Silly Putty can be so much fun to play with… that is until it gets stuck to your clothes, furniture, or carpet. Due to its stickiness and gum-like texture, it can be hard to remove just by trying to pull it off. But not to worry, because I’m here to tell you how to get Silly Putty out of clothes, as well as fabrics and carpets, easily and effectively.
Silly Putty can usually be removed as long as it doesn’t dry up. First, you’ll want to scrape as much of the putty off as possible, then use ice, rubbing alcohol, or a cleaning agent designed to remove sticky substances. Finally, use dish soap to treat the stain.
The key to removing Silly Putty is working as quickly as possible before it has time to stick to the clothing and carpet fibers good. In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly what to use to get rid of Silly Putty so that you aren’t left with an unsightly stain on your clothing, carpet, or upholstery.
Does Silly Putty Stick to Clothes?
Silly Putty will stick to soft surfaces, including fabrics, clothing, and carpets. This is due to the adhesives and bonding agents used to keep Silly Putty flexible and put together.
Silly Putty doesn’t stick to hard surfaces such as glass, tile, and even wood because they have an even and uniform texture. However, soft surfaces such as fabrics often don’t have a uniform texture, even though they may look on the surface.
Silly Putty will stick to your clothing, but it will be easier to remove from clothes that have a uniform texture. Clothing made from fleece, for example, will be harder to remove Silly Putty from because of the unique texture. This is the same reason why Silly Putty is so hard to get out of carpet as well.
Will Sticky Putty Come Out of Clothes After Washing?
If you wash clothes that have Silly Putty on them, you may be able to get the Silly Putty out after washing them. However, if you put the clothing in the dryer, it will be a lot harder to remove. This is because if Silly Putty gets dry, it will bond to the individual clothing fibers more, and trying to remove it at that point can damage the fabric.
As long as you try to remove the Silly Putty after washing but before drying (while it is still wet), you may be able to remove it. However, don’t expect Silly Putty to come out of clothes just by washing them repeatedly. You will need to treat the stain to even have a chance of removing it.
How to Get Silly Putty Out of Clothes and Fabric
You can usually get Silly Putty out of clothes and fabric if you try to do it before the putty dries up. In other words, don’t wait several days before you try to remove it. Once the Silly Putty dries into the fibers, it will be very hard to remove.
With that being said, there are several things that you likely have around the house that can be used to remove Silly Putty. Depending on the type of fabric and how well the Silly Putty is stuck to it, some of these methods may be more effective than others. But, I’ll explain how to use each one in more detail.
1. Scrape It Off
The first thing that you’ll want to do is scrape off as much of the Silly Putty as possible. That way, whichever cleaning agent you use can remove the rest of the putty from the fibers instead of on the surface.
When scraping off Silly Putty, use a knife with a blunt edge (such as a butter knife) or a putty knife. If you use a knife with a sharp edge, you could accidentally cut the fabric. Gently scrape the putty with the knife until you’ve removed as much as you can from the clothing or fabric.
2. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is a very effective product that you can use to remove Silly Putty. This is because it contains a large percentage of alcohol, which can help break down the putty and then evaporate without leaving a stain behind itself.
However, if you use a hand sanitizer that contains fragrances or dyes, it could leave behind a stain. You may want to test it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure, or else you’ll be dealing with two stains to remove.
To use hand sanitizer to remove Silly Putty from clothing or fabric, all you have to do is pour a little onto the Silly Putty stain (enough to cover it), then use your finger or a cloth to gently rub it into the stain.
The alcohol in the hand sanitizer will begin breaking down the stain almost immediately, so be prepared to start scraping away more of the Silly Putty with your fingers the knife you used earlier. If you still can’t remove all the Silly Putty, try one of the below methods.
2. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is the most effective product to remove Silly Putty because it can be made of 70% or 99% alcohol, depending on which kind you buy. Unlike hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol doesn’t contain fragrances and dyes, so it is less likely to stain most fabrics.
However, rubbing alcohol can be too strong to use on delicate fabrics (especially the 99% concentration). You’ll still want to test the alcohol first in an inconspicuous area to make sure that it doesn’t damage the fabric.
