Of all the parenting debates out there, perhaps there is none greater than whether or not you’re team slime. This gooey, sticky, questionable substance—while undeniably messy—also has its benefits, namely as a sensory item that occupies toddlers and kids for more than just a few minutes. Plus, there’s no activity quite as exciting to little ones as making homemade slime. In fact, a recent Google trend report noted summer 2026 as “the return of slime,” based on expanded search interest in the sticky substance. So I know I’m not the only parent coming back to slime again and again even after swearing it off in our home.
But if the sight of slime makes you feel anxious about the inevitable mess, you’re certainly not alone—and with good reason: there’s nothing that sticks to clothes quite like good old slime. Not to mention, the thought of attempting to get slime out of a carpet or white t-shirt is enough to keep us up at night. The fact is, even the most meticulous of kids are bound to get some of it stuck in their shirtsleeves. Or, in my preschooler’s case, all over the front of his shirt, sleeves, and pants.
If there’s one thing we can all benefit from, it’s life hacks that make our day-to-day tasks easier. Over the years, other parents have learned tried-and-true ways of doing things like how to get urine stains out of a mattress after nighttime accidents, effective stain-removing tactics for toddler clothes, and the plethora of helpful hydrogen peroxide cleaning hacks (IYKYK). After slime was introduced into the kid-favorite activity scene, it was only a matter of time before we needed a hack to remove slime from clothes, too.
Good news: it’s actually really easy to get slime out of clothes with materials you likely already have around your house. When the inevitable happens, here’s what to do:
Supplies Needed for Slime Removal
Getting slime out of clothes only requires some basic supplies. You’ll want to grab:
- Butter knife/spoon: or other item to scrape off the excess chunks of slime.
- White vinegar: a jug works best since you’ll need to soak the item.
- Bowl/tub: to soak the clothes item.
- Scrub brush/toothbrush: to scrub the stain after soaking.
- Warm water: to rinse under the faucet after scrubbing
How to Get Slime Out of Clothes: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Pull as much of the excess slime off of the clothes as possible (1-5 minutes)
To start, we’re going to want to make sure the big clumps of slime are removed. That way, we’re working only with the stain and smaller pieces. Use a spoon or butter knife to peel away as much of the slime as possible.
2. Pour vinegar over the slime stains and let it sit (5-15 minutes)
White vinegar is going to be the main player in removing the slime stain from clothing. Give it a chance to sit and work its magic—it may need more than 10 minutes to really see the stain fade, so check on it. Honestly, I thought one light purple shirt was a goner after my daughter got a dark slime stain on the front, but after a 15 minute vinegar soak, the stain disolved almostly completely.
Optional: if the slime has set for a while or the stain seems particularly troublesome, mix the vinegar with a little bit of hot water and baking soda before pouring it on the clothing item.
3. Use a scrub brush (an old toothbrush works too) to scrape the slime off and watch as it magically comes free (1-2 minutes)
Once the vinegar has set, we’ll be able to take the brush and gently scrub off the remaining particles of slime. Then pat the area with a dry paper towel.
4. Rinse the item of clothing with warm water (1 minute)
Thoroughly rinse the piece of clothing with warm water (not hot; heat can set the stain) to get off any remaining slime residue. This step is important before throwing the clothing item in the washing machine for an additional rinse.
5. Wash the item of clothing like normal (typical wash/dry cycle time)
Throw the item through a regular cycle in the washing machine with your laundry detergent of choice. If you can’t tell whether the stain came out after washing, let the item air dry and check before throwing it in the dryer because heat can set in a stain.
How to Remove Dried Slime From Clothing
So what happens if you notice an old slime stain later—like on a shirt at the bottom of the laundry hamper or after a pair of pants have already gone through the dryer? You can put an ice cube on hardened slime until you’re able to crack off the excess. Then follow the steps above for stain removal.
