How To Get Toothpaste Out Of Clothes

How to get toothpaste out of clothes thoroughly? One morning, you accidentally dropped toothpaste on your favorite shirt. You worry when you see toothpaste leaving a stain on your clothes. Calm down! Toothpaste can not ruin your beautiful day.

Toothpaste is excellent for cleaning teeth, protecting your family’s oral health perfectly. However, a toothpaste stain on your shirt will disappoint you. Do not worry! It is not as stubborn and obnoxious as you think if you follow the steps below.

As opposed to scented wax or dough clay, speed is key in removing toothpaste stains from clothes. Therefore, if you find traces of them on your clothes, quickly follow the instructions below to achieve the best results.

Why Should You Clean Your Toothpaste As Quickly As Possible?

Toothpaste is an abrasive that removes plaque on the teeth, maintains oral health, and can whiten teeth. The main toothpaste ingredients are abrasives, fluorides, and detergents, usually sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or related surfactants (detergents).⁽¹⁾.

Regarding the effects of toothpaste stains, there are two common types of chemicals as follows:

• Titanium dioxide is the ingredient that makes toothpaste white. Although it does not affect the fabric’s color, it makes your clothes look less aesthetically pleasing.
• Hydrogen peroxide is an active ingredient that has a whitening effect and is quite common in whitening toothpaste. This substance can affect the color of the fabric if left on for too long.

That is why, as soon as toothpaste gets on your clothes, you should quickly remove them immediately. If toothpaste is left for too long on the fabric, especially those with a reasonably high bleaching ingredient, it can be harmful to your material.

Then, the chemical in the toothpaste may have formed a bond chemically bonded to the fabric.

At that time, the longer the bleach of toothpaste stays on the fabric, the more colored clothes will be at risk. Act as soon as possible if you do not want the toothpaste to leave permanent stains on your clothes.

Instructions On How To Remove New Toothpaste Stains From Clothes

Toothpaste is not a stubborn stain if you know how to fix it properly. You just need to grasp the time and some suitable stain remover; you can say goodbye to it quickly.

In Case You Are At Home

As soon as you discover a toothpaste stain, you need to quickly prepare all the tools in your house and follow each step in the instructions below:

Step 1: Lift Off The Toothpaste

You can prepare yourself some blunt object like a dull knife to scrape off the toothpaste excess. Only gently scrape on the fabric surface – where the toothpaste is and do not use too much pressure if you don’t want to damage the fabric.

If you’re concerned using a knife might tear the fabric, replace it with a credit card or your finger to remove as much toothpaste as possible. Remember, the faster – the more effective.

Step 2: Blot The Stain

Prepare a clean and white cloth for this process. Spread the garment on a flat surface and wet a white cloth to wipe the toothpaste stain. Note, do not rub stains because they will penetrate deep into the fabric.

Dampen a white cloth with sufficient water and dab the toothpaste’s stained area until the stain is gone.

Step 3: Pre-treat The Stain

If the stain is still on the garment, proceed to this pretreat step; otherwise, move on to the next step. This pre-treating process is essential, especially for stubborn toothpaste stains.

Before you start, however, make sure you check the care label instructions on your clothes – which will tell you which detergent is suitable for you.

Don’t start the pre-treat step right away without checking if you don’t want your fabric to spoil before you’ve completed the final step.

Some cleaning solutions you can use to pre-treat toothpaste stains:

• Laundry detergent
• Dish soap
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Baking soda

Option 1: Using Laundry detergent

Use warm water to wet the clothes because it will make the stain easier to fade. Mix 1 tsp detergent liquid with 1 cup of cool water. Stir the solution, and use a white cloth to blot the toothpaste gently. Gently rub the area around the stain until it disappears completely.

Option 2: Using Dish soap

Similar to laundry detergent, you can apply dishwashing liquid to remove excess toothpaste on the fabric. Use 1 tbsp dish soap mixed with 2 cups of cool water. Dip a clean white cloth into the solution and put it on the stain. Rub the stain gently.

