How to Get Toothpaste Out of Carpet in 5 Ways
Author: Anne Cowart | Editor: Omar Alonso
Review & Research: Jen Worst & Chris Miller
Luckily, if you know how to get toothpaste out of carpet using the right product, you can easily get rid of those ugly white stains. Sometimes regular domestic products like baking soda, dish soap, or vinegar can do the trick.
Although toothpaste is water-soluble, only soap and water might not be enough to get it off your carpets and rugs. That's because many different types of toothpaste contain distinct chemicals that just tend to stick to your carpet fabrics.
However, they might not work for you, and you'll need commercial cleaners or club soda to get your carpet cleaned. Let's discuss what you should do if your carpet has toothpaste stains and learn some easy methods of removing toothpaste from your carpet.
How to Get Toothpaste Out of Carpet
We have several methods for you to try, each of which can improve a toothpaste stain and ultimately remove it entirely. You may find that you benefit from trying all of the methods.
But first, let’s cover what you should do if you spill toothpaste on the carpet and are fortunate enough to notice it happened right then and there. The quicker you act, the better off your result will be.
Act Fast for Fresh Toothpaste Spills
First things first, you need to act fast if the toothpaste has just fallen on the carpet and hasn't dried up yet. Take a plastic spoon or knife and scoop up the toothpaste as much as you can. You can also use a paper towel for this job.
If your toothpaste contains fluoride or hydrogen peroxide, it might cause discoloration of the carpet. Hence, you should rinse the carpet immediately if possible to avoid getting permanent stain. Do not rub the toothpaste-stained area vigorously as it will spread the chemicals, and the stain will deepen.
How to get dried toothpaste out of carpet? In case the toothpaste has already dried out, scrape off the dried toothpaste as much as possible using a blunt knife or spoon. Use a clean cloth and dip it in water to moisten the stained area. This will help to remove the stain with other cleaning products easily.
These are the things you can do instantly so that the stain doesn't spread or deepen. Now, let's have a look at the easiest methods of removing toothpaste from your carpet.
Method 1 - Use Dishwashing Detergent
You can't use your regular clothes washing detergent on the carpet as it might contain bleach or lanolin, which affects the carpet's color and fabric. So, mild liquid detergent or dish soap is the best option for your carpets. It's used even to get grease out of carpet, so it's powerful enough to work for toothpaste. Here's how you can useit.
Step 1: Dilute the Detergent or Dish Soap
As mentioned, you should first scrape the paste with a blunt knife to make cleaning easier. Take a bleach-free mild detergent and a small amount of it into warm water.
One tablespoon of mild detergent or dishwashing soap is enough for each cup of water. Stir and mix the solution before you proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Blot & Rub Gently
When the solution is ready, use a white paper towel or any clean cloth to apply the solution to the stained area. Start from the edges and slowly move toward the center of the toothpaste mark.
Blot and gently rub the area to remove the stain slowly. You can wait for 5 minutes before starting rubbing as it will help the soap or detergent to work better.
Step 3: Rinse & Dry The Area
When the stain has been removed completely, rinse the area with cool water. If it's difficult to wash the carpet properly, you can use a dry towel to absorb as much moisture as possible from the wet area.
Otherwise, watermarks might appear, or the moisture can promote mold growth. You can use a hair dryer or a fan to quickly dry the carpet. However, air drying or putting it under the sun is the best option.
Method 2 - Remove Toothpaste with White Vinegar
Using white vinegar is a more natural and risk-free way of removing toothpaste from your carpet. This cleaning product can remove both stains and odors without damaging the carpet fabric. Here's how to remove toothpaste from carpet with white vinegar…
Step 1: Mix with Water
Take 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and mix it with about two cups of cool water. You can increase or lessen the amount of water if necessary. Just make sure you use the proportion of water, and vinegar should always be 2:1.
Step 2: Blot the Toothpaste Stain
Stir the mixture well and soak a clean towel in it. Blot the stained area with the wet towel and let the solution sit on the toothpaste stain for a minute.
Step 3: Clean & Dry
If the stain is difficult to remove with a towel, use a soft brush to gently scrub it off. When the stain is removed, use a dry cloth to soak out the remaining moisture from the carpet. You can put it into your washer. Just make sure the stain is completely removed before you dry the area or put the rug in a dryer.
