Once Silly Putty has been my childhood toy collection to create imaginative shapes. I now understand my mother’s frustration after presenting similar toys to my kids.
That stuff is stubborn to come off the clothes. And the kids love to spread over and dominate all around the house with this thing. So the fabric type it sticks to varies in each room.
After many trials and errors, though, there are several legit ways you can learn how to get Silly Putty out of fabric.
Start by scraping any excessive silly putty from the victimized fabric. Then use hand sanitizer, dish soap, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or ice to get that putty out finally. You can also try WD 40 and vodka to remove the putty properties.
Instead of leaving things mysterious, continue reading for a broader picture to eliminate this adversary of all parents.
Table of Contents
Does Putty Stick to Fabric?
What exactly is this Silly Putty anyway? It is stretchy but seems neither liquid nor solid. The interesting physical properties it comprises allows the user to create various shapes.
It will bounce at a certain height but breaks if the blow is harder. You can stretch it all you want, but it melts after one point.
Moreover, I find it an exclusive means to imprint a comic book image. Just flat-press the putty over the desired picture, and voila!
This viscoelastic liquid, as described by the manufacturer, leaves some residue behind as you continue to press it over items or throw at objects.
Suppose it falls on curtains or the younglings imprint it on sofa fabrics. Of course, who can blame them if they decide to stamp it on their clothes?
Even if you scrape out the most, Silly Putty will leave behind a slightly sticky substance to deal with.
Does Putty Come out of Clothes?
This brings you to the current section. Can you remove that putty residue from the fabric without damaging the fibers?
I will be straightforward with you. You can, through ridiculously simple ways, get rid of the putty from any fabric type. However, my dear parent, you better act fast before it dries.
Consequently, what if you just notice dried silly putty substance on clothing before throwing it in the laundry? Will it be permanent?
I must warn you never to run the washing machine with putty-infused clothes! You might feel that a viable and timesaving approach, as did I once.
The outcome will be a load of fresh laundry with putty smears on every item. In a nutshell, your work will merely double.
What Dissolves Silly Putty?
Here is a shoutout to the parents who once tried to dissolve Silly Putty leftovers in water. What funny and silly days they were.
If you are new to this putty stuff for the kids, let me phrase it well and strongly. Silly Putty is like slime; you cannot dissolve it in regular water. That substance will win no matter what.
The trick is to submerge the putty-smeared fabric in hot or warm water for a while. It will soften the viscoelastic liquid and take a lengthy moment to melt.
Your best gear is hand sanitizer, WD-40, rubbing alcohol, or vodka. What do they have in common? These are all alcohol-based products, and they can dissolve that wild putty into oblivion.
How to Get Silly Putty Out of Fabric & Clothes: Different Ways
While you can employ various cleaning agents to remove a particular stain or residue, it is better to test first. Furthermore, do not start customizing the mixing ingredients unless you are 100% sure.
For instance, vinegar is awesome for cleaning, and so is bleach. But mixing them produces toxic gas; did you know that?
So research before applying for the sake of everyone’s safety.
Now let me enlighten you with the common and harmless items that can tone down your nightmares a notch. Take your pick!
1. Liquid Dish Soap:
Dishwashing soap is not for washing dishes anymore. I find it gentler than powdered laundry detergents when it comes to removing strange stains (tie-dyes, ink, slime, etc.).
But here is the catch. You should not apply this method unless you have tried one of the techniques mentioned below. The liquid dish soap formula is best as the alternate solution.
Suppose you tried dissolving the putty using alcohol or vinegar. There are still little remnants of that stubborn stuff. However, using alcohol repetitively might ruin the fabric.
So you partner up with the classic dish soap.
Take a generous amount of the liquid and apply it to the putty-ed area.
Use an old toothbrush/rag and rub over the section until the putty is no longer in sight.
2. Hand Sanitizer:
Pretty much every household now has a huge bottle of hand sanitizers since the virus outbreak. So, your work gets easier!
- Grab a butter knife or any blunt scraper.
- Scrape off extra Silly Putty from the clothing with steady force. Remove as much as you can to expose the fabric.
- Squirt several drops of hand sanitizer there.
- Massage the area for the putty to soften.
- Scrape the moistened remains.
- Now squirt-massage-scrape a few times to get Silly Putty out completely.
- Is the coast clear? Then throw it in the washer and wash it as usual.
3. Rubbing Alcohol:
You can buy rubbing alcohol from large supermarkets or drug stores. Once again, you must start by picking the most putty out of the way without ruining the clothing.
- Is the big chunk of the glob out of the way? Douse the affected region with mighty rubbing alcohol.
- This liquid helps dissolve the putty, but you may have to scrub it over for an effective outcome.
- So, grab an old toothbrush and scour the area.
- Do not go too vigorous about it; this is not a challenge of any sort!
- Repeat the alcohol pouring and scrubbing process a couple more times for a putty-free fabric.
- Wash the garment in the washing machine afterward.
