Toothpaste might get your teeth sparkling, but you certainly don't want it to stain your clothes or hard surfaces. Use these hacks for removing toothpaste stains on clothing and other common home surfaces for a stain-free space. It might surprise you to find that some of these methods take less time than a thorough tooth brushing session!
Four Hacks for Removing Toothpaste Stains From Clothes
You're brushing your teeth in a hurry and that glob of toothpaste slips right off the brush and onto your shirt. Don't worry, these simple stain removing hacks will have your clothes restored in no time.
Spot Clean a Toothpaste Stain
If you need a quick solution for a toothpaste stain on your favorite top or pair of pants, this method will help you remove the stain without taking up too much of your time. Since you don't need to send the article of clothing through the washing machine cycle, this method is perfect for removing a toothpaste stain on something you plan to wear that day.
Supplies
- White vineger
- Cotton balls
- Lemon - sliced in half
- Cold Water
Instructions
- Dip your cotton ball in the white vinegar and apply a generous amount to the stained area.
- Use the lemon half to gently scrub at the stain, lifting the toothpaste residue.
- Once the stain has lifted, use a clean cotton ball to apply cold water to the area for a gentle rinse without soaking the entire garment in water.
Tackle the Stain as Soon as Possible
The key to getting rid of a toothpaste stain is to shrink the window of time between initial contact with the fabric and washing the garment. If you're able to deal with the stain immediately, this technique will likely take care of the issue with very little effort.
Supplies
- A flat edge - like a butter knife, spoon, or metal nail file
- Clean microfiber cloth or washcloth
- Cold water
Instructions
- Scrape off the glob of toothpaste as soon as possible using your flat edge. Avoid pressing the stain further into the fibers and work in an upward motion.
- Wet the microfiber cloth with cold water and ring it out thoroughly; it just needs to be damp.
- Apply the cloth to the stain, pressing firmly on the affected area and rub gently. Doing so should slowly lift the stain. Apply more water if necessary.
- Wash your garment as you normally would to ensure a thorough clean.
Try the Toothbrush Scrubbing Technique
If you catch your toothpaste spill pretty quickly after it happens, this technique should take care of the problem right away. This toothpaste stain removing tip calls for a clean, soft bristle toothbrush and some gentle elbow grease.
Supplies
- A flat edge
- Clean toothbrush
- Dish or laundry detergent
Instructions
- Scrape the toothpaste up and off of the garment without applying too much pressure. Remember, you never want to press the toothpaste deeper into the fibers.
- Apply a few drops of mild dish detergent or a laundry detergent to the stain.
- Use your clean toothbrush to scrub at the stain gently, lifting the toothpaste residue from the fibers. Add a little water here to help the detergent lather if needed.
- Toss your garment in the washing machine and clean on your usual cycle.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide on Set in Stains
If you noticed your toothpaste stain a bit later, you may need to apply a stronger stain removing aid to lift the set-in residue from the fibers. Hydrogen peroxide should do the trick. This technique is especially helpful on stains from toothpaste containing dyes.
Supplies
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Microfiber cloth
- Warm water
Instructions
- Apply the hydrogen peroxide to the affected area. Be generous here and use a dropper or syringe to apply the hydrogen peroxide if you need to be precise.
- Let the peroxide sit on the stain for a few minutes, allowing it to break down the residue.
- Use your microfiber cloth to gently dab the area and lift the hydrogen peroxide and the stain.
- Rinse the area with warm water and repeat steps as needed.
- Give the garment a wash in your usual laundry cycle.
Remove Toothpaste Stains From Your Carpet
If you've managed to drop toothpaste on your carpet, there is a solution that will help you remove the residue and color. No need to rearrange your furniture to cover the stain; this tip should have your carpet looking new in no time.
Supplies
- Flat edge
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Clean, microfiber cloth
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Carefully remove any excess toothpaste from the carpet with a flat edge. Work in an upward motion to avoid pressing the stain further into the carpet.
- Mix a few drops of dish soap with a bit of warm water to activate the solution. You can do this by dropping the soap on the stain, adding the water, and gently working into a lather with your hand.
- Let the solution sit for a while as it breaks down the residue.
- Wet your microfiber cloth and start to gently wipe the solution away. Rather than pressing into the carpet, apply the same upward motion used when removing the excess toothpaste.
- Rinse with warm water and blot dry with paper towels.
Quickly Clean Toothpaste From Your Sink
Your sink is one of the easiest places to clean away toothpaste stains. For the little toothpaste bits left behind after brushing, your sink should wipe clean with little effort.
- Use a microfiber cloth or sponge to wipe the sink clean with cold or warm water, applying extra pressure where needed.
- Use a gentle multipurpose cleaner along with your cloth to tackle residue or germs.
- If the stain persists, try a Magic Eraser to gently scrub the marks away.
Try This Hack for Removing Toothpaste From Wood
If pesky toothpaste stains are creating an eyesore on your wood cabinet or shelf, all you need is olive oil and a bit of elbow grease to get it clean.
Supplies
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Small bowl or spray bottle
- 2 or 3 clean cloths
- Dish detergent
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Mix olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture to the stained area of wood using a clean cloth.
- Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes.
- Use the same cloth to scrub at the stain.
- Lift the oil mixture with a small amount of dish detergent on a damp cloth.
- Rinse with damp paper towels to reveal a clean, stain-free surface.
Make Your Marble Stain Free
Marble is one of the more difficult surfaces to tackle when there's a stain present. Because toothpaste often leaves a white residue, it may be difficult to determine if the marble is etched from the toothpaste's abrasiveness or simply stained. If you're unsure whether your marble is etched or just stained, start with a stain removal method to see if the spot in question disappears.
Supplies
- Baking soda
- Cold water
- Plastic wrap
- Clean cloth
Instructions
- Prepare a paste with your baking soda and water. You need a consistency that's spreadable and somewhat smooth.
- Wet the stained area then apply a generous amount of the paste.
- Cover the area with plastic wrap and let it sit for 24 hours.
- Remove the plastic wrap and rinse away the paste.
If this method doesn't remove the stain, the toothpaste has likely etched the marble. For a polished marble, you might be able to buff out the etch with a cloth and marble polishing paste. This method takes a bit more time and elbow grease, but with consistency, you should see your marble's shine restored.
Get Toothpaste Stains Off Your Walls
The walls around your sink are one of the likeliest places to discover small stains from toothpaste splatter. If there are kids in your home, you may even see large toothpaste stains. These hacks for cleaning toothpaste off your wall are parent-approved and fairly easy to do.
- Remove any large globs of toothpaste with a flat edge, careful not to damage your paint. A plastic paint scraper is great for this.
- Use a damp cloth and a few drops of dish detergent to scrub the stain away.
- For any leftover residue, a Magic Eraser should get your wall completely free of stains.
- If you have a flat paint finish, applying any sort of water to the surface might mar the paint. In this case, you'll want to remove the excess toothpaste, wipe the stain away, and apply a touch up coat of your paint to the area. It's a good idea to keep a paint touch up pen on hand for moments like this.
Banish Fear of Toothpaste Stains & Brush With Peace of Mind
These simple cleaning hacks will save you from sudden panic when you realize toothpaste has whitened more than just your teeth. These methods should save most of your common household surfaces from permanent damage after a toothpaste mishap.
