How to Get Slime Out of Clothes (Complete Guide)

In recent years, slime has experienced a rise in popularity, so much so that every now and then, you can see a kid completely covered in it! This is why many parents would love to know how to get slime out of clothes. If you are one of them, read on to find some of the most efficient ways to restore your children’s favorite clothes.

What Do You Need to Remove Slime From Clothes?

Nowadays, parents need to know several different ways to get slime out of clothes. Until recently, many people thought slime was impossible to remove as it gets dry and extremely sticky due to its main ingredient — glue. Unfortunately, slime doesn’t only get on clothes since children often play with it on carpets or furniture. Of course, this sticky lump can even end up on the walls.

What’s more, this toy, introduced by one of the leading players in the educational toy market, Mattel, shows no signs of slowing down soon, which is why you need to know what gets slime out of clothes. Luckily, we have the answers you need. To do this, you’ll need some of these products and tools:

• acetone, nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol
• ice cubes
• dish soap or laundry detergent
• vinegar
• baking soda
• water
• toothbrush or scrubbing brush
• cotton wool balls
• a spoon

How to Get Slime Out of Clothes

Every prepared parent knows they must own a reliable first-aid kit and learn practical tips and tricks on how to deal with all the unwanted situations that will inevitably happen thanks to the playfulness of their kids. This is why it’s essential to keep some items that remove slime from fabric close. Search your home and see which of them you might already have, and then read up on all the methods you can use to get rid of this sticky toy.

How to Remove Slime From Clothes With Vinegar

One of the best ways to remove wet slime from clothes (or hair) is using plain old white vinegar. Before using this all-purpose household product, hurry up and remove as much of the slime as you can before it dries out. Luckily, the slime will remain relatively stretchy for several hours, so even if you don’t detect it straight away, you should still have enough time.

Before you pour some vinegar onto the slime, you need to prepare for some rubbing. Once you apply the vinegar, you need to let it soak for five minutes, but not much longer, as you don’t want it to dry. Then, grab a clean toothbrush or scrubbing brush and scrub the affected area. You can repeat the process a few more times if you need to. Once you are done, give your clothes a good rinse with hot water and wash them like you usually do.

Although vinegar is a staple in any kitchen or pantry, if you happen to run out, see below how to remove slime from clothes without vinegar using dish soap or ice cubes.

How to Remove Slime From Clothes With Dish Soap

The same as with the previous method, you need to first remove as much slime as possible from the fabric while it is still fresh and then go to the sink, where you need to perform the following:

• Apply a significant amount of dish soap onto the slime and start rubbing the spot under the running water. You should use a non-concentrated form of dish soap since it works much better than the concentrated type.
• If needed, add more soap and repeat until you clean up the slime nicely.
• Wash the cloth in the washing machine as you usually would.
• The process is entirely the same if you wonder how to remove slime from clothing using laundry detergent. What’s essential in both cases is not to put the clothes with slime stuck on them directly into the washing machine, as you will only ruin the other clothes in the machine. 

How to Remove Slime From Clothes With Ice Cubes

In this section, we’ll show you how to get dried slime out of clothes, and you’ll only need several ice cubes or a freezer bag. Similarly to removing gum from clothes, by rubbing some ice on the affected area or putting the clothes in the freezer, you will separate slime from your clothes.

First, scrape as much of the slime as you can by using a butter knife or another tool. Grab an ice cube and rub it on the stain. If you don’t have ice cubes or the slime remains after performing the second step, put the clothing in the freezer bag and place it in the freezer for several hours. Once the slime freezes, peel it away and then wash the clothing as you usually would.

How to Get Slime Off Clothes With Acetone, Rubbing Alcohol, or Nail Polish Remover

You should use this technique if you are dealing with glue-based slime. However, before you start removing slime out of any clothes, you should test acetone, nail polish, or rubbing alcohol on a small piece of fabric and see if this might lead to discoloration.

If you’ve concluded that acetone doesn’t affect your clothing, you are good to continue. Apply acetone, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover to the cotton wool ball and gently start dabbing a tiny portion to the affected area. You should see a small amount of slime coming away with every dab. Once all the slime is removed, you can wash the clothes in the washing machine as you usually would.

How to Get Slime Out of Clothes With Baking Soda

Start by removing as much dry slime as you can by gently scraping it off with a spoon. Then, mix some baking soda with equal amounts of vinegar and water and apply the paste to the affected area. You’ll need several thin coatings to cover all the slime until you cannot see it anymore. Let the paste dry completely, then remove it using a paper towel. Wash the clothing as usual.

This is pretty much everything you need to know about how to remove slime from fabric; still, if you don’t feel like having to try these methods out, you can always buy your kids an engaging Lego set and avoid slime stains all over the house. 

How to Prevent Additional Slime Stains

All stains can be highly stressful, especially for parents with small children, so it is always better to prevent them than to have to deal with them. Although we have shown you that removing slime from clothing is not that difficult, you might want to first try everything to avoid having to do that. To prevent accidents with children’s clothes, you can:

• Make sure your kids wear old clothes or a protective apron.
• If you make your own slime, you can skip food coloring and glue.
• If you still decide to dye the slime, you can use a water-based food-grade coloring.

FAQ

Can your washing machine alone remove slime from your clothes?

It is not recommended to put the clothes with slime stains straight into the washer since some slime may also transfer to other garments. Even if you put your clothes in the washing machine on a high setting, your clothes might shrink. This is why it’s better to check some of the examples above that show you how to take slime off clothes.

Can you remove dried slime stains from clothes?

Although treating stains as soon as possible would be ideal, that does not mean you cannot remove the stain once it has dried. Getting slime out of clothes once it is dried is not that difficult; it just requires a couple of additional steps, like scratching the excess slime off first and then treating it with an appropriate product.

Can you use all types of vinegar to remove slime from clothes?

White vinegar is one of the most used methods for getting slime from clothes, mainly because balsamic, red, or malt vinegar might stain your clothes because of their coloring.

The Bottom Line

Understanding how to get slime out of clothes has become a much-needed comfort for frustrated parents. Now that you’ve found out that removing slime is not difficult or time-consuming, nothing stops you from sharing this fun activity with the kids.