how to get slime out of carpet

How to Get Slime Out of a Carpet: Tips for Every Parent

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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You're busy preparing snacks for the kids, and they decide to give you a little space, only for you to go back and find slime all over the carpet! Now you want to scream your heart out because what sort of a nightmare is that? The worst part is that you don't even know how to get slime out of a carpet. You sure weren't ready for that, but what choice do you have anyway?

There are hundreds of slime recipes available online, each with its features and textures. However, they may not tell you that removing it is a bloodbath. Slime clings to clothes, carpets, and furniture, leaving a slimy mess.

However, if the slime time led to a mess and now you got to clean, don't worry, we got your back. We are glad to help with our step-by-step guide on how to get slime out of a carpet.

What is Slime?

You know what slime is, but what is it? Slime comes in different varieties, and some of them include unicorns, glow-in-the-dark, among others. The different types mean that slime contains different ingredients like food coloring, water, glitter, glue and starch.

The glue is the hardest part to deal with. For that reason, you will need a solvent like vinegar or rubbing alcohol. These two are also great in color removal. Club soda is also great in removing color. Also, keep in mind that some forms of slime may be toxic, if they contain excess boron.

You may think of using WD40; however, it is extremely toxic and not ideal for use in homes with kids. In addition, WD40 is also made of mineral oil. This makes it attract dirt and stain your carpet further. So, to make work easier on your side, use an oil-free solvent, so you don't get to do the same task twice.

Slime is easiest to remove from a carpet when it is still wet, so start cleaning as soon as you notice it. If it's wet, remove as much slime as possible with your hands before cleaning it. However, if it is dried slime, use ice cubes to freeze it and follow the appropriate procedure discussed below.

How to Remove Wet Slime Out of a Carpet

i). Remove as much slime as possible using your hand. The more you remove, the easier it gets to clean. You can also use a spoon or a blunt item to scrape the remaining slime off.

ii). Mix water and white vinegar in the ratio of 1:3, respectively. Put the cleaning solution in a spray bottle.

iii). Spray the solution on the spot and allow it to soak. When spraying the carpet with the mixture, ensure you add enough of the solution and add a few drops.

iv). Using a scrub brush, work the mixture in the carpet. You will notice the slime starting to dissolve. Don't be too rough while scrubbing, as that will damage your carpet fibers.

v). Blot area with a clean towel to remove slime and excess water solution.

vi). Once your carpet is clean, vacuum it with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner for best results. You can also use a carpet cleaner to finish up the cleaning process.

How to Get Dried Slime Out of a Carpet

If you only saw the slime after it dried, it may be a little more difficult to remove. Let that not worry you, though, and we'll walk you through the process till you get back your carpet to its former state of cleanliness.

Requirements

To remove dried slime, you'll need;

  • Ice cubes
  • Spoon, butter knife or any blunt object
  • White vinegar
  • Paper towels/clean towel

Procedure

i). Apply ice cubes on the dried slime stain.

Applying ice on the slime spot freezes the slime and makes it easier to remove. So, once you add ice cubes, let it sit for up to 10 minutes or until the slime freezes.

ii). Scrape Excess Slime

Use a spoon or a blunt object to remove as much excess slime as you can.

iii). Apply Vinegar

Pour white vinegar on the remaining slime and let it soak for a couple of minutes. When adding vinegar, ensure you add enough, not too much to soak the whole carpet but enough to soak the whole area stained slime.

iv). Agitate and Remove Excess Liquid

Toss it until you see the slime coming out. Use a spoon to scrape off the slime and vinegar gently. Next, pick it up with a spoon. Repeat the process until all the slime comes out. Then, using paper towels or a clean cloth, wipe off the slime stains.

v). Rinse with Warm Water

Use warm water to rinse off the slime residue. Once all the slime comes out, gently blot the wet carpet with a dry towel or paper towel. Repeat this process as many times as you need.

At this point, there is no more slime remaining on your carpet. However, you may notice that the color is still there, and your carpet is still stained. So, the next step involves cleaning the carpet stains caused by the food coloring in the slime.

Removing the Color

Slime stain removal using elbow grease

Image Source: Popularscience

There are several ways in which you can use to remove the color from your carpet. Let's see these methods below.

a). Using Club Soda

Club soda is a gentle and simple solution for cleaning carpet stains. Although it is a peaceful solution, it is important to spot test your carpet to ensure it won't damage it.

Procedure

i). Wet a clean cloth with club soda, then blot the carpet stain to absorb it. Avoid pressing it too much as the stain may get deeper into the carpet, making it more difficult to clean.

ii). Rinse out the cloth and reapply the club soda. Keep blotting the stained area until all the slime comes out.

iii). Blot the area dry with a clean towel and let it dry completely.

b). Elbow Grease

Cleaning a slime stain with elbow grease is easy and does not need time or materials. You'll need;

  • Rubbing alcohol

Procedure

i). Dip a clean piece of cloth in rubbing alcohol to wet it.

ii). Clean the stained spot with the wet cloth.

iii). Keep cleaning the spot till the carpet gets clean. Be gentle not to damage the carpet fibers.

iv). Use a dry towel or a piece of cloth to blot all the excess liquid from the carpet. Avoid walking in the wet place to ensure it does not get dirty.

c). Hydrogen Peroxide

If you do not have rubbing alcohol or club soda, but you can easily access hydrogen peroxide, let's get to work. Before using it for carpet cleaning, ensure you do a spot test to ensure that this solution will not bleach your carpet. If you have a woolen carpet, stay away from hydrogen peroxide and other "oxi' chemicals.

Procedure

i). Apply hydrogen peroxide on the stain and leave it for 10-20 minutes.

ii). Use a clean piece of cloth to blot and keep repeating until no more color remains on the carpet.

iii). Rinse with warm water and dab with an absorbent cloth or a towel, and leave it to dry.

d). Using Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Removing slime stain from the carpet can sometimes be hectic. However, baking soda and vinegar make a whole difference. In this method, you will need paper towels, baking soda and a cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle.

Procedure

i). Sprinkle baking soda on the stained area.

ii). Spray the vinegar until the baking soda starts to fizz, then leave for 10-15 minutes.

iii). Use a paper towel to blot the excess liquid and repeat the process with more spray if you need to.

iv). Vacuum the carpet to remove the solid particles. If it is not as clean as you desire, give it a final vacuum if you need to.

What to Keep in Mind During Stain Removal

Don't forget to exercise a little patience. That's the first thing that springs to mind regarding carpet cleaning. It's incredible how that slime spot can stay put. The type of slime can also determine how much time you will spend cleaning it. 

Slime is a sticky substance, so it will require a little extra elbow grease to get rid of it. Grab a paper towel or a clean towel and try to pluck up small chunks if you get it while it's still wet slime. This easy procedure can significantly reduce the size of the stain.

Any slime residue that remains should be treated as described above. If the stain is on the carpet, it signifies the slime particles have settled in and will require some elbow grease to remove.

Using ice cubes and then scraping the created slime stain off the carpet with a dull butter knife or a spoon works great. But, to get rid of that dry slime, you can use whatever method works best for you!

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get Slime Out of a Carpet

1. Does vinegar dissolve slime?

You can use vinegar to remove slime from the carpet as it dissolves the substance. It is not only effective in removing slime from clothes and hair. Although white glue slime is more difficult to remove,

2. Can slime cause a permanent stain on a carpet?

You can remove slime stain from your carpet by using readily available chemicals or mild solutions found at home. Vinegar and water solution easily gets rid of the stain once you break loose the slime out of the carpet.

Image Credit: Learnhowcity

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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