How to Get Slime Out of Fabric and Clothes: 4 Best Ways

Kids and slime – it sums up everything you need to know about the messy aftermath. There’s been a frantic drift of making DIY slime at home nowadays.

However, nobody speaks up about what to do with the clothes, rugs, carpets, and couches that face the harshest outcome. Yet I still let my little munchkins play with store-bought or DIY slime quite frequently.

And I have the hush-hush ways of putting those clothing/fabric items back into the business. Okay, perhaps I’m embellishing too much. This guide about how to get slime out of fabric & clothes is for all the parents (and adults who still love that stretchy, gooey stuff) who love getting things back in order.

Are you with me?

Does Slime Come Out of Fabric?

Eventually, the slime will come out of any fabric but with effort. It entails gathering a few pieces of information before laying your Mission Impossible gear on the table.

The good news is that you can morph slime out of countless supplies lying around at home. Whether you use makeup, glitter, laundry supplies or sticky candies (thanks to online influencers), food dyes, etc., you cannot put a price tag on a child’s enthusiasm.

Conversely, the bad news is, well, it could be the glue, which I guarantee 99% is always the reason, that sticks to fabric and clothing items. Or, now, you will have dozens of other motives like dye stains with glue, glittery glue, or simply sticky to the point it is impossible to keep your sanity at bay.

All you have to know is that you can get it all out with the right ingredient mix at home.

Understanding Slime Type Before Getting it Off Fabric

Instead of sighing dreadfully in the laundry room, wondering what to do, pull your hair and chin up and get ready.

• Contemplating the slime ingredients will take too long. So, ignore the glitters, color stains, or whatever glimmering fluffy items have been used in the goop.
• Try to focus on the slime state instead. Is the slime still wet? Is it dry?
• Next, apply one of the four ways mentioned below to get rid of the adversary based on the slime type.

Types of Slime

I’ve had to deal with all sorts of slimy events since these kids love experimenting. So, let me help you categorize the slime state so you can easily understand what method to use:

Dry Slime

Have you ever tried removing dried glue from your clothes? It is to no avail; you can get that off under wet conditions (soaking in water). But the glue substance will spread all over the fabric fibers.

Hence, you have to try the peeling method using ice.

Wet Slime

Even touching the garment with wet slime stuck on it is disastrous and disgusting.

However, think of this state as the peak point when you can easily remove the slime residues.

You might have to apply two methods here: 1) to remove slime and 2) to remove any dye.
Vinegar is the worst enemy to anything slimy, while laundry detergent will bring the fabric piece back to its usual color.

Glitter Slime

Who doesn’t love glitter? Ask that to the person who attempted to get rid of it from the skin and still went out to a dinner reflecting like a multicolored orb.

Now imagine glitter slime on clothing items. It could be the carpets or clothes. But children love to play with glitter slime all the time. So what method comes to mind?

You can use vinegar, rubbing alcohol, ice, or laundry detergent; after determining if the slime is dry or wet.

Then as the last step, use masking tape to lift the remaining glitter!

Fluffy Slime

As cute as the name suggests, it is yet another disastrous recipe for a stuck-up mess. Don’t let the adorable slime fool you.

However, you can tackle the situation by using vinegar, of course.

How to Get Slime Out of Fabric & Clothes: Different Ways with Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s buckle up and prepare the items we need for the task. Remember, each option given here is well-tested and based on the slime state/fabric type.

Method 1: Remove with Vinegar

The plain old white vinegar always comes to the rescue. It can dissolve the slime residue or separate a huge goopy slime portion out of any fabric. Just make sure to apply it a little on the fabric corner to see if the color changes.

You’ll Need:

• White vinegar
• A scrubbing brush/toothbrush
• A large container (optional)
• Hot water

Step-by-Step Guide

Your first will be to always scoop out as much extra slime as you can with your hands. This allows the affected area to be more visible for you to work on.

• Go to the sink or use the container, so the vinegar pouring doesn’t make an additional mess.
• Pour vinegar atop the slimy spot, and feel happy as you attack that stubborn stuff.
• Use a brush to scrub the area.
• Vinegar assists in dissolving the remaining slime as you scrub away.
• Don’t feel disappointed by the half-hearted outcome. Repeat the process as many times as necessary.
• Rinse the cleaned-out clothing with hot water.
• Wash it in the washing machine in the regular wash cycle.

Method 2: Removing with Laundry Detergent

Though it is unwise to use a washer to remove slime, the laundry detergent, when used separately, is another miraculous solution. You can try the same method with non-concentrated dish soap as well!

You’ll Need:

Laundry detergent and your kitchen sink/faucet with running water.

Step-by-Step Guide

This technique might end up soaking the entire fabric piece with water. No matter because you’ll have to toss it in the laundry machine anyway.

