Sally asked: How do I remove toothpaste from clothing? I got a spot of toothpaste on the lapel of my suit coat. When I went it, the water dries and the spot remains. I really don’t want to take the jacket to the dry cleaners for this tiny spot. The fabric is 85% polyester and 15% rayon. How can I get the spot out?
Table of Contents:
Many toothpastes contain titanium dioxide powder which is what makes them white. When it gets on clothing, it is impossible to dissolve without the presence of a detergent. This is why it comes out easily in the washing machine, but not when you blot it with a wet cloth. Fortunately, if you can clean the spot a little more thoroughly, it can be removed without laundering the entire piece.
You Will Need:
- Mild laundry detergent
- Soft cloths
- Water
- Stain treatment
Steps to Remove the Toothpaste:
- Moisten a soft cloth with water and blot the stained area.
- Mix a few drops of laundry detergent with a cup of water. (Stain remover can be used in place of the laundry detergent.)
- Dip the cloth in the sudsy water and gently blot/scrub the toothpaste area.
- Once the detergent penetrates the toothpaste stain, it should release and be removed.
- Blot with water to rinse.
- Allow the spot to dry.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If the clothing piece is dry clean only, do not use water or it will leave a spot. There are dry cleaning stain removal products available by Dryel that can be used on these pieces.
- If the piece can easily be placed in the washing machine and washed, that will provide the easiest removal method.
- If you are unsure of how the material will react to the cleaning product, test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure there are no adverse reactions with the fabric.
