The Silly Putty is pliable and sticky and fun to play with, but it can cause a mess if it sticks to your clothes. Fortunately, there are several methods that can be used to remove Silly Putty from fabric. By applying rubbing alcohol and WD-40, or freezing the fabric, you can remove permanent Silly Putty stains so you don't have to worry anymore.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Rubbing Alcohol
Step 1. Scrape off as much of the Silly Putty as you can with a dull knife
Gently scrape the stain with the edge of a knife to remove as much of the stuck material as possible. Remove any spilled material to the side or onto tissue paper for easier disposal. Be careful that the scraps don't fall onto the carpet or other surfaces that could trap them. Stop scraping once most of the Silly Putty is gone.
- Wipe the knife several times while scraping the Silly Putty and fold the garment so that the stain is at the ends for easier removal without spreading to other areas.
- You can also use your fingernail to scrape off the dried stain, but some people don't like it sticking under the nail. Use a dull knife to keep your hands clean.
Step 2. Pour 99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol over the stain
If you don't have rubbing alcohol, use hydrogen peroxide. Do this process in the kitchen sink or bathroom to prevent alcohol and Silly Putty from hitting other materials in the house. Apply rubbing alcohol to the stained area. The stain will start to melt and turn liquid again.
Do not use antiseptic rubbing alcohol that contains ethyl because it will not work optimally
Step 3. Use a washing brush, toothbrush, or clean washcloth to clean the stain
Rub the stain gently and make sure you apply enough pressure, but not too much, as this can damage the fabric. This method helps remove the Silly Putty from the fibers of the fabric.
- Hold the part of the shirt that is being cleaned so that the rubbing alcohol and cleaning process only hits one layer of the shirt, not other areas of the shirt. You can even slide one hand under the stained area, then rub the layer above it with the other hand.
- A washing brush or toothbrush work great for this process because the bristles provide a stronger scrubbing force than a washcloth, but if the fabric you are cleaning is quite fragile, use a soft washcloth.
Step 4. Repeat the scrubbing process and use rubbing alcohol until the stain is clean
This may need to be done several times for the stain to disappear. Use your fingers to feel the texture of the fabric – is it still sticky or is it slippery? If it's still sticky, there's still Silly Putty attached. Continue the process until the fabric doesn't feel sticky anymore.
Rinse the washing brush, toothbrush, or washcloth several times during the cleaning period. This will allow you to make sure the Silly Putty is still lifted from the fabric
Step 5. Wash the stained area as usual, then hang to dry
This will get rid of the rubbing alcohol smell and any remaining Silly Putty. After washing, let the clothes dry and do not machine dry them. Once dry, check the soiled area to see if the stain is still visible. If it still does, repeat the rubbing alcohol and repeat the scrubbing process again.
Machine drying, even on a low heat setting, will make the stain stick even more tightly. Drying them out gives you the opportunity to carry out any further inspections and cleaning processes that may be required
Method 2 of 3: Freezing Silly Putty
Step 1. Place the stained garment in the refrigerator overnight
You don't have to put it in your pocket, but you can if you want! Cold temperatures will harden the Silly Putty and make it shrink a little so that it is easier to crack and peel.
You can also place an ice cube or bag filled with ice over the stained area as an alternative. In essence, Silly Putty must be refrigerated so that it peels easily
Step 2. Use a hammer or other hard object to crush the frozen Silly Putty
This will break up the stain into smaller pieces that are easier to clean. Scrape the frozen stain onto a paper towel for easy removal. Do not throw Silly Putty carelessly so that it does not stick again.
You may be able to clean frozen Silly Putty without breaking it, depending on how small or big the stain is. Usually, large stains need to be cracked to make them easier to peel off; but small stains can be cleaned without needing to be solved first
Step 3. Refreeze and repeat the process until the Silly Putty is cleared
Stains from the Silly Putty color may still remain on the fabric fibers. These tiny flakes may not come off after freezing because they have soaked into the fibers of the fabric.
- Some types of Silly Putty cannot freeze because of the material from which they are made. If Silly Putty doesn't freeze after 12 hours of freezing, you'll need to use another method to remove the stain.
- Depending on the type of Silly Putty used (branded, imitation, or homemade), the toy may not freeze due to the base material.
Step 4. Wash clothes, then hang to dry
Wash clothes as usual, then dry naturally and don't use a tumble dryer. Check for stains after the clothes are dry to make sure they are gone. If not, try another cleaning method.
Allowing the garment to dry on its own will prevent the stain from hardening as if it were machine dried
Method 3 of 3: Using WD-40. Lubricant
Step 1. Use a dull knife to scrape as much of the Silly Putty off the surface of the shirt as possible
Move the knife slowly back and forth being careful not to tear the clothes. To clean stubborn areas, fold the garment so that the stain is at the ends, then scrape the area.
- Place the Silly Putty shards on a paper towel for easy removal and being careful not to fall into other areas and stick them.
- Wipe the knife several times while scraping the surface of the clothes.
Step 2. Wet the stain with WD-40 lubricant and let it sit for 4-5 minutes
If the smell bothers you, wear a face shield or do this process outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. As much as possible, keep the WD-40 away from other areas of clothing that don't need cleaning.
Theoretically, the oil content in WD-40 will lubricate the Silly Putty, making it less adhesive and easier to clean
Step 3. Scrape off the remaining Silly Putty with a knife, then spray WD-40 again
Repeat this process until the stain is soft and smooth again. You may need to repeat this 2-3 times until the stain is completely gone.
If you don't like the sensation of the WD-40 liquid hitting your hands, wear rubber gloves during this process
Step 4. Wipe the Silly Putty stain with a cotton ball
Use a forward sweeping motion, not a back and forth motion. After the cotton swab is wet with WD-40 liquid and full of Silly Putty residue, throw it away and replace it with a new one. Continue this process until most of the Silly Putty has been removed from your clothes.
You can use a cotton swab or cotton swab that is sold at any pharmacy
Step 5. Wet a clean cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and wipe it on the stained area
It can be difficult to determine how much rubbing alcohol you have used because of the WD-40 lubricating fluid. So, feel free to increase the quantity of rubbing alcohol used. Press the stained area with a cotton ball repeatedly.
- You can also apply rubbing alcohol directly to the stained area instead of using a cotton swab. Cotton is only useful for increasing the control of rubbing alcohol.
- This process will help you remove the WD-40 liquid from the surface of the garment.
Step 6. Pour dishwashing liquid onto a damp washcloth, then wipe the stain on the clothes
Wipe off any residue left on clothes while rinsing them with water every now and then to check their condition. Continue this process until the surface of the shirt is clean of grease, stains, and soap suds.
When finished, most of the cleaned material will be wet. Therefore, you need to clean the area where the WD-40 liquid was dripped
Step 7. Wash the stained clothes separately and hang to dry
Once dry, check the stained area to make sure there is no residue of Silly Putty or WD-40 liquid. If it's still there, repeat the rubbing alcohol and dishwashing liquid until it's completely clean.
- Because there is oil on the clothes, separate them from other clothes until they are finished cleaning, and don't mix them in the washing machine.
- Putting material that has not been cleaned into the dryer will make the stain harden. Drying it out can give you the opportunity to re-examine and clean the stain again if needed.
Tips
- Read the clothing care instructions before cleaning. If a piece of clothing should only be cleaned using the dry clean method, take it to a professional cleaner instead of trying to clean it yourself.
- Test a small amount of the fabric first to make sure it doesn't react badly to the cleaning fluid you're using. Apply the cleaning fluid to an invisible part of the garment (such as the inside or the inside of the collar) to see how the product reacts to your garment.