Do not use dish soap directly on the material. For the soap to be most effective, you can let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Option 3: Using White Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the great cleaning agents that are both non-toxic and very inexpensive. Make a vinegar and cool water mixture with a ratio of 1:2 – 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts cool water. Dip a clean cloth in the prepared solution, gently place it on the stain on the garment.

Let the vinegar soak on the fabric for 1-2 minutes to remove the stain effectively, blot the stain again with a dry cloth. If you find it bubbling, don’t worry because it is just a normal reaction when the acid neutralizes the alkalinity of the toothpaste.

Option 4: Using Lemon juice

Similar to vinegar, the acid in lemon is one of the perfect ingredients for cleaning stains. Plus, if you are afraid of the smell of vinegar, you can substitute vinegar for lemon.

Prepare 2 tsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp baking soda to make a solution. Then, rub this solution on the surface of the fabric.

Option 5: Using Olive oil

You can use a mixture of soap and water, and olive oil as a stain remover. Dissolve detergent with water, and place it on the surface of the dirt. Then, apply a little olive oil to the above solution. Let the solution sit on the fabric for a few minutes to eradicate the dirty area.

Option 6: Using Bleach

Bleach is also considered a good solution for toothpaste stains. After removing most of the toothpaste, you can pretreat the stain directly with Clorox® Bleach Pen Gel. Note, only bleach should be used for white clothes.

Step 4: Rinse With Cold Water.

After completing the pre-treat process with detergents, the next step you should do is to rinse the clothes with clean water. Leaving chemicals and acids on the fabric for too long can damage the quality of the material.

Therefore, rinse them with water before starting the washing process.

Step 5: Wash The Clothes.

Make sure you recheck the care label to choose the right way to wash the fabric properly. If your fabrics are machine washable, put them in the washing machine on a regular cycle. For hand-washing fabrics, gently rub the fabric in a usual way.

Recheck your fabric for stains; repeat the process until the stain is gone.

In Case You Are Not At Home (Or In A Hurry)

If you are at work or do not have too much time to prepare the materials, you can also remove toothpaste stains easily. Just a few steps with available materials:

Step 1: Lift Off The Toothpaste

Use any material with a flat surface, such as a credit card. Use the edge of the card to remove part of the toothpaste from the clothing.

Step 2: Blot The Stain

Use a clean cloth to dip the water, then place the cloth over the stain and dab it gently.

Blot until you can no longer see the stain

Step 3: Flush With Cold Water.

If the stain is stubborn, you can flush the stain with cold water. Rub the stain with your hands to eradicate it.

Step 4: Air Dry

Let the stain dry naturally, and do not use a dryer. The heat from the dryer will make the stain become a challenge if it remains on the fabric.

How To Remove Old Toothpaste Stains From Clothes

You can’t remove the toothpaste right away, and it is already dry. Is it possible to clean it? Do not worry. Gather some necessary materials and start the process right away:

Option 1: Vinegar + Commercial Stain Remover

With stubborn stains, it sometimes takes a long time to treat. The steps below will help you say goodbye to dry toothpaste stains quickly.

Step 1: Soak the fabric in warm water, then rinse and wash as usual. Recheck the stain if the fabric is dry in the dryer.

Step 2: Mix the vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio if the stain is still present. Let it rest on the fabric for about 1 minute and then rinse and dry like you usually do. Remember to check before you put it in the dryer.

Step 3: Use commercial stain remover for more stubborn stains. Leave them directly on the stain for as long as the manufacturer recommends (maybe overnight for persistent stains). Finally, wash and dry as usual. Let dry immediately after stain inspection.

Option 2: Machine Wash

All you need is water and a washing machine. With just a few simple steps, you can remove stubborn stains.

Step 1: You can also use cool water to flush the stain and then a gentle rub.

Step 2: Wash the fabric in the washing machine with cool or warm water (following your care instructions).

Step 3: Repeat the process if the stain persists. Avoid drying with a dryer to prevent permanent staining.

Option 3: For Dried Toothpaste Stain

If your toothpaste stains are dry and old, maybe this is the right choice for you. Just follow the instructions and steps below, and your favorite t-shirt will no longer see that nasty toothpaste stain.

