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

Lowly slime might be your child’s favorite thing to play with because of its sticky and gooey nature. But for such a simple formula, cleaning up slime can be tricky. FYI: If you buy slime at the store, the ingredients likely include boron, which can be unsafe. It’s a simple product, and you can make it at home out of borax, school glue, and water.

Even though homemade slime is usually safer than a commercial product, the ingredients often include school glue and food coloring. Do-it-yourself slime can still leave a gooey mess on clothes, walls, and furniture. No matter what it’s made of, 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! Set up a cleaning station near your kitchen sink. Lay old towels or newspapers on the counter to protect it from cleaning products and slime.

• Use a butter knife to remove as much slime as possible.
• Freeze the remaining slime with ice and scrape again.
• Pretreat the spot with liquid detergent for 10 minutes.
• Soak the garment for 30 minutes in hot water.
• Wash the clothing following the care label and let the clothes air dry.

You’ll also need to know how to remove slime from clothing after it’s dried. Soak the stain in white distilled vinegar for five minutes, then rinse any slime particles with warm water while the vinegar is still wet. Wash as normal.

How to Get Slime Out of Hair

Wet or dry, slime stuck in a child’s hair can be tricky to remove, but learning how to get slime out of hair is straightforward. The best solution may be simply washing the hair in warm water, using conditioner, and then shampoo.

• Soak the hair with warm water and let your child shake out the excess.
• Work the conditioner into the hair and let it sit for three minutes.
• Use a comb to slowly remove the clumps of slime, then rinse.
• If the slime comes out, shampoo the hair twice, rinse, and check your handy work.

If you still see slime, it’s time to get oily. It may seem like you’re adding to the mayhem, but oily products like coconut oil and peanut butter are ideal for cleaning sticky messes from hair. The oil in these and similar products helps release the slime from the hair, making it easier to remove.

• Massage generous amounts of the oily product into the hair.
• Use a comb for gentle detangling and remove the clumps of slime.
• Afterward, shampoo and rinse twice, and skip the conditioner—that’s enough oil for one day!

These techniques should work for wet or dry slime in hair. Take your time when you’re running the comb through your child’s hair to prevent tangles and any ouchies! While this is an effective and safe way to get rid of slime, the job requires a bit of patience.

How to Get Slime Out of Carpet

Cleaning carpets effectively means knowing the type of fibers and following the manufacturer’s instructions. Lighter-colored carpets pose unique challenges when removing slime or other colorful stains. After you mix up your stain remover, test it on an out-of-the-way spot to make sure it won’t damage or discolor the carpet.

How To Get Wet Slime Out Of Carpet

• Remove as much of the slime as you can using a spoon to gently scrape it 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 into the fibers.
• Use a scrub brush to soften and break down the slime.
• Blot the stain 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.
• Minimize the vinegar smell by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and vacuuming when dry.

How To Get Dried Slime Out Of Carpet

• Begin by removing as much slime as possible 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 remove slime from the carpet, you have a jump start on how to remove slime from nearly 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 cleaning slime from 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 upholstered furniture. 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 to scrape slime from a hard surface, the dye that’s used for the color of the slime 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 few drops of mild detergent and water in a bowl for dried slime.
• Use a cloth and wash the slime off the wall, then wipe off the residue.
• Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water for wet slime.
• Dab the paste onto the stain and let it dry.
• Brush off excess paste with a paper towel when it’s dry.

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,
• Switch to clean parts of the sponge as needed.
• Wipe the wall with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue.

Cleaning isn’t exactly rocket science, but if you have kids, sometimes it feels like keeping your house clean is harder to do. Cleaning your house should really fall into two categories: before kids and after kids. While tackling slime in the house is manageable, removing it from items like car seats can be tricky.

How to Get Slime Out of a Car Seat

Kids in car seats can create all kinds of messes, so most parents limit the amount of snacks, drinks, and, hopefully, slime. But on long trips, sometimes we do what we must to keep the peace with distractions like slime and other less-than-ideal toys! Here’s how to get slime out of a car seat after your little one makes a mess.

• Scrape off excess slime with a spoon or other tool.
• Use a napkin or bib to catch the slime when you’re scraping.
• Freeze the slime with ice and scrape again.
• Blot stains using cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol.
• Vacuum the car seat once it dries, and use the crevice tool to remove dried slime from nooks and crannies.

If you find the slime after it’s dried, you might need a stronger stain remover. Dampen a cloth with hydrogen peroxide and soak up the stain until it disappears. Then, use a damp microfiber cloth to get out any excess hydrogen peroxide to prevent discoloration. For collateral damage, check out these pro car cleaning tips.

Making Housekeeping More Manageable With The Maids

Count on The Maids to help you enjoy a clean and healthier home with less work. Whether you invest in cleaning services or follow our helpful housekeeping blog, we want to make keeping your home clean simple. Learn about healthy cleaning and affordable maid services when you get your free personalized quote.