Removing Toothpaste Stains from Clothes, Sinks, and Various Surfaces: A Practical Guide
Sure thing, here's a more informal, straightforward version of the article:
Say a gob of toothpaste lands on your sink, or worse, your shirt—a quick wipe won't cut it, especially for fabrics like towels, bath rugs, or clothes. Act fast to prevent those stains from setting in.
Here's what you need to know to get rid of toothpaste stains on clothes, towels, and other washables, as well as non-washables like carpets and upholstery. We've also got tips for cleaning stubborn toothpaste off regular bathroom surfaces.
To Remove Toothpaste Stains from Clothes, Towels, and Other Washables
- Scrape it off: Use a butter knife, spoon, or your driver's license to gently lift blobs of toothpaste off the fabric, avoiding smearing. If you're using whitening toothpaste, work fast to prevent color loss on colored items.
- Rinse under cold water: Turn the garment inside out and rinse away as much toothpaste as you can.
- Create a cleaning solution: Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent or dish soap with a cup of cool water. Dip a white cloth into the solution and dab it onto the stain.
- Rinse again: Rinse the toothpaste or detergent out with cold water or use the cloth dipped in clean water to remove soap residue.
- Let it air-dry: Don't forget to hang your clothes up to dry, or else the toothpaste might set into the fabric.
- Launder as usual (optional): If the stain is still there, pop your item in the wash as normal to remove any residue.
To Remove Toothpaste Stains from Carpets and Upholstery
- Scrape it off: Use the same tools to remove toothpaste from carpets or upholstery, being careful not to push the stain deeper into the fabric.
- Create a cleaning solution: Mix a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent with a cup of cool water. Dip a white cloth into the solution and dab it onto the toothpaste stain.
- Rinse: Dip a cloth in clean water and dab the area to remove soap residue.
- Let it air-dry: Give it some time to dry out and then vacuum the area to restore the fabric's texture.
To Remove Toothpaste Stains from Mirrors
- Spray with glass cleaner: Instead of soaking a cloth in cleaner, spray the mirror directly for best results. Wait 30 seconds for the cleaner to penetrate the toothpaste.
- Squeegee: Use a squeegee to wipe away the glass cleaner and toothpaste buildup. Work from top to bottom in straight, overlapping lines.
- Polish with a microfiber cloth: Use a microfiber cloth to buff the mirror once you're done squeegeeing.
To Remove Toothpaste Stains from Counters, Faucets, and Sinks
- Choose the correct cleaner: Regular dishwashing liquid and a microfiber cloth are usually the go-to choice for bathroom surfaces, but always check the manufacturer's instructions first.
- Fill the sink with soap and water: Fill the sink with some hot water and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid.
- Scrub away: Use the soapy water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down the counter and faucet. Then, submerge the cloth in the soapy water and scrub the sink basin. Leave the counters and faucet wet for a minute to help soften dried-on toothpaste.
- Rinse and wipe: Rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe away soap, toothpaste, and any other residue from the counter and faucet, rinsing the cloth with clean water as needed. If there are stubborn toothpaste stains, dip the cloth in the soapy water and scrub the surface using firm pressure and a circular motion. Rinse away soap residue.
- Drain and wipe the sink: Drain the soap solution and use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the sink to prevent water spots.
Preventing Toothpaste Stains
- Use less toothpaste to help prevent drips and spills.
- Brush your teeth before getting dressed, especially with whitening toothpaste.
- Rinse over the sink when it's time to spit, keeping toothpaste off mirrors, counters, and other surfaces.
- Rinse off whitening toothpaste immediately if it gets on colored fabrics to prevent permanent color loss.
- Wipe down mirrors, counters, faucets, and sinks daily with a microfiber cloth to prevent buildup.
- For effective stain removal from laundry linens like towels, bath rugs, or clothes, the Bhg Cleaning Tips suggest creating a cleaning solution made from one teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent or dish soap mixed with a cup of cool water.
- To tackle stubborn toothpaste stains on housekeeping surfaces, the home-and-garden article recommends using a microfiber cloth and dishwashing liquid for surface cleaning, such as counters, faucets, and sinks.
- Lifestyle recommendations for preventing toothpaste stains include brushing your teeth before getting dressed, especially with whitening toothpaste, and rinsing over the sink when it's time to spit.
- When it comes to house cleaning, the Home Improvement article advises using a squeegee or a microfiber cloth to remove toothpaste buildup from mirrors for a streak-free finish.
- To restore the texture and appearance of carpets and upholstery affected by toothpaste stains, the article suggests following similar steps to the laundry linens method, using a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and cool water for stain removal.