First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Lift off excess paste with a dull knife, without pushing it deeper.
- Rinse the area with cool or cold water to dilute the mark.
- Blot instead of rubbing.
- Hold off on drying or ironing until the mark is gone.
Toothpaste on shoes leaves a white or colored mark that can soak into canvas, mesh or leather as the paste dries. The material changes the approach, so read the label before you begin and test a hidden spot first. A fresh mark usually lifts with a damp cloth, while one that has sat for days may need a second full treatment.
Suede and leather need a lighter touch than canvas, so keep moisture to a minimum and go slowly on the first pass. On mesh, work the cleaner in with a soft brush and wipe with a damp cloth so no residue dries in the holes. If dried toothpaste has hardened on the upper or sole, stop scrubbing and let a pro take a look.
Before you start
What shoes & sneakers can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid3
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knife or spatulalifts off excess paste without digging it in
- Soft-bristled brushclears loose dirt and works the paste gently (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothslet you see whether color is transferring (opens Amazon)
- Microfiber towelblots moisture without rubbing (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid detergenta little on a damp cloth, with no soap in the ingredients (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodamakes the paste for white or light shoes (opens Amazon)
- Newspaper or shoe treeshold the shape while the shoes dry (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Check the care label first
Find the care label or tag and follow it over any general advice here. If the shoes have no label, test a hidden spot first and keep the cleaning light.
Step 2 of 6
Scrape off the excess paste
Gently lift off any excess paste with a dull knife or spatula, without pushing it deeper. Then brush off loose dirt with a dry, soft-bristled brush so the cloth doesn't push grit into the stain.
Tip. A dull edge is enough; a sharp blade can cut the material.
Step 3 of 6
Test a hidden spot
Dampen a clean white cloth with cool water and dab a small hidden area, such as the inside of the tongue. Then press a dry white cloth against it and look for color on it.
Careful. If dye comes off on the cloth, stop and stick to spot cleaning.
Step 4 of 6
Dab the stain with mild detergent
Dampen a clean cloth with cool water and a little mild liquid detergent, then pat or dab the stain without rubbing. Pat again with a fresh damp cloth to lift the detergent away.
Tip. Work from the outside edge toward the center so the mark doesn't spread.
Careful. Don't use hot water on mesh shoes; it can affect the dye.
Step 5 of 615 minutes
Scrub white or light shoes
For white or light shoes, mix equal parts baking soda and water into a paste and work it into the stain with a soft brush. Leave the paste on about 15 minutes, then dab it away, keeping the strokes light so the material isn't roughened.
Step 6 of 6
Blot and air dry completely
Blot with a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to lift moisture and dirt, pressing rather than rubbing. Stuff the shoes with crumpled newspaper or put shoe trees in them to hold their shape, then let them air dry at room temperature for at least 8 hours.
Careful. Never use a dryer or hair dryer; heat can misshape shoes.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for toothpaste on shoes & sneakers
A mild liquid detergent without soap in its ingredients and a soft-bristled brush cover everything this stain needs.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on shoes & sneakers, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The mark should lighten with each dab, and the cloth should pick up less color as you go. If the cloth keeps picking up dye, stop, because the color is moving and you should stay with spot cleaning.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your shoes & sneakers
White or light sneakers
White and light shoes are the only ones that take the baking soda paste, so brush it on only if the shoes are pale. Work it into the mark with small, light strokes so the surface stays smooth.
If a faint shadow remains after the paste is brushed off, don't push harder, since that roughens the surface and leaves a mark of its own.
Mesh shoes
Mesh holds paste in its open weave, so dab more than you rub and work from the edge of the mark toward the center. Keep the cloth damp rather than wet so water doesn't soak through to the lining.
Pat again with a fresh damp cloth until no paste or soap shows on it, because residue left in the weave can dry as a ring.
Suede shoes
Suede has a napped surface, so brush it dry first and keep the damp cloth barely wet to stop the nap from matting. Dab rather than rub, and dry the area with a soft cloth before going further.
If one light round doesn't lift the mark, the stronger options below are the next step, and they need a hidden test first.
Leather shoes
Leather takes a barely damp cloth and brief contact, so dab the mark and blot it before the water can spread. Don't soak the leather or let it sit wet, since water can leave a dull ring.
Skip oxygen bleach and alcohol, since both can damage leather. Keep the work to light dabs and let the area dry naturally.
Knit shoes
Knit uppers snag easily, so brush gently in one direction and never pull at the yarn. Dab with the damp cloth rather than rubbing, because rubbing can pull loops out of shape.
Dry the area with a soft cloth, then let the shoes air dry as usual.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old toothpaste mark has had time to set, so expect it to take more than one round. Start by repeating the damp-cloth dab with mild liquid detergent, then blot dry and look at the mark before deciding what's next. Each round should lighten the mark a little, so if it isn't changing after two rounds, move to the stronger options.
If the mark has dried hard, dab it with the damp cloth for a moment to soften it, then scrape it gently before the next round. Keep the scraping light so the material is not damaged.
If the shoes went through a dryer, the heat may have set the mark, so take extra care and never dry them that way again. Suede can take a cloth dipped in white vinegar, dabbed on the mark after a hidden test. White or light shoes can take another light brushing with the baking soda paste, and if the mark is still there after these rounds, it's realistic to accept a faint shadow rather than risk the material.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on toothpaste on shoes & sneakers?
Most household remedies are built for drinks or wine, so only a few belong on shoes. A gentle dab with mild liquid detergent is enough, and chlorine bleach and hot water don't belong on shoes.
Works1Helps2Skip2Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't machine wash the shoes.
Delicate materials can be damaged in the drum, and bulky sneakers can damage the washer. A damp cloth and cool water is the right tool for this stain.
Don't use bar soap or soap flakes.
Soap can make a tannin stain permanent or harder to remove, and toothpaste is treated as a tannin stain. Check the ingredient list on your detergent, and skip anything that lists soap.
Don't use bleach or harsh cleaners.
Bleach and other harsh products can damage shoe materials. Chlorine bleach should never be mixed with vinegar, alcohol or ammonia, and if you use more than one product, rinse thoroughly between them.
Don't scrub leather hard.
Hard scrubbing can roughen and mark leather. Keep to light dabs with a barely damp cloth.
When to call a professional
If the mark survives these rounds, especially on leather, a shoe repair or cleaner can judge whether more work is safe. Ask them before trying anything stronger yourself.
Questions
Will toothpaste stain shoes permanently?
It can, especially if it dries and then gets heated, so treat it soon and keep the shoes away from the dryer. Fresh paste lifts more easily than paste that has dried, so start as soon as you notice it.
Can I use vinegar on my shoes?
Only on suede, and only for a stubborn mark after a hidden test. It isn't a general cleaner for other shoe materials.
What if my shoes have no care label?
Don't guess at a method. Test a hidden spot with cool water and a clean cloth, and keep the cleaning light with no soaking.
Can I use the baking soda paste on dark shoes?
No, keep the paste for white or light shoes. On darker shoes, the damp-cloth dab is the safe first step, and a hidden test shows whether the color moves.
How long do the shoes take to dry?
Plan on at least 8 hours at room temperature before you decide the mark is gone. Check the shoes once they're fully dry, since a damp mark can look darker than it really is.
Will this work on an old, dried stain?
It may need more than one round, since an old mark has had longer to set. Repeat the damp-cloth dab with mild liquid detergent and blot dry before judging the result.
If it still shows, move to the stronger options described further down, starting with the one that fits your material. Expect a faint shadow on a very old mark, even after careful work.
Toothpaste on other materials
Other stains on shoes & sneakers
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.