One small note to the reader, you can opt for hydrogen peroxide instead of rubbing alcohol. Just keep in mind that it is heavy-duty and should be dealt with cautiously. Also, apply lesser repetitions to prevent fabric damage.
4. White Vinegar:
Vinegar is one of the friendliest ingredients in the house that acts as an excellent cleaning agent. I admit that the smell is pungent for my taste, but the outcome it delivers overpowers the odor.
- You begin by diluting the liquid.
- Take a bowl and pour one part vinegar and two to three parts of water.
- You can use a spray bottle as well. It depends on what you prefer.
- Now scrape any excessive Silly Putty out to make the task simpler.
- Dip the affected area into the mixture or spray the solution over the smeared fabric.
- Take an old toothbrush or a soft brush and scrub the region gently.
- Remove the putty parts that come off and repeat the process.
- Continue this technique to take out all the putty substances.
- Then give it a good and normal wash in the machine.
5. Vodka:
Are you aware of the fact that vodka is not for drinking when the kids are not looking but also for cleaning stubborn stains? To brighten your mood, you no longer have to hide it all the time!
If you do not have one at home currently, simply buy a cheap one and make do. Vodka is one of my quick remedies to laundry issues, as it also eliminates unpleasant odors.
However, do not go for the flavored ones since they contain sugar or dyes. Leave such a bottle for special occasions to cheer on!
- I hope you have scraped off the extra goo first.
- Pour a decent amount of vodka on the spot.
- You can fill a spray bottle with the liquid and spray it on the area.
- Scrape the wet putty again but move quickly this time since alcohol evaporates in a blink of an eye.
- You can repeat the procedure a few times to clean the fabric.
- If you still feel the slight presence of the residue lingering, attempt the liquid dish soap method.
- Lastly, run it in the washer.
6. WD-40:
The key feature of WD-40 is to break down corrosion, greasy stains, and silence squeaky structures (doors). It is a petroleum-based product, so consider this method a last resort.
While WD-40 is susceptible to forming stains on delicate fabric (do not use on satin or silk), it works wonders in removing slime. In this case, it can get rid of gooey Silly Putty instantly.
- Move to a well-ventilated room or outdoors for this task, as WD-40 emits a strong odor and fume.
- If the Silly Putty thinks nothing can defeat it, spray a little WD-40 on it.
- Then spray the other side of the stain/putty as well.
- Wait for about five minutes. Make sure no new stain is formed.
- Scrape off the liquefied putty with a triumph!
- You must clean the fabric off the WD-40 residue as well.
- Apply the dish soap technique once before throwing the clothing in the washer.
- Use a damp cloth to blot the WD-40 remains when treating an upholstery fabric.
7. Ice:
The children and I call it the freezing action because you only freeze the questioned fabric to remove Silly Putty.
Just put the clothing items into the freezer and leave them for five to six hours or overnight. This process hardens the putty for you to grab and peel.
It is a safer option and lets the kids try out as well. If you do not wish to wait for the next day, you can always work with the ice cubes.
Cover the putty-stained area with a few ice cubes and wait for the substance to stiffen. Then scrape off with a butter knife or peel away the stuck putty.
Repeat this process several times for a flawless result.
8. Iron:
The elementary error we make is ironing the affected fabric directly. You do not just ruin the clothing item but also your precious iron surface.
So here is what you have to do.
- Heat the iron first.
- Lay the garment on the ironing board with the putty side up.
- Place an old cloth piece that you do not care about over it.
- Run the iron over a few times.
- Inspect the old cloth for putty transfer.
- Repeat this process but with a cleaner section of the cloth on top each time.
- Make sure the goop does not stick back.
- Apply vinegar or rubbing alcohol process to dissolve the residues.
- Finally, wash it off naturally in a washing machine.
How to Remove Silly Putty from Fabric Couch
The problem with upholstery fabric is that you cannot often take it out for a good wash. So when the children mark the couch as their play zone, you are officially doomed.
Nevertheless, it is not the end. You can choose any method mentioned above, except freezing and ironing, to eradicate the Silly Putty business.
Just remember to blot the excessive wetness right after application because you cannot toss it into the washer.
How to Get Silly Putty out of a Blanket
The perfect solution is freezing the blanket if the freezer has such massive space. Or opt for the ice cube method, as I stated earlier.
Many patrons have benefited by applying the WD 40 technique as well. Rubbing alcohol works fantastically, whereas using liquid dish soap can ruin the fabric.
You have to check the blanket fiber type before relying on one of the solutions given above.
Final Verdict:
Here is a little tip for you before you begin the putty-removing mission. Try placing something underneath the clothing item to prevent the stain from soaking on the other side.
Cardboard or an old rag seems like a reasonable choice.
Now you know how to remove silly putty from fabric without crying your eyes out for the mess. Each option has yielded a great outcome on several occasions for many parents, including me.
Are you ready to overthrow that annoying goo? Good luck!