To use it, soak a few cotton balls in the alcohol and use them to blot the stain. Again, the alcohol will work quickly, so use your fingers or a knife to scrape away more of the stain. You can also use a scrub brush to scrub away the stain, which is very effective for larger Silly Putty stains or stains that have penetrated deeper into the fabric.
3. Ice
Another simple product you can use to remove it is ice. Ice works great for delicate fabrics that can’t be exposed to harsher chemicals. But, you can use it on all fabrics either by itself or before or after rubbing alcohol to make the stain easier to scrape away.
Ice works by chilling the stain, which hardens it without drying it. If the stain is harder, it will be easier to scrape away. Just take an ice cube and rub it all over the stain, then use a knife to scrape the Silly Putty away.
4. WD-40
WD-40 should not be used on delicate fabrics, but it should be safe to use on other fabrics, especially synthetic ones like polyester. You’ll want to use it outdoors because of the odor it produces. To use it, just spray a little bit on the stained area on both sides of the fabric.
The WD-40 will need to sit on the stain for a few minutes to give it time to break down the stain. After about five minutes, you can begin scraping Silly Putty away. Then, you will want to remove the putty and WD-40 stain with dish soap and water, which I’ll cover later.
5. White Vinegar
White vinegar is an effective stain remover for most stains, and it can be used on Silly Putty as well. It is highly acidic, which makes it so effective at breaking down stains. However, you will want to dilute with water first since it is acidic. That way, it doesn’t cause any damage to your clothes.
First, you’ll want to mix one part vinegar and two parts water in a container. Then, dip a cloth in the solution and rub it on the Silly Putty stain. As the vinegar starts to break down the Silly Putty, scrape the putty out of the fabric, then toss them in the washing machine with ½ cup of vinegar and some detergent, and wash the clothing as you normally would.
6. Goo Gone
Goo Gone is a cleaning product specially designed for removing sticky substances from surfaces, and it usually doesn’t leave a stain behind on clothing as long as you wash them after using it.
After initially scraping away the Silly Putty, pour some Goo Gone onto a cotton ball or rag.
Dab the clothing with Goo Gone, then use a scrub brush to scrub away the Silly Putty.
Treat the stain with dish soap, then wash the clothing with ½ cup of vinegar added to the wash to remove the stain and the odor left behind by the Goo Gone.
7. Iron
You can also use an iron to remove Silly Putty because it can melt the putty and pull it out of the fabric. However, you’ll want to place a cloth over the stain while ironing to give the putty something to stick to. It’s best to use an old cloth or article of clothing that you don’t mind throwing away afterward unless you want to try to remove the putty from it too.
Start by laying the clothing on an ironing board or towel and heat the iron up. Then, place the old cloth on top of the Silly Putty stain. Then, iron over the stain for a few seconds and pull up the cloth to see if any putty is stuck.
Place a clean section of the cloth on top of the stain and iron over it for a few seconds as well. If you don’t rotate the cloth, it won’t be effective because the putty could restick to the original stained clothing as you iron over it again.
Repeat this process until most or all of the stain has been removed. But, you’ll likely still see residue there, so you may need to scrub the clothing with vinegar or rubbing alcohol again to remove the residue.
8. Liquid Dish Soap
After removing the Silly Putty itself, you’ll likely be left with a grease stain from where the putty was or a stain left behind by one of the cleaning products you used. You will want to remove this stain before washing or else the grease stain could set, especially if you put the clothing in the dryer.
One of the most effective products to remove grease stains is liquid dish soap. Dish soap is designed to break down oils and grease left behind on dishes, and it works the same way on clothing.
All you need to do is squeeze a few drops of liquid dish soap onto the stain, then use a small scrub brush, old toothbrush, or a cloth to scrub the dish soap into the stain. The soap will break down the greasy stain.
After using the dish soap to remove the grease soap, you’re finally ready to wash the clothing if you’re sure that all of the Silly Putty has been removed. If it hasn’t been, you may need to repeat one or more of the above methods.
