# Almost Empty Tube of Toothpaste **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 23, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986 "2025-03-23T20:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/61 "2025-03-25T15:09:31Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > There came a time where I realized that I was saving about 25 cents a year. My mother would have been very proud of me if I could have shown her I was saving 25 cents per year. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/62 "2025-03-25T17:15:24Z")
She would be proud of me too. I’m another one who uses a binder clip, like @Roderick_Femm . My current tube is down to its last days, so I’m squeezing those last drops right now. 25¢ a year is 25¢. In 40 years I’ll have saved enough for a sandwich. But I’m pretty sure I’d be dead by then, so there you go. And in 40 years a sandwich will cost more than $10. But that won’t stop me from squeezing the tube. I don’t like waste. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/63 "2025-03-25T17:37:19Z")
Grandma (her mother) would often send me back home with a small cube of cheese, (for the dog) or ‘a slice of ham for His tea’ (as if He was some sort of ogre who had to be propitiated with slices of ham). All things that she didnt need, but must not be wasted. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/64 "2025-03-26T00:10:08Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I use prescription toothpaste, Colgate Prevident 5000. I’ve used that too! My current dentist sells Fluoridex, with a flip-top; to me, the material of the tube feels oddly thick, and I really do have trouble squeezing out the last of the toothpaste. Even if I’m super careful about using a tube squeezer or other device, I’ll still find 2 or 3 brushings left, and I feel like the effort to get to it is worth it because of the price. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/65 "2025-03-31T11:45:16Z")
This morning, I could not squeeze one last glob of toothpaste from the tube that inspired this thread. However, inspired by the great minds of the SDMB, I cut the tube open lengthwise and now I have enough toothpaste for maybe three or four more brushings. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/66 "2025-03-31T14:16:42Z")
What do you do with a cut open toothpaste tube? Leave it exposed to the fecal mist in the bathroom? ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/67 "2025-03-31T14:30:25Z")
It’s stored inside a closed, tightly sealed cabinet. Plus, the way I cut the tube on the side does not really leave it exposed. You have to pull it apart to access the toothpaste. Also, I really don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/68 "2025-03-31T14:35:38Z")
I’m nearing the end of my current tube, when I won’t be able to squeeze any remaining gobs out. I’m not going to cut open my tube. I’m just going to shitcan it. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/69 "2025-03-31T16:02:46Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I’m nearing the end of my current tube, when I won’t be able to squeeze any remaining gobs out. > > I’m not going to cut open my tube. I’m just going to shitcan it. This. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/70 "2025-03-31T18:08:53Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What do you do with a cut open toothpaste tube? Leave it exposed to the fecal mist in the bathroom? Personally, I’m more worried that toothpaste might leak out and make a mess. Those germs are already colonizing my gut, and got much grows in toothpaste in a couple of days, anyway? I like the little tube-squeezer my dentist gave me, but when the toothpaste stops coming out of the front, i toss the tube. My toothpaste is cheap. Anything that’s _more_ work than fetching a new tube and threading it into the plastic squeezer thing just isn’t going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/71 "2025-03-31T18:14:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What do you do with a cut open toothpaste tube? Leave it exposed to the fecal mist in the bathroom? where do you store your toothbrush? Anyway, I’ll squeeze the tube but not bother cutting it open. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/72 "2025-03-31T18:20:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > fecal mist in the bathroom? You probably need to see your doctor about that. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/73 "2025-03-31T18:28:39Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Anyway, I’ll squeeze the tube but not bother cutting it open. At some point it is no longer about being frugal. It becomes a challenge and an adventure. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/74 "2025-03-31T21:56:45Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > fecal mist in the bathroom? > > You probably need to see your doctor about that Yep… And be careful when bending over ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/75 "2025-03-31T22:11:01Z")
I can almost, but not quite, resist … @Fear_Itself: Fecal mist @LSLGuy : Band name! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/76 "2025-04-02T17:06:45Z")
Today is truly a sad day in the Ynnad household. I finally discarded the empty tube this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/77 "2025-04-02T22:50:23Z")
Count me in as a third to use the binder clip. One thing I _do_ use, though, is good, solid piece of key stock (like [this](https://www.mcmaster.com/product/98870A269)) to really squish up the remaining toothpaste towards the next before I tighten down the roll. Cheapskate? Maybe . . . But I just really _hate_ wasting stuff. Tripler I had to find a use for that bar stock _somewhere_ . . . ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/78 "2025-04-03T13:32:58Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Today is truly a sad day in the Ynnad household. I finally discarded the empty tube this morning. I hope you gave it a respectful memorial and a 12-toothbrush salute. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/79 "2025-04-04T06:13:30Z")
Does anyone else do ‘the centrifuge thing’ with a new tube of toothpaste? I opened a new tube of Crest today and there’s a lot of air in it. So I opened the cap and held the tube by the top end (open end), and I shook it hard to push the paste to the bottom and the air to the top. I basically ‘made like a centrifuge’, and then I squeezed out all the air from the tube. Yes I threw away my old empty tube. No there wasn’t any memorial for it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986/80 "2025-04-04T12:34:20Z")
My dentist gave me something like this > **[Amazon.com: LOVEINUSA Toothpaste Tube Squeezer, 4PCS Toothpaste Squeezer Roller...](https://www.amazon.com/LOVEINUSA-Toothpaste-Squeezer-Bathroom-Assorted/dp/B0BZYWDXVG)** > > Buy LOVEINUSA Toothpaste Tube Squeezer, 4PCS Toothpaste Squeezer Roller Tool for Bathroom, Home Use, Assorted Colors on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders That’s the first that came up when i searched, I’m sure you can find them a lot cheaper, as it’s just a small piece of plastic. The one she gave me is a rectangle, and has her info printed on it, but it’s functionally the same thing. It works _really_ well. I just gradually slide that thing up the tube. I bend the tube a bit at the very end to finish it, without losing that bit into the empty part. And then i slide it off and insert the tail of the new tube into it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/almost-empty-tube-of-toothpaste/1015986.md?page=5)