Step 1: Use a butter knife or a credit card to remove most dry toothpaste stains. Shave off most of the toothpaste to facilitate the pretreat process.

Step 2: Use a sponge moistened with rubbing alcohol. Just blot, not rub, to prevent stains from spreading.

Step 3: You just need to prepare a solution of white vinegar and mild liquid dish soap. You can mix 1/2 tsp dish soap with 1 tsp white vinegar. Soak the fabric with 1-quart warm water for 15 -20 minutes.

Step 4: Take out the clothes and check. Soak the stain in the solution if the stain persists. Then, mix 1 tablespoon of a commercial presoak product and 1 quart of warm water. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

Step 5: For stubborn stains, Apply pre-washed stain remover directly to stain. Before use, please read the manual carefully.

How To Remove Charcoal Toothpaste Stains From Clothes

Toothpaste that whitens teeth can increase the risk of bleaching colored clothes. However, charcoal toothpaste brings some problems when it gets on white fabric. Is it harder to remove this stain than with white toothpaste?

My answer is no. Although charcoal toothpaste can leave unsightly stains, you can completely remove them. Getting charcoal toothpaste out of clothes is completely easy with the instructions below.

Apply a stain remover to the stain after soaking the cloth in water. Wash the fabric with warm water, using a detergent suitable for the care label. You can repeat the process if the stain remains.

Tips For Cleaning Toothpaste Stains You Should Know

If you want to achieve the best results in the cleaning process, the tips below will help you. Let’s cover them.

Do A Spot Test

You’re not sure if the bleach is suitable for your fabric, even if you’ve checked the label instructions. Don’t worry; I have got a way to help you verify with more certainty.

You can test on the suitable surface in a hidden spot, try a small portion of the detergent on it and wait for the results. You will know if it is reasonable or not immediately.

Avoid Mixing Solution

You should only mix detergents if you are sure about their composition and chemical reaction. However, limiting mixing them is good for you because some of them, when combined, will cause toxic gases.⁽²⁾

Use White Vinegar Only

Can you use other types of vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar, for cleaning? It is entirely possible to use apple cider vinegar for cleaning windows, floors, and walls. However, white vinegar is most suitable for fabrics because it does not leave stains like other types.

Safety Protection

When cleaning stains with a variety of detergents, it is best to use gloves. Avoid contact with detergents with bare hands; you never know how harmful it is to your hands.

No Rubbing, No Spreading

For stains, you should not rub the surrounding areas to prevent the stain from spreading. That is why I have instructed you to only dab on the stain, not rub the cloth thoroughly.

Be Careful!

Prevention is better than a pound of cure; try to limit the amount of toothpaste on your shirt as much as possible. Then there was no toothpaste on the shirt, no attempt at removing the stain.

Do Not Rely On The Dryer

When washing clothes with stains, it is best not to rely too much on the dryer. If you don’t double-check the stain on the garment after cleaning and putting it in the dryer, the stain will be permanent.

FAQs

If there are still some things that make you wonder about toothpaste stains, please refer to the frequently asked questions below. Perhaps you will find the answer yourself.

Time Is Money When Treating Toothpaste Stain On Clothes

Time is money because the cleaning process will take longer if you don’t handle it right away. Therefore, when you find traces of toothpaste on your fabric, quickly prepare all the tools and follow the instructions above to achieve the best results.

Careful attention should be paid to the care labels of fabrics, use an appropriate stain remover, and do not rely too much on the dryer.

When removing stains, you should follow the principle of “do not rub and spread”, focusing only on the stain so that the garment does not spread the stain. In addition, it is best to be careful not to commit these problems; prevention is better than cure.

I think, through the instructions above, accidentally dropping toothpaste on your clothes is no longer such a bad thing. It’s not stubborn at all. So relax, don’t worry at all.

What are your results after following these instructions? Please share your results as soon as you succeed. Don’t hesitate to comment; I’ll get back to you right away.

References

1. “Toothpaste – Wikipedia”. En.Wikipedia.Org.
2. “Hazards During Chemicals In Use And Safety Guidelines – labour.gov.hk, 2021.