How to remove toothpaste stains

Toothpaste is great, but it’s your mouth that needs to be minty fresh – not your clothes! Kids are especially prone to spattering toothpaste, but we’ve all done it. Thankfully there are a number of easy ways to remove toothpaste stains from clothes, even on delicate fabrics.

You will need:

• Clean, damp cloth
• Blunt knife
• Washing machine
• Tumble dryer
• Laundry detergent
• Cold, running water

How to get rid of toothpaste stains

1. Scrape or wipe off excess toothpaste with a clean, damp cloth or blunt knife

   For all stains, an important first step is to scrape or wipe off any excess toothpaste with a clean damp cloth, or a blunt knife if it’s dried.

2. Blot the stain with a wet cloth

   Use a clean, wet cloth to blot the toothpaste stain, letting enough water seep out to dissolve the toothpaste.

3. Pre-treat the stain with laundry detergent

   Apply a small amount of a detergent such as Persil Non-Bio Liquid to the stain as a pre-treatment. Let it rest for a few minutes, and then wash as normal. For delicate fabrics, use an appropriate laundry detergent.

   Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and test on a small inconspicuous area first.

4. Rinse through with cold water and wash normally in a washing machine

   Once as much of the toothpaste stain is out as possible, rinse thoroughly and wash as normal.

5. Put the stain in the dryer once the stain is fully removed

   Make sure the stain is out before putting the garment in a dryer, as high temperatures can ‘set’ stains.

Options for a difficult toothpaste stain:

1. Soak the stained article in warm water, then wash and rinse as normal. Again, air dry, or at least check that none of the stains remains before placing the garment in a dryer.

2. Mix a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water and apply to the toothpaste stain. Leave for approximately 1 minute, then rinse, and launder as normal.

3. Use a commercial stain removal product, either a stick or a spray. Apply directly to the toothpaste stain and leave as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Persistent stains may need to be left overnight. Wash as normal, again checking the stain is gone before placing in a dryer.

With these steps, you needn’t worry about unsightly toothpaste stains on your clothes. They’ll soon be long gone!