You’re late for work or meeting a friend, and in a hurry have dropped some toothpaste on to your shirt. You’ve spotted the stain and start panicking, what do I do now?
First you’ll need to gently remove the excess toothpaste with a blunt item. Next, find a cloth, dip it into a detergent solution and scrub the stain gently in a circular motion.
Using another damp cloth scrub the stain again to clean out the detergent and allow your shirt to air dry. Be warned – if not cleaned quickly it may leave a permanent stain!
Read on to find out more on how you can remove toothpaste stains from your garments using various cleaning agents.
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Why Does Toothpaste Stain Your Clothes?
Your standard toothpaste contains titanium dioxide, which makes the toothpaste white. An ingredient which is great for keeping your teeth squeaky clean but not so great if dropped onto your clothes!
Titanium Dioxide is the reason that, after you’ve tried to remove the toothpaste with just plain water, the stain reappears.
Does Toothpaste Stain Permanently?
If toothpaste isn’t removed fast enough, then it will leave a permanent stain on your shirt. Some toothpastes contain mild bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide.
These bleaching agents discolor garments and need to be removed quickly to prevent bleaching. If you leave it for too long, it may not be possible to remove the bleached stain.
Four Easy Steps To Remove Toothpaste
You Will Need:
- Blunt object
- White or Light Colored Cloth x 2
- Liquid Detergent
- Soft bristled brush/toothbrush
1) Use The Scraping Technique To Remove Excess Toothpaste
Using a blunt object carefully remove the remaining toothpaste on your shirt by using the gentle scraping technique. A blunt object could either be a butter knife, spatula or a spoon.
The scraping technique is used to lift off excess staining material and loosen caked on stains. This ensures that your cleaning agent (in our case the laundry detergent, which will be used in the next step), will reach the surface of the material in order to effectively remove the stain.
You carry out out this technique by moving your scraping tool back and forth across the stain in short strokes. Be careful to do this without spreading the toothpaste further or pushing it deeper into your garment.
It is important to carry out this step as soon as you spot the stain.
2) Blot The Stain With A Damp Cloth
For this step you’ll need a cloth, a liquid laundry detergent, and some warm water. It is important to use a white or light colored cloth in order to prevent color transfer from the cloth on to your shirt.
Take one part liquid detergent and mix it with two parts warm water. Dip a tip of the cloth into the detergent solution, making sure to squeeze out any excess liquid.
Scrub or blot the cloth on to the stain in a gentle circular motion making sure you don’t further spread the toothpaste out.
3) Wash Out The Detergent
There are various methods you can follow to wash out the detergent solution.
Either wash your garment as per the manufacturer’s instructions in the washing machine or use a clean damp cloth to rub the stain in a similar way as you did for the previous step. You can also just rinse it out under a cold water tap.
4) Air Dry It
It is important you let the treated stain air dry. Do not use heat to dry the area as this could potentially cause the stain to set into your shirt.
How To Remove Stubborn Toothpaste Stains
If the steps above don’t work to remove the stain, you could repeat the steps above but this time use a clean toothbrush to work in the detergent solution instead of a cloth. But be careful not to be vigorous with the scrubbing.
You could also try to use a pre-wash stain remover instead of a liquid detergent solution and see if that works. One with a scrubber brush will be particularly useful so the area with the stain can be specifically targeted.
Let it sit for at least 30 minutes then continue with rinsing out the stain remover with cold water. If this doesn’t work, you can try the cleaning agents suggested below.
Other Methods You Can Use
If the steps above do not prove to be successful or if you wish to use natural products from your kitchen then you could try the following methods. Before carrying out the steps below, don’t forget to use the scrapping technique to remove any excess toothpaste still left on your shirt.
White Vinegar
The several brilliant uses for white vinegar have been well documented on this blog, be sure to check it out. White Vinegar is not only a versatile stain remover, but it also removes odor.
You will need to make a solution, one part white vinegar and two parts cool water. Be careful not to use undiluted vinegar on your clothes directly, since it is acidic and can damage your clothes.
Follow the steps above, replacing liquid detergent with white vinegar. Blot out the stain with a cloth that has been soaked into the solution.
