Here’s our favorite way to get slime out of clothes:
- 1. Scrape off any excess slime
- 2. Soak the stain in white vinegar for 5-10 minutes
- 3. Gently scrub if needed.
- 4. Machine wash with cool water and a laundry pod
- 5. Hang to air dry and check your work
Slime is fun for exactly one group of people, and it’s not the one doing laundry.
Kids love the stuff. It’s squishy, stretchy, and sometimes glittery. But for anyone tasked with keeping the family’s clothes stain-free, slime is the enemy. It’s basically glue in disguise—except this glue is neon pink and somehow ends up on every sleeve, pant leg, and pillowcase in a five-mile radius.
If you’ve ever wondered why slime seems to bond with fabric like it’s trying to merge into one being, it’s because of what it’s made of. Most store-bought and DIY slimes contain glue, water, and some kind of activator like borax or saline solution. That combo gives slime its signature bounce, stretch, and unfortunately, its talent for becoming one with your child’s clothes.
But don’t panic. Slime stains aren’t forever. We’ve got three solid methods that’ll help you get slime out of clothes without losing your mind.
Distilled White Vinegar
Here’s our favorite way to get slime stains out of clothes:
1. Scrape off the slime: Use something smooth (like the back of a spoon or a butter knife) and gently lift off as much slime as you can. This is not the time to get aggressive. Scrubbing now just makes things worse.
2. Soak the stain in white vinegar: Pour white vinegar into a small bowl and dip the stained fabric in. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes. Vinegar breaks down the slime without wrecking the fabric. Still slimy? Let it soak another 10 minutes. You’re not in a rush.
3. Gently scrub if needed: If the slime starts loosening, you can gently massage the stain or use a soft toothbrush. Don’t overdo it. You're not trying to exfoliate your laundry.
4. Machine wash with a Laundry Sauce pod: Toss it in the washer on cool and add Laundry Sauce. Our laundry pods are ultra-concentrated with a bio-enzyme blend that breaks down gunk like this. Skip the hot water—heat can set the stain permanently.
5. Air dry and check your work: If there’s still some slime clinging on, go back to step one. Do not put it in the dryer unless you’re absolutely sure the stain is gone. Heat is basically like signing a peace treaty between the slime and your fabric.
Baking Soda
Here’s how to remove slime stains with baking soda:
1. Scrape off what you can: Again, the goal is to remove the bulk without pushing it deeper into the weave of the fabric. Pretend you’re peeling gum off a shoe: time consuming and gross, but necessary.
2. Create a baking soda bath: Fill your sink or a large bowl with warm water. Add a hefty scoop of baking soda and stir it around.
3. Soak for 30 minutes: Fully submerge the slime-stained clothes and let them sit. Baking soda helps lift the gunk and neutralize any weird smells while it's at it.
4. Rinse and wash with a pod: After soaking, rinse out the slime and baking soda, then wash with cool water and a Laundry Sauce pod.
5. Let it air dry: Check for any leftover slime before moving to the dryer. If there’s still a stain, repeat the soak or switch to another method.
Liquid Dish Soap
Dish detergent is another great hack to remove tough stains like slime:
1. Scrape off the slime: We really can’t stress this enough. Scraping is the first step, no matter what method you use.
2. Add dish soap: Apply a few drops of liquid dish soap directly onto the stain. Any grease-cutting soap will do the trick.
3. Work it in gently: Use a soft-bristled brush or your fingers to gently scrub in circles. Dish soap breaks down oily residues, which is great if your slime has any weird glitter.
4. Rinse and toss it in the washer: Wash on cool with a Laundry Sauce pod. Let the enzymes handle the rest.
5. Skip the dryer for now: Repeat the process if needed, but don’t let heat lock the stain in forever.
Common Questions About Getting Slime Out of Clothes
Let’s cover some common slime-laundry questions, because you’re definitely not alone.
How Do You Get Dried Slime Out of Clothes?
Dried slime is extra annoying, but not impossible. Press ice cubes onto the dried slime to make it brittle and easier to scrape off. You can also place it in the freezer. Once you’ve removed as much as possible, pre-treat the stain and machine wash.
Will Slime Come Out In the Washing Machine?
Not by magic alone. You’ve got to pre-treat with one of the methods above first. Otherwise, you’re just washing your clothes with slime.
How to Prevent Slime Stains
You can’t fully eliminate the risk unless you ban slime from your house entirely (tempting), but here are some helpful tips:
- Opt for less gluey slimes or make your own with gentler ingredients
- Put kids in play clothes that you wouldn’t miss if they got sent to the stain graveyard
- Lay down an old sheet or towel and enforce a strict “slime zone.” You’re not overreacting, you’re planning ahead.
Your Detergent Shouldn’t Look Like the Slime Your Kid Made
At Laundry Sauce, we leave the slime look to the kids. Our pods don’t use dyes, just high-performance bio-enzymes that break down tough stuff like slime, chocolate milk, and mystery playground goo. And while your child may not appreciate the difference, your nose definitely will. Our signature scents leave their clothes smelling ridiculously good.
Because if you’re going to be the one handling laundry disasters, you at least deserve the best-smelling kid on the block.
