Having a child means dealing with different kinds of mess, slime being one of the worst. If your child has decided to spread their slimy creations all over your carpets, don’t worry—we’ll show you how to get slime out of the carpet in no time!
Whether you’re dealing with fresh wet slime stains or the more stubborn dry ones, we’ve got you covered! We’ll walk you through the right process step by step.
So, read on and get ready to tackle that slime!
What’s Slime Made of?
In order to get rid of slime successfully, it helps to know what you’re dealing with.
Slime typically consists of four main ingredients:
- Water
- Borax powder, which is often used in laundry (or contact lens solution)
- White glue
- Food coloring
As you can see, none of the ingredients are particularly harmful to carpet fibers. Still, food coloring may lead to staining.
Choosing the Best Method to Clean Slime Out of Carpet
Here are some of the factors you should consider before picking the right method for dealing with slime on your carpets:
How Hardened the Slime Stain Is
If the slime is still wet, you can use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to suck it up. On the other hand, cleaning hardened slime will require soaking the affected area with water, brushing, scraping, and vacuuming.
Carpet Type
If you have an expensive rug made of delicate natural fibers, you’ll want to avoid using harsh chemicals or scrubbing too forcefully to avoid damaging the fibers.
In this case, it’s best to hire a professional cleaner with experience in cleaning delicate carpets.
The Size of the Affected Area
If it’s a small spot, you can probably clean it yourself. But if the slime is covering a large area, it’s best to consult a professional.
The Severity of the Stain
A simple cleaning solution (club soda, soap and water, etc.) may work for light stains. But if the stain is deep or dark, you’ll need to use a stronger cleaning solution (e.g., vinegar, etc.). substances).
How to Get Dried Slime Out of Carpet
Dried slime stains are the most challenging to get rid of.
Luckily, there are a few ways to do so:
Rubbing and Scrubbing
If you’re dealing with dried slime, you may need to use a little elbow grease to get it out. Simply take a stiff brush and scrub at the dried slime until it begins to loosen. Once it’s relaxed, you can vacuum it up. If the stain isn’t that hardened, use a bristle brush to aid the process.
Use a Putty Knife
If you want to get dried–up slime out of your carpet (the particularly stubborn kind), you may have to resort to using a putty knife to remove it.
Gently scrape at the slime with the putty knife until it comes out. Be careful not to damage your carpet in the process. If a putty knife isn’t an option, you can try using a spoon or the smallest and bluntest knife from your quality knife set (e.g., butter knife) instead.
Put the Almighty Vinegar to Use
Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent excellent for cleaning pretty much anything in your home—from shower doors to portable blenders. Expectedly, it can also help break down slime.
Let’s see how!
The White Vinegar Method
It’s truly easy to get a slime stain out of a carpet using white vinegar:
- Mix one part of vinegar with one part of water and apply it to the affected area.
- Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Blot it up with a clean cloth.
You may need to repeat this process a few times to get all the slime out.
Also, be extra careful with this method if you have pets. Vinegar can be harmful to animals if ingested. So, it might be better to use soap and water or club soda to clean your carpet, just to be on the safe side.
The Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Method
You can also get slime out of your carpet with apple cider vinegar:
- Mix 2/3 apple cider vinegar with 1/3 cup of warm water in a spray bottle.
- Mist the solution onto the affected area.
- Let the solution sit for a few minutes before blotting it up with a clean cloth.
Repeat this process as needed until all the slime is gone.
How to Get Wet Slime Out of Your Carpet
There are plenty of ways to clean wet slime off of our carpet. And luckily, most ingredients for creating a perfect cleaning solution are hiding in your cleaning cabinet, kitchen, or pantry.
So, let’s check them out!
Use Dish Soap
This is one of the most popular ways to remove slime from the carpet:
- Mix one part of dish soap and one part of water.
- Blot the affected area with a clean cloth.
- Rinse with warm water to remove any soap residue.
- Let the carpet dry.
Employ the Salt Method
One of the best ways to get slime out of carpet without vinegar is to use salt. Salt is a natural abrasive and will help break down the slime.
So, simply sprinkle salt on the affected area and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then, vacuum up the salt and any remaining slime.
Try Rubbing Alcohol
If you’re trying to remove stains left by food coloring in the slime, try commercially available rubbing alcohol. Just pour some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth or a towel and scrub the affected area. Then, rinse with cold water and dry the spot completely.
You can also use this method to remove slime from clothes by simply soaking them in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before washing as usual.
Get Slime Out of Your Carpet With Ice
Place a bag of ice on the affected area and let it sit for about 10–15minutes. This will help harden the slime so that it can be easily removed.
Spray Dry Cleaning Powder Onto Stubborn Slime
If you’re looking for a more heavy-duty solution, you can try using commercially available dry cleaning powders, as they’ll surely get the slime stain out.
Sprinkle Some Baking Soda on the Affected Area
To get slime out of a carpet with baking soda, simply sprinkle it on the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes. The slime should lift right up. Then, just vacuum up any residual baking soda and slime, and your carpet will be completely slime-free.
Hire Professionals
If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn stain or delicate carpeting made of wool, leather, etc., employing professional help is a good way to avoid messing up your carpet.
Additional Tips to Get Sticky Slime Out of Your Carpet
- Clean the slime as soon as possible! Time is of the essence when cleaning slime. You don’t want slime drying and sticking deep into the fibers of your carpet. So, don’t wait—act immediately to remove slime more efficiently and easily.
- Don’t get aggressive with the carpet. Rub and scrub with patience, gently enough not to damage your carpet.
- When using commercial cleaners to get slime out of fabric, it’s better to try them on a small inconspicuous area on your carpet or clothes first. This way, you’ll avoid damage.
- Don’t use too much water to avoid the risk of mold appearing on your carpet and floors.
- Pick a non-bleach cleaner (especially if your carpet is colored) to avoid bleach staining.
Preventing Slime From Getting on Your Carpet
Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. So, try covering your carpet with a drop cloth or tarp when your kids are playing with slime. This will help to contain the mess and make cleanup easier.
Conclusion
Slime may seem like a nightmare to clean, but with the right idea of what to do and a couple of widely available natural cleaning agents, slime stains don’t necessarily have to be a hassle.
Check out our favorite methods and make your carpet slime-free again!
FAQ
Does slime ruin the carpet?
The short answer is no.
Slime is typically made of glue and borax, which are both easily washable and unlikely to damage your carpet.
However, what may ruin it is picking the wrong cleaning method and taking too long to act. Leaving a sticky residue on your carpet can attract dirt and dust, eventually leading to stubborn staining.
How do you remove dried slime?
The best way to remove dried slime from a carpet is by using a putty knife.
Scrape off as much of the slime as you can from the carpet fibers (do this gently and carefully so as not to damage the carpet). If the slime has really stuck on, you may need to use some water to loosen it up.
After successfully removing all the slime from your carpet, just vacuum any leftovers, and you’re done!
How does apple cider vinegar remove slime from the carpet?
Apple cider vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that can remove slime from the carpet by softening and breaking down stubborn slime residue.
So, how to get slime out of the carpet using apple cider vinegar?
The answer is simple. All you need is a spray bottle, a blotting cloth (or a sponge), and a mixture of two parts of ACV and one part of water, and you’ll be all set.
