If your kids are into slime, there’s always the risk of potential mess heading your way. Indeed, nothing is safe from slime’s sticky stains, but the usual victims are carpets, sofas, and clothing.
In this article, we’ll show you how to get slime out of clothes with the help of a few household cleaners. Dried or fresh, slime stains will stand no chance against these clever cleaning methods.
So, let’s start!
Is It Difficult to Get Slime Stain Out of Clothes?
As long as the slime stain is still fresh, removing it shouldn’t be a big deal. All you need to do is pre-treat it with a few drops of vinegar, liquid detergent, or rubbing alcohol before laundering.
Cleaning dried slime stains, on the other hand, is a whole other story.
Once the slime dries and hardens, it sticks more firmly to the fabrics, making it harder to wash away. However, with the right cleaning agents and a little bit of effort, dried slime can be dealt with successfully.
How to Clean Slime From Clothes: First Steps
You should make sure your clothes are stain-free before you wash them. Here’s what to do when slime gets on your clothes.
1. Scrape the Slime Off
The first step to dealing with dried slime is quite straightforward — scrape off as much as you can before using chemicals.
If you’re struggling to remove the slime with your fingers, don’t hesitate to use a butter knife, spoon, or something similar. Just be careful not to damage your clothes.
2. Read the Care Label
If you’re not sure what kind of material your clothes are made of, it’s imperative to read the care label before using chemicals to remove slime from clothing. Some fabrics can’t withstand harsher cleaning agents without getting discolored or damaged.
3. Identify Slime Ingredients
Slime can be made of homemade ingredients or a special slime activator, paint, and glue. Figuring out the type of slime that’s staining your garments can help you choose the right method to fight it.
Best Methods to Get Dried Slime Out of Clothes
There are two main things you need when trying to get an old slime stain out of your child’s clothes — patience and persistence, as you may need to repeat the process several times.
Cleaner-wise, you can probably get by with chemicals you likely have in your kitchen. Once the spot is clean, you can wash the clothing as you normally would — no need for excessive amounts of laundry detergent, as this can lead to detergent residue stains.
Method 1: Make Slime Vanish With Vinegar
Vinegar’s acidic properties dissolve slime. What’s more, it’s an eco-friendly cleaner that won’t bleach the color of clothes. In fact, white vinegar should be your go-to method for removing both fresh and dried slime.
Here’s how to get slime out of clothes with vinegar step-by-step:
- Soak a clean cloth or sponge in vinegar, then apply it directly to the slime stain.
- Wait at least five minutes before gently rubbing the slime off the surface. Brush the stain with a clean and soft toothbrush to remove all traces of slime. Use cloth for more delicate fabrics.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water. If needed, repeat the whole process until the stain is gone.
- Wash your garment in the washer as you normally would.
Method 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar Combo
There are two ways in which you can use these two universal cleaners to get dry slime out of clothes.
First, you can make a paste by combining baking soda and vinegar. Apply it on top of the dried slime and let it dry. Rinse it away with warm water to wash the slime off.
Second, sprinkle some baking soda powder on top of the stain, and spray vinegar on top (water solution of 2:1).
Wait for about 10 minutes before you use a scrub brush for the extra baking soda and slime particles. You can also use a paper towel or a cloth before rinsing it thoroughly.
Method 3: Dish Soap
Sometimes, liquid dish soap, water, and a spray bottle are all you need to remove slime from your clothes. Mix two teaspoons of liquid dish soap and two cups of lukewarm water in a spray bottle. Spray it onto the stain and wait 2-4 minutes.
Spray the stain again and dab at the slime particles with a sponge or rag. Once the stain and slime are cleaned up, dab it one last time with warm water and allow it to air dry.
Method 4: Use Laundry Detergent
This method is best used to clean fresh slime stains, and you can use laundry detergent exactly like you’d use dish soap.
Simply pour a generous amount of liquid detergent on the area and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, rub it in, and rinse it off with warm water. Repeat this process as needed.
Method 5: Freeze Slime With Ice Cubes
You can remove slime from your clothes with ice. Just put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and rub the bag over the stain. You can also press the ice into the stain for a few minutes, and then scrape it off. This is pretty similar to how you remove chewing gum from clothes.
This will not remove all the slime, but it’s important to reduce the amount as much as possible.
Method 6: Put Your Garment in the Freezer
One major advantage over cleaning slime out of your carpet is that clothes actually fit into a freezing chamber. All you need to do is dampen the stain on your clothing and place the garment in a freezer bag.
Freeze your stained clothing for two or three hours. Then, scrape away as much as you can from the hardened slime.
Method 7: Rubbing Alcohol
Another thing you can use to remove dried slime from clothes is rubbing alcohol.
Simply apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol directly to the stain and let it sit for several minutes before gently scrubbing the affected area with a clean cloth or sponge.
Method 8: Commercial Adhesive Remover
Adhesive removers, such as Goo Gone, should be good enough if you’re dealing with slime that’s made of glue and slime activator.
These cleaners usually work by spraying the stain, allowing it to sit for at least five minutes before scrubbing and washing the garments thoroughly with some extra laundry detergent. However, keep in mind that different brands will have different instructions.
Conclusion
As you see, there are plenty of simple yet effective ways to deal with slime stains. Be persistent and patient, and you’ll surely be able to restore your clothes to their spotless state.
If you follow our tips, you’ll never struggle to remove slime from clothing again.
FAQ
How can I remove slime from clothes without vinegar?
There are several different household cleaners you can use instead of vinegar to deal with slime. Rubbing alcohol is one of those. You can also use ice cubes to help get slime off, and commercial cleaners are a good alternative too.
Can I get slime out of clothes after drying?
In short — yes! Although it might be more difficult to clean dried slime, with the right cleaner, it’s totally doable.
You can start by scrapping slime as much as you can without damaging your shirt or jeans. Then, use some vinegar to dissolve it and make it easily removable.
Can I get slime out of clothes with baking soda?
Yes, you can get slime out of clothes with baking soda. Make a paste using baking soda and vinegar, and apply the mixture directly to the stain. Wait a few minutes, and rinse away any slime residue.
In short, if you’re wondering how to get slime out of clothes, we hope the methods we listed have answered this question.
