Your One-Stop Guide to Removing Slime From Your Kid's Clothes (2025)

Slime has become a hallmark of childhood. While it's fun for the kids and can make for a great sensory play experience, it can also ruin their clothing, making it a headache for parents everywhere. When slime gets stuck on clothing or other fabric surfaces, it can feel nearly impossible to remove. That's thanks to the main ingredient: glue.

If your child loves playing with slime, it's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens, and it ends up on their favorite shirt or dress. That's why we consulted a trusted cleaning expert to find out how to tackle the mess. Here's everything you need to know to get slime out of clothes.

How To Get Slime Out of Clothes By Slime Type

If you find yourself faced with a slime disaster, try to address it quickly. Determine whether the slime is wet or dry and what ingredients it's made of to choose the best cleaning method. Continue reading for the easiest ways to remove slime of all types from clothing based on the dryness and type of slime.

Wet slime

Natalie Barrett, a supervisor at Nifty Cleaning Services, says the best way to remove wet slime from clothing is to eliminate the excess slime before it dries out. "It's definitely easier to remove slime from clothing when it's wet," she says. Here's how:

1. Wipe off as much wet slime as you can using a dry cloth.
2. Dip a fresh cloth in distilled white vinegar and apply it to the area. Alternatively, you can also use a few drops of dish soap.
3. Let the fabric sit for 5-10 minutes.
4. Scrub the area gently with a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush will do) using circular motions.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. Wash in the washing machine on a cold water cycle and dry as you usually would.
   

Dried slime

Any parent who's tried to remove dried glue from any surface knows how difficult it can be. But don't lose hope. Barrett suggests this method for slime that has already dried on clothing:

1. Scrape any excess slime from the fabric you can using a butter knife or similar tool.
2. Press an ice cube onto the leftover, stuck-on slime. (You can use a heavy item like a book to keep the ice on the slime, or put the garment in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours.)
3. Once chilled, peel the hardened slime away from the garment using your fingers.
4. Add a few drops of dish soap or vinegar to the area and gently scrub it with your soft-bristled brush.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. Run through the washing machine on a cold cycle.
7. Put in the dryer only if the slime is completely gone and no residue remains. (Keep in mind that heat will cause any remaining slime to cling to the fabric fibers.)

Fluffy or glittery slime

"The only difference between normal slime and fluffy slime is the shaving cream in fluffy slime," says Barrett. Unfortunately, this added ingredient doesn't make the cleanup any easier. Likewise, glitter often ends up in the slime created for kids, adding another layer of challenge to the removal process. Here's how to get fluffy or glittery slime out of clothing:

1. Scrape off as much of the slime as you can using a butter knife or spoon.
2. Dab the stained area with vinegar or a few drops of dish soap until it is saturated.
3. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
4. Scrub any remaining slime from the garment with a soft-bristled brush.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. Launder as you usually would. Proceed to dry only if all the slime is gone. (Heat will set leftover slime into the garment, so be sure to remove every last bit before this step.)

You can remove any left-behind glitter by applying masking tape to the garment to gently lift the particles out. A sticky lint roller can also do the trick to remove any remaining sparkles.

More Ways To Get Slime Out of Clothes

If your slime stains are incredibly stubborn, here are a couple more methods to try.

Baking soda

Baking soda can be effective on severe stains, including slime. Try these steps:

1. Fill a sink or bathtub with lukewarm water.
2. Sprinkle in a generous amount of baking soda.
3. Submerge the clothing in the water.
4. Let it soak for 30 minutes while the baking soda lifts the slime from the fabric.
5. Rinse the clothing with fresh, cold water and check to make sure all the slime is gone.
6. Launder as you normally would.
   

Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol may also work well on slime, but only if the stain is on white clothing, as it may fade colored fabrics. Here's how to use it:

1. Scrape off any excess slime gently with a butter knife or spoon.
2. Pour a very small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the stained area.
3. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
4. Scrub the area gently with a soft-bristled brush.
5. Rinse the item with cold water.
6. Launder as usual if the fabric is completely free of the slime.
   

What Makes Slime So Messy?

Most slime recipes call for some type of glue, which is bad news when it gets stuck to any surface. What's more, slime often contains other hard-to-remove substances like clay, shaving cream, shampoo, glitter, and dye, which can stain clothing.

Some slime recipes call for other ingredients such as cornstarch, contact lens cleaner, and borax, all of which can create a messy situation, especially in the hands of little ones. No matter what formula your slime is made with, this sticky mixture can cling to fabric fibers and make cleanup tough.

Tips for Preventing Slime Stains

Of course, the best method for dealing with slime stains is prevention. Here are some tips for letting your kids enjoy slime relatively mess-free:

• Wear protective layers: Make sure your kids wear an apron or smock whenever they play with slime. You can also use an old, oversized t-shirt that you don't mind getting messy. Avoid long sleeves that may inadvertently make contact with the slime.
• Use a designated play area: Keep your children in a smaller area specifically dedicated for messy play, such as a craft corner or out on a deck or porch if it's nice outside. This will help contain the mess and reduce the chances of it spreading to their clothing and other fabrics in the house.
• Act quickly: Dried slime is much harder to remove than wet slime, so try to act as soon as possible once the slime makes contact with fabric.
• Cover your surface: Whether working on a tile floor or a craft table, cover your surface with a washable tablecloth, tarp, or old bedsheet. The less slime that gets on your furniture and household surfaces, the less likely it is to transfer to clothing.
• Avoid hot water: Always use cold water when cleaning slime; hot water can set it deeper into the fabric, making removal more challenging.
• Be gentle: When working on a slime stain, dab and blot the slime gently. Don't vigorously rub, as this may force it further into the fibers, causing the stain to spread.