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Written by Grove Collaborative

How to clean black, pink, or purple slime from carpet & clothes.

Last Updated: December 29, 2021


Wondering how to clean slime out of the carpet or your favorite t-shirt? Here’s a step-by-step guide to tackling slime messes without stress or harsh chemicals.

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There is a lot to love about slime, especially for kids. It comes in bright colors, it’s fun to play with, and making it usually requires some exciting DIY experimentation.


Unfortunately, slime is also a soft, oozy liquid with the potential to create big messes. If you or your kids have ever found yourself staring at an ooey-gooey disaster and wondering how to clean slime out of the carpet or your favorite t-shirt, here’s a step-by-step guide to tackling slime messes without stress or harsh chemicals.

What you need to get slime out of carpet

The good news when it comes to getting sticky slime out of carpet is that most slime recipes include school glue, which is a washable ingredient.


If you get to the slime before it’s had a chance to dry, all you’ll need is some elbow grease and a few gentle cleaning supplies to get rid of the mess.


First, let’s talk about which cleaning tools you need.


Gather the following:


Shop for the slime-supplies you need from Grove

Does vinegar get slime out of carpet?


Distilled white vinegar is a great, natural cleaner for slime. You can simply pour some distilled white vinegar directly onto the stain or treat with a natural vinegar cleaning gel.


Once the slime spot is soaked with vinegar, follow these steps:


  1. Use the spoon or scraping tool to scrape slime from the carpet.
  2. Moisten any remaining slime with warm water, then continue scraping.
  3. Use a dry towel to soak up excess water and vinegar.
  4. Spray the spot with natural carpet cleaner and leave for 3–5 minutes.
  5. Mop up cleaner with a towel, and repeat as needed until stain is removed.

Does baking soda remove slime?


Baking soda is another natural slime remover, though you’ll want to be sure to spot test an inconspicuous area of the rug to make sure the ingredient doesn’t cause any discoloration.


To clean slime with baking soda:


  1. Sprinkle baking soda over the slime spot.
  2. Fill spray bottle with a 2:1 white vinegar and water solution, and spray stain.
  3. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Clean stain with a scrub brush or sponge.
  5. Wipe up remaining baking soda and slime particles with a paper towel.
  6. Dab warm water on the stain and allow it to dry.
  7. Vacuum the area.

Will dish soap get slime out of carpet?


Dish soap is also a powerful tool for removing pink or purple slime from the carpet.


To use the dish soap method:


  1. Mix 2 teaspoons of dish soap with 2 cups of warm water in spray bottle.
  2. Spray onto the stain and wait 3–5 minutes.
  3. Mop up moisture with dry cleaning towel or sponge.
  4. Spray the stain again, and repeat the process until it’s removed.
  5. Once the stain is gone, allow to air dry.

How do you clean slime out of clothes?

One minute, you and your child are having a fun science lesson with DIY slime. The next, you’re wondering how to get purple slime out of your favorite blouse. Luckily, most slime should wash out of clothing fairly easily.


To get slime out of clothes, try one of the following options:


  • Pre-treat the stain with a natural stain remover before washing according to manufacturer instructions.
  • Sprinkle baking soda on the slime, then spritz with distilled white vinegar. Wait 10 minutes before gently scrubbing with a dry cloth.
  • Squirt a small amount of dish soap onto slime and scrub in circular motions with a cleaning towel.

Shop for natural stain removers from Grove.

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How do you remove dried slime?

If you’re trying to remove dried slime from carpet or clothing, you need a secret weapon: ice.


Ice is easy to come by for most people, and it’s a powerful tool for loosening caked on slime so you can easily scrape it away.


Here’s what to do:


  • Apply ice cubes or an ice pack to the slime stain.
  • Let sit for 10–15 minutes, then remove ice.
  • Scrape hardened slime with a scraper or the flat side of a butter knife.

If you’re cleaning slime out of a carpet, vacuum the spot once all of the slime has been scraped away.


If you’re cleaning dried slime out of clothing, wash the shirt normally or try one of the stain removal methods above if any discoloration remains.

What should you do if your kid eats homemade slime?

Kids may get the urge to sample their slime, but that’s not a good idea, warns the Missouri Poison Center.


A number of common homemade slime recipes contain borax, a chemical that may not be harmful in small doses, but has the potential to be toxic in larger amounts. For this reason, ingesting slime or even eating other foods while playing with slime is not recommended.


“There is more risk of becoming ill when borax is encountered day after day, either by ingestion or getting in through damaged skin,” the Missouri Poison Center warns. “Symptoms of too much borax getting into the body are stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, rarely headache, lethargy, irritability, and restlessness.”


For safer slime play:


  • Use corn starch-based recipes, rather than recipes that include borax.
  • Only make slime with edible ingredients, like yogurt, for young kids.
  • Require adult supervision when playing with slime.
  • Contact your local poison control center if slime is ingested.

Slime also has the potential to get old, moldy, and germy, just like other toys. If you notice that slime is discolored, full of debris, or coming apart, it’s time to make a fresh batch.

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