How to Get Slime Out of Carpets, Clothes, Hair, and More

Making and playing with slime is an uber-popular pastime for kids and tweens. But what they may not tell you is this stuff is murder to remove. Removing slime can be extra challenging because of the ingredients used to make it. FYI: If you buy slime at the store, the ingredients likely include boron, which can be unsafe. If you must have slime, your best bet is to make it yourself and learn how to get slime out of carpet and everything else!

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of recipes online for making slime, each with different properties and textures. Even though homemade slime is usually safer than a commercial product, the ingredients often include school glue and food coloring. That means even kid-friendly slime can still leave a gooey mess that clings to clothes, walls, and furniture.

No matter what’s in your slime, you can learn how to get slime out of carpet, upholstery, and even hair with this handy slime removal guide.

How to Get Slime Out of Clothes

If you have kids, you’d better know how to get slime out of clothes! If you’re dealing with clothes, set up a cleaning station near your kitchen sink by laying old towels or newspapers on the counter. This way, you work freely without getting cleaning products (or slime) on other surfaces.

Use paper towels and a butter knife to remove as much slime as possible. Use ice to freeze the remaining slime to scrape away more. Pretreat the spot with liquid detergent for at least 10 minutes, then soak the garment in hot water for about 30 minutes. Wash as usual and allow the article of clothing to air dry.

You’ll also need to know how to get dried slime out of clothes. Soak the stain in white distilled vinegar for 5 minutes, then rinse any slime particles with warm water while the vinegar is still wet. Wash as normal. For slime made with glue, acetone might work as a last resort. Try using acetone with cotton wool and gently dabbing the stain. Wash as normal.

How to Get Slime Out of Carpet

How to get slime out of carpet when it’s wet:

• Remove as much of the slime out of the carpet as you can.
• For embedded slime, use a spoon to gently scrape it away onto a paper towel.
• Mix 2/3 cup white vinegar with 1/3 water in a spray bottle.
• Spray the cleaner on the slime and let it soak in.
• Use a scrub brush to work the cleaner in to soften and break down the slime.
• Blot with a white cloth to remove excess liquid and repeat as needed.
• Use a wet/dry vac to vacuum up the rest.
• Use rubbing alcohol to remove color stains.
• Get rid of the vinegar smell by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and vacuuming when it’s dry.

How to get dried slime out of carpet:

• Begin by removing as much slime as you can by following the first step described above.
• Apply ice to the slime stain and let it sit for 10 minutes or until the slime is brittle.
• Once the slime is frozen, pick and gently scrape the slime out of the carpet.
• Use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the remaining slime debris.
• Use rubbing alcohol to remove any color stain from the carpet.

Now that you know how to get slime out of carpet, you have a jump start on how to remove slime from just about everything. From clothes to upholstery to hair, slime can end up anywhere, but thanks to The Maids®, you’ll be prepared.

How to Get Slime Out of a Couch

If you’re learning how to get slime out of a couch upholstered with microfiber material, you’ll want to grab some ice first. Freeze the slime with ice, then scrape away the excess. Test an out-of-the-way spot for color fastness with vinegar. If it’s safe to proceed, use vinegar and a clean, damp cloth to dab away the remaining slime stain. Here’s how to remove slime from most other upholstery.

Knowing how to get slime out of fabric upholstery starts by getting as much slime off the fabric as possible. Work the slime up and away (even pulling the fabric up) to avoid pushing it deeper into the woven threads. Sometimes it helps to pull the fabric tight to loosen the fibers while you work on the slime.

• Remove as much of the slime as possible, but don’t scrub.
• Mix 2/3 cup white vinegar with 1/3 water in a spray bottle.
• Spray the white vinegar formula liberally and let it soak in.
• Use a soft brush to gently work your cleaning solution into the fabric.
• To remove the vinegar odor, use plain water and a clean cloth and scrub the area.
• Lay a towel over the spot to help it dry faster.

Double-check the slime stain before it completely dries to be sure you removed it all. If not, grab your brush and finish the job because once the stain dries, it will be harder to remove. The same process for how to get slime out of a couch works well for most upholstery and other fabrics but always spot test an inconspicuous area first.

How to Clean Slime Off Walls

While it is easy enough to scrape slime from a hard surface, the dye that gives slime its color may still leave a lasting impression. When you’re learning how to remove slime from walls, always clean the wall with minimal pressure to avoid removing the paint. Protect your floor with towels and wipe up any drips right away.

Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water and dab the paste directly onto the stain with your fingers and let it dry. Once the paste is dry, brush off with a paper towel. If the slime has already dried, mix a few drops of mild detergent and water in a bowl. Skim the suds off the surface onto a cloth and wash the slime off the wall.

If you need more cleaning power, use a natural all-purpose cleaner or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

• Wet a magic eraser and wring out the excess water.
• Gently rub the slime stain with a circular motion, switching to clean parts of the sponge as needed.
• Wipe the wall with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue. You’re done!

How to Get Slime Out of Hair

The easiest way to get slime out of hair is to shower and shampoo your hair, followed by conditioning. Use the hottest water you can stand to remove the oils and other residues. If you need more firepower, try a few drops of degreasing dish soap and white vinegar in the shower. Be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly and let it air dry. If these two tricks for getting slime out of hair don’t work, it’s time to head to the kitchen.

• Grab a jar of peanut butter and scoop up a handful.
• Massage the peanut butter into your hair from the roots to the tips and all over your skull.
• Let the peanut butter work its magic for about 10 minutes, then shower and wash your hair in hot water.

You may have to wash your hair twice, and you’ll definitely want to rinse thoroughly to remove all the oily residue.

Stains, especially from slime, are no joke. If the job is too tough, let The Maids work their magic. We offer special cleaning services just for this reason. No task is too big, and no cleaning job is too tough! Contact us with your messiest problems, and we’ll provide the cleanest solutions!