Q: I’ve been concentrating on getting my young children to brush their teeth regularly. Unfortunately, they can’t seem to accomplish this without getting toothpaste on their clothes. How do I remove the stains?

 

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A: Pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover and then launder, following the garment manufacturer’s recommendations. Although toothpaste stains are easy to remove in the laundry unlike some stains, sponging with cold water won’t remove them. Once the toothpaste hits the clothes, the stain remains until the item is laundered. If you can convince your kids to wear one while brushing, a large bib or water-proof smock will help eliminate the problem.

 

Q: Every year, we host a Super Bowl party with chips and dip as a “must” on our menu. But in all the excitement, greasy potato chip stains are everywhere! How do I remove them, particularly from my upholstery?

 

A: On upholstery, use a clean white cloth and upholstery cleaner, following the manufacturer’s directions. Test the product on an inconspicuous area before using. For grease stains on napkins, tablecloths and washable clothing, pretreat with a prewash stain remover and then launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric.

 

Nancy Bock is Vice President of Consumer Education at the American Cleaning Institute®

 

About ACI

The American Cleaning Institute℠ (ACI - formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market.  ACI  members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers.  ACI and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.