9. Washing the Clothing
When washing the clothing, use your regular detergent. But, you can add ½ cup of vinegar to the wash to help further clean the stain or remove any odors left behind by the cleaning products.
After washing, check the clothing to see if the grease stain has been removed before putting it into the dryer. If the clothing is put into the dryer with the grease stain still on it, the stain could set and be almost impossible to remove.
If a greasy stain remains, treat the stain again with dish soap and wash the clothing again. Once the Silly Putty and grease stain have been removed completely, you can dry the clothing in the dryer.
How to Get Putty Out of Carpet
Silly Putty can be removed from your carpet. But, it may be harder to remove from the carpet due to the uneven texture of the fibers. You will want to use a cleaning product that won’t leave behind a stain itself since the carpet can’t be washed in the washing machine.
You don’t want to use a greasy cleaning product (such as WD-40) because it can leave a stain that is hard to remove even if you do get the Silly Putty out. Instead, use a combination of ice and rubbing alcohol or Goo Gone and rubbing alcohol as the most effective method for removing Silly Putty from the carpet.
If the Silly Putty stain is fresh, you’ll still want to scrape as much of the putty off as possible using a blunt-edged knife. If the putty has been there for a few days, you may not be able to scrape it off without using some of the cleaning products to loosen it first.
Then decide if you want to use ice and rubbing alcohol or Goo Gone and rubbing alcohol. They both work pretty much the same way, by loosening up the putty to make it easier to remove. The only difference is that Goo Gone is designed to remove sticky substances, but it may cause some damage to your carpet if you use too much.
If you’re using ice, begin by rubbing it on the surface of the stain. Then, try to scrape off some of the putty if you can. If you’re using Goo Gone, pour or spray some of it onto a cloth first, then rub it on the stain to loosen it and.
Then, pour some rubbing alcohol onto a cloth (not directly onto the stain). Rub the Silly Putty with the alcohol, then try to scrape some of it away from the carpet. You may notice some of the Silly Putty color on the towel, which means it is working.
Repeat the process by alternating rubbing alcohol and scraping until the putty has been removed. Then, use dish soap and water to spot clean the area and remove the alcohol and/or Goo Gone from the carpet. Rinse the area using water only by pouring a small amount of water over the area or wetting a cloth with just water and rinsing it.
How to Remove Silly Putty From Fabric Couch
The process for removing silly putty from a fabric couch is pretty much the same as removing it from clothing and carpets. But unlike with clothing, you can’t wash the couch afterward.
Again, if the Silly Putty is fresh, scrape as much of it off as possible first. If it is a few days old, you will likely have to loosen the putty first. The best method to use on the couch is a combination of ice and rubbing alcohol. That way, you’ll be left with no stain at all from the cleaning products and it will be easier to clean up afterward. However, test the alcohol on a hidden area of the couch first to ensure that it doesn’t cause any discoloration.
Start by rubbing the ice all over the stain. As the ice works to freeze and loosen the stain, try to scrape away some of the Silly Putty using a blunt-edged knife. If the ice works on its own, continue using it until you’ve removed as much putty as possible.
If the ice isn’t working on its own, then dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol. Rub it on the stain, then use the knife to scrape the putty up. Alternate using the alcohol and the knife to break down and remove the Silly Putty until it has been removed.
Once the thinking putty has been removed, you’ll want to clean alcohol off the couch and remove any grease stains that may have been left behind by the putty. To do this, just add a few drops of dish soap to some water and use it to spot clean the couch.
Dip a cloth in the dish soap and water solution and use it to scrub the area where the Silly Putty. After thoroughly cleaning the area, rinse the soap out by wetting a cloth with just water and scrubbing it to remove as much of the soap as possible.
Conclusion
Silly Putty can be a stubborn stain to remove from your clothing and carpets if you don’t know what you’re doing. But by using products that break down and loosen the thinking putty first, it will make it easier to scrape away and you can remove it effectively. If you know someone that needs to remove Silly Putty, share this article and leave a comment with what worked for you. Thanks for reading!