How To Get Slime Out Of Clothes: 6 Simple Tips 

With the rising popularity of homemade slime, there has likely been an increase in the number of kids wearing slime and playing with it. As a parent in this day and age, you need to know ways to get slime out of clothing.

It’s not as tricky as it seems. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to get the job done. We’ll go over how to get slime out of clothes, so you can save your sanity and bank account.

How to Get Slime Out of Clothes

There are multiple ways to remove slime from clothes. Each of these methods uses a different item, substance, or technique.

Whichever method you choose, check that the technique and materials you use will not damage your fabric. Work on a flat, non-porous surface, and remove any excess slime from the item of clothing by scraping it gently with your thumb.

Vinegar

This method works well on any slime that is still wet, and clothes that have been slimed and washed, but not yet dried.

Materials needed:

• White vinegar.
• A soft toothbrush or scrubbing brush.

Method:

1. Pour enough white vinegar onto the slime to make the fabric slightly wet.
2. Allow the vinegar to soak for up to five minutes. Do not leave it so long that the vinegar dries.
3. Using your brush or your thumb, gently scrub the slimed area using circular motions.
4. Rinse the area in hot water.
5. Wash as usual.

Dish Soap

The non-concentrated form of dish soap works better than the concentrated form does for this technique. If you only have concentrated dish soap, add a little water to it before use.

Materials needed:

• Dish soap.
• Running water.

Method:

1. Squirt dish soap onto the slime.
2. Rub the cloth together under running water.
3. Repeat until the slime is gone.
4. Wash as usual.

Laundry Detergent

This method works the same as the dish soap method. You’ll take the same steps as you did for the dish soap way of removing slime, except you’ll use laundry detergent instead. All you’ll need is your favorite baby laundry detergent and running water.

Ice Cubes

This is the method of choice when you have slime that has dried onto clothes ⁽¹⁾.

Materials needed:

• Ice cubes or a freezer bag.

Method:

1. Pick as much of the dry slime as you can off of the clothing.
2. Rub the ice cube on the stain to remove the remaining slime.
3. If slime remains, or you do not have ice, put the item in a freezer bag and place it in the freezer.
4. When frozen, peel the slime away from the cloth.
5. Wash as usual.

Acetone, Rubbing Alcohol, or Nail Polish Remover

This method is most useful for glue-based slime. However, acetone, rubbing alcohol, and nail polish remover are all extremely astringent. That means it is essential to test these substances on a small, out of sight area of the fabric before proceeding.

Materials needed:

• Acetone, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover.
• Cotton wool balls.

Method:

1. Apply the liquid to the fabric by gently dabbing a small amount at a time, using a cotton wool ball.
2. A small amount of slime should come away on the cotton wool ball with each dab.
3. When all of the slime is gone, wash the item as usual.

Slime-Removing Products

If the previous methods fail, consider using something like Goo Gone, Sticky Stuff Remover, Sticky Out, or another glue, label, or sticky stuff removal product.

Use these products the same way you would white vinegar, but wash any items of clothing you have treated separately.

How to Get Dried Slime Out of Clothing

You should try to remove dry slime using the ice method first. If this doesn’t work, you don’t have ice, or you can’t put the item in a freezer, try this second method.

Materials needed:

• Baking soda.
• White vinegar.
• Water.
• A spoon.

Method:

1. Begin by gently scraping off as much dry slime as you can with the spoon.
2. Mix a thick paste of baking soda, white vinegar, and water. Use an equal amount of vinegar to water.
3. Cover the dry slime with the paste. Apply multiple thin layers until you can no longer see the slime through the paste.
4. Allow the paste to dry.
5. Remove the dry paste with a paper towel.
6. Wash as usual.

How to Prevent Slime Stains

To minimize the possibility of slime staining your kid’s clothes, try one or all of these tips.

1. Ensure that your kids cover their clothes before playing with slime. An old adult shirt over the top of your little one’s clothes makes a fabulous slime-proof apron.
2. When making your own slime, consider leaving out the food coloring or other dyes.
3. If you do want to add dye, use a waterbased, food-grade coloring.
4. For younger children, a soap flake and water slime will provide plentiful play opportunities and zero chance of stains.

Removing Slime FAQs

Some slime-related questions crop up often. One of these frequently asked questions may contain the information you’re looking for.

Does Slime Come Out of Clothes in the Wash?

Don’t try to get slime out of clothes by putting them straight into the washer. If you don’t treat them first, slime residue may be left on the fabric.

Even worse than that, some of the slime may find its way onto other items of clothing. It may even lurk in the washing machine, staining items in subsequent washes.

How Do You Get Slime Out of Sheets?

You can remove slime from sheets in the same way you remove slime from clothes, using one of the methods above.

How Do You Get Hard Slime Out of Carpet?

To remove hard slime from the carpet, you must first gently scrape the area with a spoon. This will remove excess slime without damaging the fibers. Then apply white vinegar to the slime.

Allow the vinegar to soak for approximately five minutes and then scrub the area with hot soapy water.

How Do You Get Slime Out of Carpet Without Rubbing Alcohol or Vinegar?

Apply a paste of baking soda, vinegar, and water. Allow the paste to dry and vacuum thoroughly. Finally, scrub the area with hot soapy water.

How Does Vinegar Remove Slime From Clothes?

Think of the molecules in the glue used for slime as strings of beads. Some were able to create slime without using borax, although borax is significantly known as a cross-linking substance.

This cross-linking substance makes the strings of beads stick together. With a small amount of the cross-linking substance, a few strings link together. They can move freely, and the slime is liquid.

The more cross-linking substance you add, the more strings that are stuck together, making the slime thicker.

The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves the links holding the strings of beads together. As a result, the strings of beads are no longer held together and are then easy to remove from clothes.

Set Some Slime Rules

Set some basic rules for your kids when they are playing with slime. Ensure they are covered up and, ideally, playing with their slime outside. That will protect their clothes, sheets, and your carpets.

When they play inside, try to restrict slime play to the kitchen or bathroom to minimize the risk of slime-on-carpet disasters.

If all else fails, white vinegar is your best anti-slime friend. Just be sure to remove as much of the sticky stuff as possible off of the clothing first.