How to Get Rid of Plastic Slime From Clothing

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Plastic slime can be a tough stain to remove from clothing, but with the right techniques, it can be done. Here’s a step-by-step guide to removing plastic slime from clothing:

1. Scrape off excess slime: Use a butter knife or spoon to gently scrape off any excess slime from the clothing.

2. Apply dish soap: Apply a small amount of dish soap directly onto the stained area. Gently rub the soap into the fabric to loosen the slime.

3. Rinse with cold water: Rinse the clothing under cold water to remove the dish soap and any remaining slime.

4. Treat with vinegar: If the stain persists, mix equal parts white vinegar and water, and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing again with cold water.

5. Launder as usual: Finally, wash the clothing as you normally would. Check the stain before drying, and repeat the steps if necessary.

By following these steps, you can effectively remove plastic slime from clothing and restore them to their original condition.


Sticky homemade or store-bought slime is a popular toy. Whether it has been left unattended or forgotten long enough to set on your favorite piece of clothing, there are several methods to remove slime. Slime that has recently landed on your clothing is easier to remove. Slime that has had time to settle into your sheets, spread through a hamper of clothing, or soak into an area rug requires more time, tools, and solutions to remove the substance and its resulting stain.

How to Get Rid of Plastic Slime From Clothing

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Ingredients in Store-Bought Slime

It is cold and sticky yet easily comes off skin and other biological surfaces, metals, glass, and plastics. However, slime has an affinity for soft materials like clothing and carpeting and tightly binds to each individual fiber. Slime can’t help it; it’s just how it’s made.

Whether it’s homemade or store-bought slime, the ingredients in the slime can make it challenging to remove from clothing.

Slime is made up of a cross-linked polymer. While it is appreciated for its thick and flowing properties, it is technically classified as a liquid. Cold and slimy to the touch, commercial play slime is created by combining polyvinyl alcohol solutions with borate ions.

First Steps for Slime Removal

If you have slime that has been sitting for a while or overnight, it needs to be dealt with using some simple tools. For hardened slime that has formed a puddle, try gently lifting the glob from the material. Use a butter knife or another blunt-edged tool to carefully separate the hardened slime from the soft cloth.

Once you have removed as much of the physical slime as possible and there are still some large pieces left, you can use ice cubes to coax the blob away from the fabric. Let the ice sit on the slippery blob for about 10 minutes to help it harden and come off more easily from the material.

Soaking Solutions to Consider

Before tossing the item into the washing machine and hoping the slime comes out in the wash, there are a few more methods to ensure the slime is completely removed from the item. To further loosen the slime from clothing, you can soak it.

How to Remove Slime from Clothes

If you have slime on your clothes, there are different methods you can use to remove it. Here are two effective methods:

  • Hot water method: If your clothing is made of cotton or another delicate material, you can soak it in hot water for at least 30 minutes. The water should be as hot as possible without damaging the fabric. This will help remove any slime from the fibers and get rid of any dye that hasn’t stuck to the fabric.
  • Vinegar method: For larger items or materials that can’t be put in a washing machine, you can soak the item in vinegar for at least 15 minutes. Vinegar evaporates faster than water, so if the slime stain remains, you can apply more vinegar and use a scrub brush to gently rub it into the fibers.

Before Drying

Before putting the garment or item in the dryer, make sure the slime stain is completely gone or at least improved to your satisfaction. Once it goes through the drying cycle, the stain will set permanently and become difficult to remove.

If you have slime on thin-fiber materials like leggings or T-shirts, you may need to repeat the cleaning process or run them through multiple cycles in the washing machine to completely remove the slime.

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