, drip, drip” of a leaky faucet, especially when you’re trying to sleep. Rather than tossing and turning all night, tie a length of dental floss around the spout of the faucet, and trail the end of the floss down into the drain. The water will trickle down the floss, eliminating the dripping and giving you a good night’s sleep. Then, when you wake up well rested the next morning, you can tackle that leaky faucet!


Related: 10 Things Always to Keep Near Your Kitchen Sink

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Fix Squeaky Floorboards

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How to Fix Squeaky Floorboards with Dental Floss

Seasonal changes in temperature and humidity make wood expand and contract, resulting in annoyingly squeaky floorboards. For a quick fix, soak a section of dental floss in wood glue, then gently slide it into the gaps between the squeaky boards. Once the glue dries, snip off the ends of the floss so the strand lies flush with the floor.


Related: 8 Ways to Stop Hating Your Floor—Without Replacing It

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Repair Clothing

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How to Repair Clothing with Floss

Thanks to the strength of dental floss, it can be used in place of thread to repair small tears in clothing, hem a pair of pants, or replace a button. Floss can also serve as a substitute for a broken shoelace, or as an in-a-pinch zipper pull.


Related: 9 Surprising Alternative Uses for Toothpaste

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Temporarily Fix Eyeglasses

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How to Fix Eyeglass with Floss

Dental floss can temporarily repair a broken pair of eyeglasses. If you lose the small screw that holds your glasses together, thread a piece of floss through the holes and tie it in a knot, trimming off any excess. The floss should hold until you get a replacement screw.


Related: 10 Things Always to Keep in Your Junk Drawer

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Freshen Up

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Floss Uses

Who knew a trip to the dentist could leave you with helpful household supplies? Like dental floss, toothpaste is surprisingly handy as a cleaning product.

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