• Squirt some detergent onto the slime (if using the liquid form).
• Wet the slime-stuck area with some water and place some laundry detergent to scrub (if using the powdered form).
• Rub the clothing well as you move it under running water.
• Repeat the process until that headache of a slime spot is completely gone.
• Wash the garment in the washing machine.

Method 3: With Rubbing Alcohol

Use rubbing alcohol only when you know the fabric color won’t change after applying. You can test it first if you are unsure.

You’ll Need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Warm water
• A cotton towel.

Step-by-Step Guide

The trick to this method is to follow a certain ratio of rubbing alcohol and water. You get that right – you knock the slime out of any fabric!

• First, use a butter knife or a spoon to scrape away mounting slime if there’s any.
• Now focus on the leftover slimy cluster adhered dearly to the fabric piece.
• Mix rubbing alcohol and warm water using the ratio 2/3 to 1/3, respectively.
• Pour it into the slime-infected area.
• Use the cotton towel to blot the area (avoid wiping as it can damage the fabric fibers, especially on rugs, carpets, couches, etc.).
• Repeat the process with a new batch of rubbing alcohol and warm water mixture only if bits of slime still remain.

Method 4: Without Vinegar- With Ice

Did you know vinegar contains acetic acid that might or might not discolor a colored garment? Why take the chance? Although the effect is pretty mild and barely unnoticeable, let’s opt for a different alternative.

Moreover, you can apply the ice method when dry slime spots decide to make your day a horror show with no end.

You’ll Need:

• Ice cubes.

Step-by-Step Guide

There are two ways you can go about this technique. You’ll require a freezer bag for the latter.

• Pick/peel off most of the dried slime, if possible, with your nails or tweezers.
• Get an ice cube and rub it on the area.
• Continue rubbing till no slime remains.
• Another option is to pack the garment in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer.
• The frozen impact will help you peel off the hardened slime easily.

Does Slime Come out of Clothes in the Wash?

Never put untreated clothes in the washer. That is the first and last mistake I made with three sets of slime-attacked kids’ clothes.

Once the machine finished its cycle. The result I witnessed was far messier than a three-day-old unwashed stew pot. Plus, it ruined the rest of the good clothes!

Here is why it happened. Slime is mainly a combo of glue and other ingredients. Sometimes it contains dyes, glitters, or both.

These residues can spread onto other clothing items, especially glitters! Also, the affected fabric might even get stickier once you pull it out of among other items.

Besides, do you want to see the washing machine interior stained like a rainbow crime scene with glimmering walls?

Does Dried Slime Come Out of Clothes?

Yes, but you have to be patient. When you miss out on a few spots here and there, the sneaky slime tends to sit in and dry.

Does that mean it becomes permanent? Thankfully, slime properties are not that lucky, which is why you can apply one of the methods mentioned above or the technique I am about to outline below.

However, try peeling the dried goo off the fabric and see if that resolves the problem. If the residual bits persist in staying put, that is when you apply the secondary methods provided in this guide.

How to Remove Dried Slime from Clothes

Basically, you have to use the ice method here if you have jumped to this section directly instead of reading the four ways; no worries! Here are the steps:

• If it is possible to pinch the dried slime with your fingers to peel, then do it.
• A tweezer is also a viable choice.
• You just have to remove the big pieces to make the rest of the process simpler.
• Take out an ice cube.
• Rub it all over and around the slime to remove it.

Alternatively, if you don’t have an ice cube or the slime is still loosely residing:

• Grab a freezer bag.
• Place the clothing item in it.
• Put the bag in the freezer.
• You can peel off the remaining slime once the area has hardened completely after freezing.

How to Clean Slime from Fabric Sofa

Sofa fabrics are not always the same as the ones we wear. Plus, we can’t toss the item in the washing machine or turn it over to see underneath the fabric.
Then what should you do?

• Always start by scraping off excessive slime off the sofa. If the fabric is removable from the furniture, please lift it out to prevent slime and cleaning mixtures from seeping into the inner cushion.
• Use the vinegar method mentioned above, adding a little water; for example, 1/3 cup of water with 2/3 cup of vinegar.
• You can pour a little of the mixture or use a sprayer to apply on the glob spot.
• Scrub the area with a soft brush, preferably a toothbrush.
• Let it sit for about five minutes (the duration relies on the stain severity).
• Continue scrubbing to see that slime come off.
• Finally, take a clean, damp cloth piece to scrub/wipe the area to minimize the vinegar smell. Place a dry towel afterward as a finishing touch.
• Now you go ahead and vacuum the sofa as usual.

Final Words:

While slimes are fun to play with, they are a terrible nemesis to parents who are tired of replacing clothes with concern. I mean, imagine the monthly expenses solely on clothes!

Those days are over now. This guide on how to remove slime from fabric & clothes will save your bank balance and the helpless look we often have when watching our kids play slime attack.

I wish you good luck, dear parent (and the grown-ups who have been reading the article discreetly for a solution).