do you boil used toothpicks just to save money?

This is my first time to hear that a person boiled a toothpick aha! It is kinda a good way to recycle but I dont think I will do that. hehe. Plus its just me and my hubby so we dont really use a lot of totthpick hehe.

Hi Cutie Well I know it is hard times for many but this seems to be a bit extreme. It really grosses me out to think if you went to her place for supper and wanted a tooth pick oh I do not want to even think of it all I have to say about this is "YUK YUK AND MORE YUK YUK!

OMG I have never heard of that before! It would actually cost her more to heat the toothpicks than it would to buy them fresh, and really, would you honestly want to use a toothpick that someone else might have used, regardless of whether it's clean or not? The thought alone would put me off for sure.

I have never boiled toothpicks before. The few times I have, I've used them once and thrown them away. But then, I rarely use toothpicks anyway. So I guess it works out for me lol.

I think when it comes to personal hygiene, I will not recommend re-using disposable toothpicks or such items. That is why they are disposable because they have to be disposed of after usage.

This is the first time I hear people boiling toothpicks for reused just to save cost. I believe the overall effort to boil the toothpicks will be more expensive than to buy a new box. And I would not want to have used toothpicks.

. That's insane. Very bad. Well I would shout also. I would rather save on other things except anything that I put in my mouth. Sorry to say but what was she thinking?

Used toothpicks??? I can imagine what transpired between your friend and his / her mother. It's definitely a no, no! That's very unhygienic! I can't blame the mother though because they are always after "saving money for future use" but your friend should explain that there are things worth saving and worth throwing. Your friend should better check the house if there's something more worth finding.

This has to do more with the state of mental health of the lady than with a way ofspending less money. I understand you friend and of course I find the whole idea vry grosse.

Hi cutie18f, This is the first time I hear of people reusing used toothpicks. I would not do it as it is indeed penny wise and pound foolish as it probably costs more to boil used toothpicks than buying new ones not to say the extra effort and work needed to make them clean enough to be reused. Anyway, different strokes for different folks. Whatever makes her happy I guess it's OK. Have a nice day.

A box of toothpick would not cost so much that throwing it away would be the least on my mind. I have never known anybody who has done the same.

wow never ever heard of anyone doing that. Ive heard of many frugal things but not that one.

I don't think I would use them, but makes me wonder if her mother might of grown up in a poor family where keeping and reusing things was normal.

Sounds nasty. Like boiling floss. But more power to her. A penny saved is a penny earned. If she starts reusing toilet paper, shes got a problem.

You must be joking or your friend's mother, here. In the first place, where did she get all those used toothpicks? Trash bins? Roadside? Some food stall's trash? I'd stop here before my system starts to reject my morning's breakfast. I do not know where she got this idea but she has got to be educated with whatever is present in today's world of illnesses. I hope the recycled toothpicks aren't from the streets or your friend's family health will be in great risks to diseases. Just do not know what have they or might have contracted and I'd highly recommend a health check for the entire family as a precaution here. Your friend's mother being of age cannot be told plainly, because of their age the need of education is more relevant or they will not easily accept what is being told and more so, coming from a younger generation. Otherwise, she will be repeating this behind her back and who knows what she might do next. If she's money conscious then ask her to consider the cost of a pack of toothpicks to a doctor's consultation fee or hospitalization. I am more concern on getting the message through on being penny wise, pound foolish here.

I've known some cheap people, but cleaning and reusing toothpicks takes the cake.

I agree with the daughter! I think it would cost a lot more to boil toothpicks than to buy fresh, clean toothpicks when you need them.

Oh my shocking news ! Oh can't imagine using a used toothpick ! It is so yaky then , though its boiled . It was already being placed in ones mouth . It was used to get dirt from ones mouth , so just to think of it , its really very dirty ! We can't blamed a daughter screaming in anger , because its really shocking and to think toothpick is very cheap , a bottle of coke is more expensive than a box of toothpick.It is a disposable then , so trash after using . Somethings can't be recycled especially personal things.

my mother likes to save the plastic spoons, forks, knives, cups and styro. i mean she'll wash them and put them away to be reused, but frankly, we seldom do because someone here who has no patience looking for them would rather buy new stock. thank god she doesn't wash the paper plates too!

Lol , this would be counter productive. There better ways to save money..... And i don't use tooth picks they just break and get stuck in your teeth. I just use floss or a plastic tooth pick.