How to Get Silly Putty out of Carpet & Clothes in 5 Effective Methods

Best Ways to Get Rid of Silly Putty From the Carpet

Considering how much children enjoy playing with silly putty, they are bound to make a mess with it. Although easy to play with, the stretchy and impressionable texture of the material makes it difficult to remove from certain surfaces.

Hardened silly putty stuck your carpets or favorite rugs can be frustrating. However, there are many quick and easy methods you can use to remove the stubborn material from your carpets. Also, scroll down further if you are looking to get silly putty out of your kid’s clothes.

Given below is a list of ways in which you can remove silly putty from your carpet.

Method 1: Using Ice to Freeze the Silly Putty

The coldness of the ice will cause the silly putty to solidify. This makes it easier to scrape off the carpet. This method is considered 95% to 100% effective. The amount of ice used should be proportionate to the size of the stain left by silly putty.

Let’s take a look at the steps that need to be followed for this method.

Step 1

Put three or four ice cubes (for a minor stain) into a plastic bag and place it on the stained areas of your carpet.

Step 2

Leave the bag of ice on the carpet for about three hours, which is enough to solidify the silly putty. The ice cubes in the bag will start melting after a while, so make sure to replace them with more cubes.

Step 3

After the three hours have elapsed, the silly putty would have solidified. Use a knife to scrape the affected area of your carpet and break it down. Once this process is completed, you can pull the chunks of debris off the surface.

Method 2: Using Nail Polish Remover

Nail polish remover is an excellent tool to have in the house as it effectively removes many stains. It can also be used to remove silly putty from your carpet, and it is more time-effective than the ice method.

This method is more spot-oriented and therefore works better on small stains on your carpet. However, the process of application has to be repeated a couple of times before reaching the desired result.

Let’s take a look at the steps that you need to follow for this method.

Step 1

Grab your acetone nail polish remover and dip a cotton ball into a generous amount of it. Squeeze the cotton ball lightly during this process.

Step 2

Dab the stained area of your carpet gently with the soaked cotton ball. Ensure that the entire surface affected by the silly putty is covered with the acetone nail polish remover.

Step 3

Using a knife, cut the silly putty until it is in smaller pieces. After this, you can easily remove the silly putty from your carpet and discard it.

If there is some silly putty leftover on your carpet, repeat the given process until it is obliterated. However, if the stain persists, place some ice cubes on it and then dab over it with nail polish remover.

Method 3: Using Detergent

Detergent or shampoo can be an easy fix to the problem of silly putty stains. However, excessive and vigorous scrubbing of your carpet can make removing stains a more challenging process. Detergent can efficiently break down the silly putty particles and make it easier to clean.

The following steps should be followed when using detergent or shampoo to get silly putty out of your carpet.

Step 1

Take one cup of warm water and mix it with two tablespoons of detergent to make the primary ingredient required for this removal process.

Step 2

Take a cotton ball or cloth of your choice and dip it into the detergent mix.

Step 3

Dab on the stain caused by the silly putty with the cotton ball and make sure to cover the entire area affected with detergent.

Step 4

Wait for about 20 minutes to allow the detergent to soak into the stain.

Step 5

After 20 minutes have elapsed, place a cloth over the stained area, and press it down. This will allow the fabric to absorb the detergent mix.

Step 6

Using the same damp cloth, wipe the affected area after all the detergent has been absorbed. This will effectively break down the silly putty and allow you to remove it from your carpet.

If the silly putty stain is still evident, you need not worry. The detergent mix will gradually break down the stain, which makes it easier to remove. Blot a clean cloth over the stain gently and continuously, and it will get cleared up in no time!

Method 4: Using a Stain Remover

If you happen to have any brand of stain remover in your home, removing silly putty stains becomes extremely easy. If you are planning to invest in a stain remover, some brands make cleaners specifically for gooey substances.

Here is a step-wise guide to using stain removers to clean up the mess made by silly putty on your carpets.

Step 1

Pour some stain remover on a cloth and rub it on the stain gently. Make sure to cover the entire area affected by the silly putty.

Step 2

Allow the stain remover to stay on the carpet for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, mix some mild detergent with hot water.

Step 3

Dip a cloth into the detergent mix and scrub the stains on the carpet until they disappear. This is done after allowing the stain remover to set over the stains for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Rinse the cloth to get rid of the leftover silly putty and dip it in hot water without detergent. Dab the stained areas again with the cloth dipped in hot water until the debris is gone.

Using a stain remover along with detergent is a sure-fire way of removing any stains on carpets caused by silly putty. Make sure to use stain removers that are suitable for carpets. Some industrial removers can be harmful to your carpet fabric and ruin it further.

Method 5: Seek Professionals’ Help

While the given methods can be effective for small stains, if your child has managed to stain the entire carpet, you will require the help of professional cleaners. They are equipped with the right tools to leave your carpet spotless.

However, if you decide to take on the challenge yourself, here is a list of things you should keep in mind while dealing with large-scale stains.

1. Make sure to take immediate action to avoid significant damage to your carpet.
2. Use any kind of solvent such as carpet stain cleaner and spread it all over the affected areas.
3. Make a detergent mix, as stated earlier, and apply it after using the solvent.
4. Use a clean cloth to blot all over the carpet and remove the silly putty.
5. You will have to repeat this process a couple of times, depending on the diameter of the stain.

How to Get Putty and Playdough out of Clothes

Since your children love playing with the squishy and stretchy material of silly putty and play dough, they will inevitably get it all over their clothes. Fortunately, removing these from fabrics is easy and can be done quickly in just a few steps!

Step 1

Before applying any substances, scrape off the silly putty or play dough from the clothes. Do this until you have removed as much as possible and wipe it off on a paper towel and discard. Folding the fabric will make it easier to scrape the silly putty off as you can use your fingernails to remove the excess.

Step 2

Grab some isopropyl rubbing alcohol (99%) or alternatively, hydrogen peroxide depending on what is readily available for you. Pour it over the stain on the cloth until the area is saturated with rubbing alcohol. After a few seconds, the stain will disintegrate and become slimy again.

Step 3

Using a toothbrush, scrub brush, or clean cloth, gently scrub the surface of the fabric to remove the silly putty or play dough. Apply enough force to clean the fabric without tearing it. Scrubbing with a toothbrush is the most effective tool for this method as the bristles create enough friction to loosen the play dough or silly putty from the fibers of the cloth.

Step 4

Repeat the given steps until the slimy materials have been removed from the fabric. The application of rubbing alcohol is required a couple of times before the silly putty if fully removed. During the process, rinse your washcloth, scrub brush, or toothbrush to see if the silly putty is being rinsed out of the clothing.

Step 5

Once the silly putty or play dough has been removed completely, wash your clothes like you normally would. This removes the odor of rubbing alcohol and any leftovers of silly putty. Make sure to air dry the clothes after washing as a dryer can cause remaining stains on the cloth. Once it has dried, check the cloth to see if there is a stain left. If this is the case, repeat the process.

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