Denture Tablets Are the Unexpected Hero Missing From Your Cleaning Supplies—Here's How to Use Them

There are a handful of cleaning supplies that we recommend everyone keep stocked at all times. This includes the common essentials, like microfiber cloths, melamine erasers, oxygen-based bleach, and more. However, there's another, more unexpected item we'd like to present for your consideration: denture tablets. You'll likely have to look in the dental care aisle, not the household cleaning aisle, to find these powerful, effervescent discs—but trust us, they deserve a spot in your supply cabinet, whether you wear dentures or not.

"[Denture tablets] are unexpectedly effective because they contain mild abrasive agents, effervescence, and a mild disinfectant and cleaning agent," says Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare. "When dissolved in water, denture tablets release oxygen bubbles, which lift stains and break up buildup."

Plus, they're convenient to store and easy to use. "They're tiny so they don’t take up much storage, and they're inexpensive and easy to find at most stores," says Derek Christian, chief cleaning officer of All Star Cleaning. "They help kill the bacteria that causes odor without damaging most surfaces, and they can do it without a lot of scrubbing."

So, there's really no reason not to stock up on these powerful tablets. Here's how you can use them around the house.

How to Use Denture Tablets

Schrader says denture tablets are an especially great option for any situations where you don't want to do a lot of manual cleaning and scrubbing—like when dealing with fragile or small items with hard-to-access crevices. For example, denture tablets could be the perfect solution for quickly cleaning up an antique vase with a narrow opening.

Keith Wortsmith, president of DASH Heating & Cooling, says denture tablets are great for these situations because they "create fizzing bubbles that can reach into corners and tiny crevices you’d never get to with a brush."

He also recommends using them for cleaning the inside of a humidifier or dehumidifier tank, or the condensate drain pan under your AC—to dissolve light mineral buildup, eliminate odor, and loosen film. "You can just fill the tank or pan with warm water and drop the tablet right in—one tablet for about one liter of warm water," Wortsmith says. "After 15 minutes, dump it out and rinse well with clean water."

Since denture tablets work so well to break down stains and loosen buildup, they're also commonly used for removing coffee or tea stains from mugs, for refreshing reusable water bottles, or for tackling mineral deposits on cloudy glassware. Similar to the instructions above, all you have to do is fill the container with some warm water, drop the tablet in, let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then rinse.

Denture tablets can also be turned into a cleaning solution for use on items that can't be filled with water. Simply dissolve the tablet in a spray bottle filled with warm water, and spray the solution on areas that are stained or have buildup, like soap-scum covered bathroom fixtures. "Another great way to use them is on grout," says Christian. "They work really well on grout stains."

When You Shouldn't Use Denture Tablets

Before you go off and replace all your cleaning products with denture tablets, know that they shouldn't be used on absolutely everything around your house. "I wouldn't suggest using denture tablets on porous stone surfaces, like marble, or unfinished metals, as the acids and oxidizers can etch or tarnish the finishes," Schrader says. "Always do a small test spot on finishes first before taking the plunge."

Also, while denture tablets can do a lot, they aren't effective at removing everything. "Just remember that denture-cleaning tablets only freshen and loosen light mineral buildup and have nothing to do with mold and mildew removal," says Wortsmith. So, in the case of mold or more serious instances of buildup, make sure to use the right, targeted approach.