How to Remove Slime from Your Clothing

Last Updated: October 5, 2022

Making slime is the latest crafting craze, with tons of videos online teaching kids and adults alike how to create goo that's colorful, sparkly, or even edible. It's all fun and games... until it gets on your clothes. Remove slime easily with vinegar or use laundry detergent for tougher stains.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Scrubbing with Vinegar

1
Pour a small amount of vinegar onto the slime stuck on your clothing. White distilled vinegar from the pantry will do the trick. Use enough to completely saturate the area.^{[1]
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- Do this in the sink to avoid making too much of a mess.
- The sooner you clean up the slime, the better. The more it dries and hardens, the tougher it is to remove.
- Substitute rubbing alcohol if you don't have vinegar.
Tip: An ice cube can help remove caked-on slime. Rub the ice over the area before using vinegar. It will freeze and harden the slime, making it easier to take off.
2
Scrub the vinegar into the slime with a scrub brush. Apply firm pressure while scrubbing so the bristles can penetrate the slime and break it up. The acidity of the vinegar will dissolve the slime.^{[2]
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- You may need to add more vinegar depending on the severity of the slime stain.
- For tougher stains, consider letting the vinegar soak for 3 to 5 minutes before you start scrubbing.
- If you don't have a scrub brush, use an old toothbrush or rag.
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3
Rinse the clothing with warm water. Once you’ve thoroughly removed the slime, rinse out the vinegar in the sink. Use your fingers to work out any slime remnants while you run water over the area.^{[3]
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- If you notice a spot you missed, repeat the vinegar scrubbing process and then rinse again.
- You don’t have to completely submerge the clothing. You can also use a squirt bottle filled with water or a damp sponge to clean the area.
4
Rub dish soap into the stain to remove any extra slime residue. If there’s still stickiness left from the slime, squeeze a couple of drops of dish soap on the spot. Rub the fabric together to work the dish soap into the stain.^{[4]
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- Any type or brand of liquid dish soap will work.
- This step will also help remove some of the vinegar odor.
- Rinse out the soap if you plan to wear the clothing without putting it in the washing machine.
5
Wash the clothing based on the care instructions on the label. If your clothing can be machine washed, toss it in the washer. If it needs to be dry cleaned, take it to the dry cleaners, and if it needs to be hand washed, do that now. Check the specific instructions on the tag inside the clothing first.
- If you only got a small area wet and want to wear your clothing immediately, use a clean towel to dab it dry.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Washing Slime off in the Laundry

1
Scrape off as much of the slime as possible. With your hands or tweezers, gently remove all of the slime that you can. Be careful not to damage or tear the clothing.^{[5]
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- Use an ice cube to freeze caked-on slime, making it easier to peel off. You can also stick the clothing in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Never put clothing with slime on it directly into the washing machine. It can spread to other areas or clothing in the wash. In more drastic cases, it's usually a good idea to take the dirty pieces to a laundromat, to avoid contaminating your machine.
2
Massage liquid laundry detergent into the affected area. Pour a small amount of detergent onto the stain. Use your hands to rub the fabric together, working the liquid deep into the spot.
- You can use any kind of liquid detergent you prefer, whether it's one that's unscented or one with brighteners or bleach.
- If you have sensitive skin, wear rubber or plastic gloves so the detergent doesn't get on your hands or choose a gentler detergent.
3
Let the detergent sit for 10 minutes. This helps soften any remaining slime and lets the detergent really work on the stain. Use the kitchen timer or the clock app on your phone to keep track of the time.^{[6]
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- Don't leave the detergent on the clothes for much longer than 10 minutes. Detergent has acid and enzymes that remove stains but can damage clothing if left on for a long time.
4
Stir the clothing into a dishpan filled with hot water. The warmer the water, the more effective it will be at reacting with the soap and breaking up the slime. Swish the clothing around in the water gently to make sure it’s completely saturated.^{[7]
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- Fill the dishpan with enough water to cover the clothing.
- If you don’t have a dishpan, use a plastic bucket or similar large container.
- You can also soak your clothing in the washing machine. Fill the chamber about halfway with water and place your clothing inside.
5
Let the clothing soak in the water for 30 minutes. Make sure your clothing can withstand soaking first by checking the label. Feel free to occasionally swirl the clothing around in the water during the 30 minutes.^{[8]
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- Set a timer so you know when the half hour is up.
- Leaving it to soak for longer than 30 minutes won’t damage the clothing. A tougher stain might benefit from additional soaking time.
6
Remove the clothing from the water and machine wash it if possible. Follow the care instructions on the label of your clothing. If the clothing cannot be machine washed, wash it according to the directions.
- You can wash other clothes with the piece that had the slime on it as long as you’ve removed the bulk of the slime.
7
Dry the clothing according to the care instructions. Check the label or tag inside the clothing to find out the best way to dry it. Some pieces can be tumble dried while other more delicate clothing should be air dried. If you aren’t sure, air drying is your safest option.
- Clothing made of silk or wool or that has embellishments usually shouldn't be tumble dried.^{[9]
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Community Q&A

Question

I let the clothes soak in vinegar, but it didn't come out. Any other options?

Community Answer

Sprinkle citric acid to dissolve the slime, then wash normally.
Question

What if I don’t have that kind of vinegar?

Community Answer

You can try sprinkling citric acid on the slime to dissolve it, then wash the clothes like normal. You can also try the other method, with the detergent and the washing machine.
Question

What if you already put it in the washing machine, but peeled off all of the slime you could?

TheArtOfSarcasm

Community Answer

It depends on what stage you put the slime into the wash. If it was put into the washing machine almost right afterward, then it may spread to other areas. It is better recommended that you fill the tank halfway with water to allow it to soak than to run it at that point in the process. This way the slime that wasn't removed can come off for the most part or altogether.