Slime is a Newtonian fluid made from mixes of ingredients, such as liquid laundry detergents, contact solutions, white glue, shaving cream, shampoo, or cornstarch. It is made more attractive by adding glitters, tiny beads, and food colors.
Its variations range from being a fluffy slime, glitter slime, or cleaning slime to glow-in-the-dark slime. Most children have fun playing with it, and adults toy with it to relieve stress. It may be fun to fiddle with, but it is notorious when it gets into your clothes.
It is hard to get rid of, and it usually stains depending on the slime’s color.
What to Do When Slime Gets into Your Clothes
Here are the steps to try to salvage the clothes and get rid of the slime efficiently:
1. Act on the matter fast
It is best to remove slimes from your clothes at once. A dried slime on clothing can cause wrinkling and may damage the garment. So the first thing you need to remember when it comes to how to get slime out of clothes is to act on the matter the moment you see it.
2. Use liquid laundry detergent or dish soap
Use a non-concentrated liquid laundry detergent or dish soap for this purpose. If you only have the concentrated type, put some water in it before pouring it on your clothes. Follow these steps to remove the slime:
- Squirt enough liquid detergent or dish soap into the slime and leave it for five minutes.
- Gently scrape the slime with a clothes brush or simply rub it away with your thumb.
- Check if the slimes are all gone. Repeat the steps if there are still some.
- Wash the clothes as usual.
- Rinse and dry your clothes.
3. Use white vinegar
Another proven way how to remove slime from clothes is by using white vinegar. This also works in removing slime from bedding, furniture, carpets, or even your hair. Follow these steps to remove slime from clothes using vinegar:
- Brush off all the slime with a brush or using your thumb. Get as much of it as you can.
- Carefully pour white vinegar on the area where the slime is stuck.
- Wait for five minutes to allow the liquid to penetrate the fabric.
- Gently scrub the area with a soft brush to remove the remaining slime. Do this in a circular motion.
- Pour hot water over the area with slime. Brush again in a circular manner.
- Wash and rinse as usual.
4. Use ice cubes
It can be heartbreaking for parents to see their kids’ clothes with dried slime stuck on them, especially if they are their children’s favorite. Aside from being hard, dried slime wrinkles the part of the garment with it.
This is the easiest way to get slime out of clothes, especially when the slime is still gooey. However, if you don’t have a choice but to deal with dried slime, get some ice cubes and follow these steps:
- Remove as much of the dried slime as you can by brushing it off or picking them up using your fingers.
- Place ice cubes on top of the area of the garment with the slime. Leave it for at least five minutes.
- When the slime starts getting off the garment, remove whatever you can.
- Pat the garment with the ice cubes, leave for another five minutes and try brushing the slime off.
Additionally, if you don’t have ice cubes, you can pack the clothes in a clean plastic bag and put them in the freezer. Make sure that the stained part of the clothes is on the surface. Leave it for 15 minutes. Remove the clothes from the fridge and brush off the slime.
Wash the clothes as usual.
5. Use baking soda
Make a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water. Mix it with two parts of baking soda. Stir until it turns into a thick paste. Perform the following to start removing slime from the garment using the baking soda paste:
- Apply a generous amount of the paste over the stain. Make sure that all areas of the stained garment are covered with paste.
- Leave it to dry.
- Use a clean cloth or tissue to get rid of the dried paste.
- Wash the clothes as usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will washing clothes remove slime?
Yes, but make sure that you remove as much of the slime as possible. You would not want the slime to detach from the garment while in the machine and transfer to the other clothes. Rub the slime off using a soft brush or your fingers. You can also try any of the solutions above to get rid of the slime before washing the clothes.
How do you remove dried up slime?
It is harder to get rid of the slime once it has dried in the garment. You can try the ice cube technique to get this done. Pat the stained area of the garment with ice cubes until it becomes manageable to pick off the slime.
You can also fold the garment with the stained part placed on top, pack it in a plastic bag, and freeze it. Pick off the slime with your fingers, and wash the clothes.
If the slime remains in the garment after trying everything, you can opt for stronger solutions, such as acetone, alcohol, or nail polish remover. However, you have to remember that these are strong liquids that may affect the garment’s appearance. Use them in a small portion every time.
Conclusion
Kids would spend hours playing with the gooey slime, and some adults find it relaxing and helps in relieving stress. However, the challenge begins when the fun part is over – with slime sticking all over, including your children’s clothes.
Before losing your cool over the matter, try using the readily available materials found in most homes. They include vinegar, ice cubes, baking soda, and liquid laundry detergent.
Follow the tips mentioned above, wash the clothes, and ask your kids to be careful the next time they have fun with their slime.
