How to Remove Toothpaste Stains from Clothes, Sinks, and Other Surfaces

When toothpaste lands in your sink or on your shirt, simply wiping it away won't entirely remove the mess. This is especially true for toothpaste stains on clothes and other fabrics like towels and bath rugs, which need prompt treatment to prevent the stains from setting in.

Below, you'll find step-by-step instructions for removing toothpaste stains from clothing and other washable items, as well as tips for treating stains on non-washable fabrics like carpets and upholstery. We’ve also included advice for cleaning stubborn, dried-on toothpaste off hard surfaces, such as mirrors, faucets, and counters.

How to Remove Toothpaste Stains from Clothes, Towels, and Other Washable Items

1. Remove Solids

Use a butter knife, spoon, or flat edge (like a driver's license or credit card) to lift the toothpaste straight off the fabric to prevent smearing and making the stain worse.

If you use whitening toothpaste, act quickly when it lands on colored fabrics, as peroxide and other bleaching agents can cause irreversible color loss in non-white materials.

2. Flush with Water

Rinse the garment with cool running water. Turn the garment inside out so that the water pushes the toothpaste out and away from the fabric rather than back through it.

3. Apply Stain Pretreatment

Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent or mild soap, like dish soap, with 1 cup of cool water. Dip a white cloth in the detergent solution and dab it onto the toothpaste stain.

4. Rinse

Rinse the detergent solution out by either running cool water through the fabric or by rinsing the cloth well and dabbing to remove soap residue.

5. Air-Dry

Let the garment air-dry.

6. Launder as Usual (Optional)

If needed, wash the item as usual to remove any remaining toothpaste or detergent residue.

How to Remove Toothpaste Stains from Carpet and Upholstery

1. Remove Solids

Use a butter knife, spoon, or flat edge to lift the toothpaste off.

2. Apply Stain Pretreatment

Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent or mild soap, like dish soap, with 1 cup of cool water. Dip a white cloth in the solution and dab it onto the toothpaste stain, working from the outside of the stain inward and refreshing the cloth as needed.

3. Rinse

Dab the fabric with a cloth dipped in clean water to remove any soap residue.

4. Air-Dry and Vacuum

Let the carpet or upholstery air-dry. Once dry, vacuum the area to restore the fabric’s texture, which may have flattened during the stain removal process.

How to Remove Toothpaste Stains from Mirrors

1. Apply Glass Cleaner to Mirror

Spray glass cleaner directly onto the mirror. Applying the cleaner directly helps reconstitute and loosen dried toothpaste. Do not leave the cleaner on the mirror for more than 30 seconds to avoid spots and streaks.

2. Squeegee Surface

Allow 30 seconds for the glass cleaner to penetrate the toothpaste, then use a squeegee to remove the cleaner and toothpaste buildup. Work from the top to the bottom of the mirror, using straight, overlapping lines.

3. Polish with Microfiber Cloth

Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after using the squeegee.

How to Remove Toothpaste Stains from Counters, Faucets, and Sinks 

1. Choose the Correct Cleaner

Generally, a mild soap like dishwashing liquid and a microfiber cloth work well for cleaning toothpaste off bathroom counters, faucets, and sinks. However, check the manufacturer’s instructions for recommended cleaning agents and tools for each material type.

2. Fill Sink with Soap and Water

Fill the sink with a few inches of hot water and add a drop or two of dish soap.

3. Scrub Counter, Faucet, and Sink

Dip a microfiber cloth in the soapy water and wipe the counter and faucet. Re-dip the cloth in the soap solution as needed, then scrub the sink basin. Let the soapy water sit on surfaces for at least a minute to soften dried toothpaste.

4. Wipe Counter and Faucet

Rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe away the soap, toothpaste, and any other residue from the counter and faucet. For stubborn stains, dip the cloth in soapy water and scrub with firm pressure in a circular motion. Rinse away soap residue.

5. Drain and Wipe Sink

Drain the soapy water and wipe the sink with the cloth. Rinse the cloth and sink basin well with clean water.

6. Dry and Polish All Surfaces

To prevent water spots, use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to dry and polish the counter, faucet, and sink basin.

How to Prevent Toothpaste Stains

Follow these tips to help prevent toothpaste stains:

• Use less toothpaste to prevent overflow that can cause drips and spots.
• Brush your teeth before getting dressed, especially if you use whitening toothpaste, to avoid stains on your clothes.
• When rinsing, lean over the sink and spit downward to keep toothpaste off mirrors and counters.
• Rinse off whitening toothpaste immediately upon contact with colored fabrics as it can cause permanent color loss.
• Wipe sinks, faucets, counters, and mirrors daily with a microfiber cloth to prevent toothpaste buildup.