Method 3 - Sprinkle Baking Soda
Another great and easy solution to any type of stain is baking soda. Since it's available in almost every house, you should definitely try it first before getting any commercial cleaner. To get toothpaste out of your carpets, follow the steps given below…
Step 1: Apply Baking Soda
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the toothpaste stain and spray some warm water in that area. For the best results, leave the baking soda on the stain for one night. Otherwise, let it sit for two hours so that it can react with the chemicals and pull them off.
Step 2: Scrub the Stain Off
Use a soft sponge or brush to scrub the stained area. The toothpaste will slowly come off as you scrub. When the stain has disappeared, rinse the area or just let it dry.
Step 3: Vacuum Up
As the area dries, it should leave some baking soda behind. Vacuum it up, and the residue should easily come off, leaving the carpet all clean and dry.
Method 4 - Apply Club Soda for Colored Toothpaste
What if the toothpaste is colored or in a gel form? The previous methods might not be able to remove the color of dyed toothpaste. But there's nothing to worry about as you have one eco-friendly option to quickly get rid of those toothpaste colors, the club soda.
The problem here is that some toothpastes, especially those with color stripes, are using food color additives. These colorants are created from petroleum, which in this case is viscous and sticky, which is bad news for your carpet, as would be any synthetic dyes. There's questions on whether these colors (specifically FD&C Blue 1) pose problems for people, too.
This product works great and doesn't affect the carpet fabric or color at all. Let's see how to apply it effectively as an answer to how to get toothpaste out of carpet..
Step 1: Choose the Right Product
Not all types of club soda are suitable for carpet fabrics. You need to choose the right product without any unpleasant color or odor. Also, the club soda must not contain any harmful chemicals or sugar.
Otherwise, it will cause the stain to go deeper into the fabric and worsen the situation. Plain club soda is the best choice for this job. Keep some of it around too because it's great for cleaning up ketchup out of carpet and removing mustard out of carpet, too.
Step 2: Pour as Needed
A small amount of product is enough to remove the toothpaste color. Try to apply the club soda as soon as possible while the paste is still wet. Pour some club soda directly on the stain and see how it reacts. If it doesn't discolor or damage the fabric, continue the process.
Let the soda sit on your carpet for about a minute or two. Make sure the soda or any other liquid doesn't completely soak the carpet.
Step 3: Blot the Stain Off
Now, use a clean white towel to blot the toothpaste stain off. The color will slowly disappear as you rub the surface gently. If the stain persists, reapply club soda and follow the same process.
Pour smaller amounts each time instead of applying a large amount of club soda. When the color is gone, let the area air dry.
Method 5 - Dissolve with Hydrogen Peroxide
Sometimes the toothpaste stain becomes too stubborn to come off. If that's the case, you'll need a strong solution like hydrogen peroxide. It can easily remove the toughest stains from the carpet.
In fact, hydrogen peroxide is considered safer than acidic stain removers like lemon juice or vinegar. Here's how you can use it…
Step 1: Apply a Small Amount
Although hydrogen peroxide is safe, applying too much or leaving it too long on the carpet can affect the carpet's color. So, just dab a tiny amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stained area only. And no need to add any water or other liquid to soak the carpet.
Step 2: Let it Sit for a Minute or So
Now, wait for just a few seconds or up to a minute to let the product do its work. Use a damp towel to remove the remaining hydrogen peroxide from your carpet. The toothpaste should also come off during the process.
Should You Use Commercial Carpet Cleaners to Remove Toothpaste?
Commercial cleaners are formulated to remove stains easily, so they can be an easy and quick option for toothpaste stains. Applying the cleaners is also easy, and the process is often mentioned on the bottle.
However, such cleaners contain many chemicals, and you never know which one might not go well with your carpet fabric. Some commercial cleaners can discolor the carpet or leave unwanted color or odor on the surface.
You’ll want to test these commercial cleaning solutions on a part of your carpet that won’t be noticeable if it does cause discoloration. We always suggest the corner of a carpeted bedroom closet.
You should try the DIY methods first and then proceed with a good-quality cleaner strictly made for carpets if you aren’t getting any success. The benefit is that they can make your carpet fluffy again thanks to the brushing and suction.
That’s How to Get Toothpaste Out of Carpet!
Any white toothpaste stain should easily come off with mild detergent. For colored toothpaste, club soda is the best option. Finally, if nothing else works, 3% hydrogen peroxide will do the trick for sure.
So that was our detailed guide on how to get toothpaste out of carpet. We suggest going for more natural products like vinegar and baking soda before you try the ones containing harsher synthetic chemicals.