For a stain that’s been through the dryer—or a stain that has an oil/greasy stain after the color is gone—try rubbing a few drops of dish soap directly on the spot as a pre-treatment and laundering in cold water. Let the garment air dry and check that the stain is fully gone before putting the clothing back in the dryer.
How to Remove Slime From Clothing Without Vinegar
For one reason or another, using vinegar may not be everyone’s first choice as a stain remover. We get it—it can be difficult to handle the smell in the moment, and we’re often left with a lingering scent long after use. While vinegar is known for its effective cleaning capabilities (and may be the simplest way of removing slime from clothing), there are other ways to accomplish the same goal. Here are other effective options for getting slime out of clothes:
Dish Soap
Squirt a generous amount of dish soap onto the slime before rubbing the cloth together under running water. Keep doing this until the slime is gone and then wash as usual.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can be an effective substitute for vinegar. It’s best to be used only on white clothing, as it has the potential to fade coloring. Going this route, begin by scraping off the excess slime. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the slime-stained area. Let the alcohol sit for a few minutes before scrubbing the area with a small brush. Rinse the item with warm water before running it through the washing machine as normal.
What About Getting Slime Out of Hair, Fabric, or Carpet?
Again, white vinegar is going to be your best asset in slime removal around the house—or on your kid. Here are a few hacks to get slime out of hair, furniture, rugs, or carpet.
To get slime out of hair
- Use white vinegar* to soak the hair for a few minutes so it dissolves the glue.
- Comb through to get out the remaining slime.
- Shampoo and condition like normal.
*If your child has an aversion to the strong smell of vinegar, you can soak hair in conditioner, coconut oil, baby oil, or vegetable oil for 5-10 minutes and then comb the slime out, but you will likely need an extra shampoo to get the oil out (pro tip: washing hair in dish soap can remove the excess oil.)
To get slime out of furniture fabric or carpet
Before using any method of removal on furniture, carpet, or fabric, color-test in an inconspicious area. And ideally, you want to get to the stain as quickly as possible—although a quick TikTok search will show plenty of fellow parents successfully remove old slime stains from couches and carpet. Here’s how to remove slime from furniture, rugs, or carpet:
- If slime is wet or sticky, use an ice cube to harden it.
- Gently scrape off any excess slime.
- Spray or apply a 2:1 white vingar and hot water mix to dissolve the slime.
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Gently brush or blot—scrubbing will drive the stain deeper into the fabric or carpet.
FAQs For Getting Slime Out of Clothes
Can you put slime-covered clothes in the dryer?
Heat can set in a stain, so it’s best to treat a slime stain before throwing clothing in the washer and let the garment air dry to make sure the stain is truly gone.
How do you get slime out of clothes without vinegar?
Dish soap or rubbing alcohol can also help break down slime stains. But rubbing alcohol is best used only on white clothing, as it has the potential to fade coloring.
Does slime permanently stain clothes?
Slime usually does not permanently stain clothes, but slime stain treatment is key. Avoid rinsing a stain with hot water or putting a stained garment in the dryer, as heat can set the stain.
Slime Alternatives for Kids
If after reading this article—or experiencing a stubborn slime stain—you’ve sworn off slime in your household, there are plenty of similar sensory toys for kids. Here are some kid-approved slime alternatives:
Kinetic Sand is made from natural sand, never dries out, sand sticks together for easy cleanup.
The original sensory toy, Play-Doh sets keep getting more creative—they even have adult versions now!
Kids can mold air clay into their own creations and let them dry overnight to harden—or store to use again.
A favorite fidget for kids, silicone-based Thinking Putty won’t dry out like slime or Play-Doh. Note: it still has stain potential, but the company provides a how-to for removal if needed.
For portable play, a cute dough kit can have the sensory fun of slime without the mess.
Jaclyn Voran, Contributing Writer
Jaclyn joined The Everymom team as a Contributing Writer in 2020. She brings a strong editorial background as a freelance writer, including being published in The Atlantic. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Kansas.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for nearly a decade, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
