Slime is tactile, interactive, and heaps of fun. The only downside? It tends to get everywhere, and when it does, it seriously sticks.
Sensory play is an important part of childhood development.
So it’s no surprise that slime and putty kits are super popular options for kids’ playtime at home.
Carpets fall prey to loads of stains, including sticky stuff like slime. Picture: Chris L Jones
We’ve popped together this practical step-by-step guide to help you get rid of slime stains and residue from just about everything it can get stuck on.
Plus, we’ve chatted to two cleaning experts to bring you the best tips and advice on how to remove slime.
Whether you’ve made slime or bought slime, once you’ve got it it’s hard to get rid of. Our practical step-by-step guide makes it easy to remove slime stains and residue from your home.
The best bit? You don’t need an arsenal of toxic chemicals to remove this sticky sensory play favourite. All you need is trusty old vinegar.
Step 1. Act quickly
Try to catch the stain as soon as possible.
Step 2. Remove excess slime
Use your hands to remove any excess slime.
Step 3. Apply vinegar
Saturate the affected area with vinegar.
Step 4. Leave to soak
Let the vinegar soak in if the slime is already hard.
Step 5. Rinse
Rinse the vinegar off with warm water.
Step 6. Repeat
Repeat the above steps if necessary to get rid of the slime.
These general steps are the basis of slime removal, so keep them on hand for any slimy situations you might face in future.
Once you’ve got slime in the home, it’s hard to get rid of it – literally. Picture: Getty
How to remove slime from carpet
Getting slime out of clothing is pretty simple. But removing slime from carpet requires a little more attention and care.
Carpet cleaning expert Summer Shadforth from Fantastic Cleaners shares her guide to removing slime from carpet (without damaging the carpet).
“One of the easiest and most toxin-free ways to remove slime from carpet is to use vinegar,” says Summer.
- You’ll need a spray bottle, a clean scrubbing brush, dishwashing liquid and a dry towel. Mix two parts of vinegar with one part lukewarm water in the spray bottle. Don’t spray the vinegar directly onto the stain, as this may damage the carpet.
- Prepare the stain by eliminating the excess slime.
- After that, use the solution that you prepared to spray the stain and let it sit for about five minutes – by that time you should see the slime dissolving.
- Use the scrubbing brush to gently scrub away the rest of the slime from the carpet.
- Blot with a towel to absorb the liquid. If needed, repeat the procedure until the stain disappears.
Slime sticks: Sensory play is important, but so is your couch! Picture: Getty
Pro tip: To get rid of the vinegar smell, wash the area with warm soapy water.
How to remove slime from clothing
According to cleaning expert Dean Mann from Simply Spotless, kids’ slime is easier to remove than it seems.
“The trick? Simple household vinegar. Simply saturate the slime with white vinegar and watch it disappear,” says Dean.
- Remove excess slime from clothing by hand
- Pour a small amount of white vinegar onto the affected area and leave it for a few minutes so it can soak in
- Rinse the vinegar and slime off with warm water and then wash as usual
Pro tip: Add vinegar and soak over a sink to avoid creating more mess at the scene of the slime.
To get rid of slime, all you need is trusty old vinegar. Picture: Bárbara Montavon/Unsplash
How to remove slime from electronics
According to Dean, when it comes to removing slime from electronics the process is similar. But you don’t want to ruin your electronics by dousing them in vinegar so you’ll need to be careful.
Dean says: “Rather than pouring the vinegar onto the appliance, pour a little onto a tea towel or cloth and gently rub the affected area until it is clean. Remove any excess vinegar with a slightly damp cloth then dry with another towel.”
The mighty tea towel comes in so handy for so many purposes. Picture: Pottery Barn
Originally published as How to remove slime from your carpet at home by Erina Morris.
