Step by step: how to get toothpaste out of a shirt
Safety first. If you use chlorine bleach on a white shirt, rinse out every trace of the vinegar soak first. Bleach and vinegar must never meet, because together they release chlorine gas.
- 1
Scrape off the excess
Lift the blob of toothpaste off with a spoon or the edge of a dull knife, scooping up and away rather than smearing sideways. The less paste left on the surface, the smaller the stain.
- 2
Rinse from the back with cold water
Turn the shirt inside out and hold the spot under cold running water so the water pushes the paste out the way it came in. Rinse for about 30 seconds, until the water runs clear and no grit is left.
- 3
Dab a fresh mark with a damp cloth
If you are already dressed, dab the white mark with a damp cloth and a drop of hand soap, then blot with a dry towel. Most fresh toothpaste comes off this way in a minute or two, and the damp patch dries in about 15 minutes.
- 4
Soak a dried or dyed stain
For a dried mark or a colored gel stain, mix 1 quart of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak the stained area for 15 minutes, then rinse with water.
- 5
Sponge with rubbing alcohol
If a tint from blue, red or green gel remains, dab it with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol after testing an inside seam. Blot until no more color comes onto the cloth.
- 6
Pretreat and wash
Cover the spot with liquid laundry detergent or a stain remover and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Wash on the warmest setting the care label allows.
- 7
Air dry and check
Let the shirt air dry and check the spot in good light. If you can still see a mark, repeat the soak before you put it in the dryer, because dryer heat can set what is left.
How to get toothpaste off a shirt when you are about to leave
Scrape, then dab with a damp cloth from the inside of the shirt; you do not need to change. Toothpaste is mostly water, fine abrasive and detergent-like foaming agents, so a fresh spot rinses out easily if you do not rub it into the weave.
- Keep the cloth just damp. A soaked patch on a dress shirt takes much longer to dry and can leave a water ring on silk or rayon.
- Blot with a dry towel, then speed drying with a hair dryer on the cool setting held a few inches away.
- On dark shirts, a faint white haze is usually leftover grit. A second dab with a clean damp cloth removes it.
- A stain pen kept in a bag or desk handles the rest of the day’s spills too.
How to remove dried toothpaste stains
Soak them. Dried paste and dyed gels need time to rehydrate before washing. The University of Georgia Extension recommends a 15-minute soak in 1 quart of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar, a rinse, then sponging with alcohol before washing. For any stain left after that, it suggests a 30-minute soak in 1 quart of warm water with 1 tablespoon of oxygen bleach (sodium perborate) and washing with heavy-duty detergent.
Tide’s method is simpler for fresh stains: rinse in cold water, cover the spot with liquid detergent for 5 minutes, then wash at the hottest temperature on the care label, and check before drying.
Should you use bleach on a toothpaste stain?
Only on bleach-safe whites, and only as a last step. Most toothpaste comes out with soap and water, so bleach is rarely needed.
| Shirt | What to use | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Bleach-safe white cotton | Clorox says to apply 1/4 cup bleach mixed with 3/4 cup water to the stain, then wash right away | Rinse out any vinegar first; never use bleach full strength |
| Colors and whites with spandex | A color-safe stain remover rubbed in, wait 10 minutes, then wash | Test on an inside seam |
| Wool, silk, mohair, leather | Cold water dab only, then a dry cleaner if a mark remains | Clorox says never to bleach these fibers |
Some whitening toothpastes contain peroxide, which can leave a pale spot on dark cotton if it sits. Rinse those quickly. For general white shirt care, see our guide on removing stains from white clothes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Rubbing the paste in with a dry tissue, which grinds the grit deeper into the fabric.
- Rinsing from the front, which pushes the paste through the shirt instead of out.
- Soaking a whole dress shirt when only a damp dab was needed.
- Putting the shirt in the dryer before checking that the mark is gone.
- Using chlorine bleach right after a vinegar soak without rinsing.
Products that make this easier
Optional. Everything above works with basic supplies; these just save time or effort.
- See it on Amazon
For when you are dressed
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover pen
Handles a fresh toothpaste smear in seconds without taking the shirt off. Test it on dark or delicate fabric first.
- See it on Amazon
Pretreat before washing
Shout Triple-Acting Stain Remover spray
A quick spray for dried or tinted spots before the wash. Do not let it dry on the fabric.
- See it on Amazon
For colors and spandex
Clorox 2 for Colors Stain Remover liquid
A color-safe option for shirts that cannot take chlorine bleach. Still not for wool or silk.
- See it on Amazon
For dabbing
E-Cloth General Purpose microfiber cloth
Lifts paste with just water and does not leave lint on dark shirts.
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