Leave your shirt with the solution for a few minutes, and then take another damp cloth to blot the stain again, or put it into your washing machine on a cold wash cycle. You can then let it air dry to make sure the stain has been removed.
Lemon Juice
You can either use a half cut lemon for this or lemon juice out a bottle. If you are using half a cut lemon, then rub the pulp on to the stain gently.
Then rinse the stain under cold water. If, after air drying the shirt the stain remains, then you can try rubbing the stain again with the lemon but this time sprinkle some sea salt on top too.
Using a dry cloth rub the salt deeper into the stain and then rinse with cold water again. Let the shirt air dry to see the results.
If you decide to use lemon juice from a bottle, then just drip some onto a clean cloth and use the cloth to blot the stain. Rise and dry as suggested above.
Baking Soda
Check out the amazing uses of using baking soda when used as a cleaning agent. It is tough stain remover since it is highly absorbent, and is particularly useful for removing carpet stains, dirt and mold.
Sprinkle some baking soda on to the stain, and then spray some water on top of it. If you don’t have a spray bottle, then you could also slightly squeeze a soaked cloth over the stain.
Alternatively, you can create a solution using a tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of warm water. Mix until a paste is formed and then using your finger smear it over the stain.
Leave the paste on the stain for a few minutes, and then using a clean damp cloth wipe the paste away. If it is a stubborn stain you can use a toothpaste to gently scrub the stain before you wipe the paste away.
Finally, rinse the stain with cold water and air dry to see the results.
Baking Soda & White Vinegar
Instead of making a baking soda solution with warm water, you can use distilled white vinegar instead. They are both powerful cleaning agents in their own right but together the solution will be strong enough to lift the stain.
The solution measurements would stay the same as one part baking soda to two parts vinegar. Adding vinegar to baking soda will give you a fizzing reaction, so try adding baking soda to vinegar instead for a delayed reaction.
If you have the time and opportunity, let the solution sit on the stain for up to half an hour after you have rubbed it into the stain. But do note, the high levels of pH found in baking soda can fade colors in certain fabrics, such as cashmere and wool.
For this reason, this solution is also great for brightening whites!
Dish Soap
Using a cloth soaked in some dish soap, scrub the stain gently. You can also make a dish soap solution, by mixing a teaspoon of soap into a cup of warm water.
Soak a cloth in the solution, and blot the stain with it. To blot the stain you can use a sponge, soft bristled brush or a clean toothbrush.
Let the soap sit for ten minutes and then rinse the soap off with cold water. Make sure all the soap residue has been removed.
Do You Need Professional Help?
You may have to consult a professional cleaner if your clothes are labeled ‘dry clean’ only.You may also need to seek professional advice if your clothing is vintage.
Before taking your item of clothing to the dry cleaners, remove the excess toothpaste from it.
Some Additional Tips
- The sooner you act, the easier the stain removal process will become for you and the higher the chances of success
- Do not rub the stain aggressively, since it can not only damage your shirt but also spread the toothpaste further
- Always remember to use enzyme-based detergents to launder the stain
- Always remember to check washing instructions of your clothes before carrying out the cleaning steps mentioned. Some fabrics, such as cashmere and silk, can get permanently damaged.
- Toothpastes with colored gels contain a dye which is incredibly difficult to get out. Wash your garment following the steps above but leave it outside to air dry as the sun helps to bleach out the stain.
- Do not apply direct heat or place the shirt in direct sunlight as it can embed any stains into your garment. This also includes, placing the garment into a dryer until you’re absolutely sure the stain has been removed.
- Unless you are sure the stain has been removed, do not put a stained item of clothing into the dryer as the heat only embeds the stain further into it.
- Use light colored and smooth cloths to blot the stains, as dark colored cloths can transfer color to your shirt.
- Start by blotting the edge of the stain and then working the cleaning agent into the stained area.
Some Final Words
Although the information above may feel overwhelming, it should hopefully help you get the job done! Now you know all the products that will help to remove toothpaste from your shirt, it should be easy to get rid of the stain.
These cleaning agents should penetrate the toothpaste stain, release and lift it out. By rising out the cleaning agent with cold water, it should also wash away whatever residue has been lifted out of the shirt.
By following the four step process, you will hopefully see desirable results. Remember, not to scrub vigorously as that can damage your shirt.
