Remove wet or dried slime from carpet with vinegar, baking soda, and simple steps. Even the stickiest homemade slime can be cleaned without ruining the carpet.
Kids love to play with slime, and if you have active kids you are sure to find it all over your house. It can be a shock to walk into your living room and see a glob of green slime in the middle of the carpet—but don’t worry. Even the stickiest slime recipes can be removed from carpet, whether the slime is still wet or has already dried out.
You may need different cleaning materials depending on what kind of slime is stuck in the floor. Different slime recipes use different ingredients, so you might need to try a few methods for best results. Here’s what to keep on hand and how to clean it up.
What You Need
- A bucket
- Warm water
- Lemon water (or lemon juice)
- Vinegar
- Cleaning spray
- Baking soda
- A vacuum
- A sponge or scrub brush
- Paper towels
Step-by-Step Directions
First, check if the slime is wet or dry. Cleaning wet slime is different from removing dry slime, and treating it the right way helps prevent stains.
Second, check the ingredients you used to make the slime. Slime made with glue cleans up differently from slime made with contact lens solution. If the slime came from the store, check the back of the package for the main ingredients.
Third, remove as much slime as possible with a wet paper towel. This works best when the slime is still wet but also helps with hardened slime. Focus on the largest globs first, then work on individual carpet threads. If it’s not lifting easily, try mixing a little lemon water and vinegar to loosen the slime.
Fourth, spray the spot with your favorite cleaning spray and scrub with a sponge or scrub brush. Be careful not to spread the slime if it’s still wet. Pinch and remove any large globs, then work into the base of the carpet.
Finally, pour some baking soda on the stain and let it sit for about 5 minutes. The baking soda bonds with the slime and loosens it from the carpet fibers. Then vacuum it up. This helps remove the deeper slime that causes stains.
Cleaning with Vinegar
Vinegar is a popular option that most people already have at home. A little vinegar mixed with warm water and used with a sponge is one of the most effective ways to remove both wet and dry slime. If the slime has dried and hardened, wetting it first makes it easier to remove. When slime is hard it can pull on carpet threads; getting it wet again makes cleaning much easier and safer for the carpet.
Cleaning with Baking Soda
Baking soda works well on wet slime. It bonds with the slime and absorbs moisture so you can vacuum the spill up. Baking soda won’t remove big globs on its own, but it’s great for the hard-to-remove bits after you’ve cleaned the main stain.
We recommend using baking soda after every spill, even when it looks like you’ve picked everything up. Slime is made with sticky, wet ingredients that can linger in the base of the carpet. Letting baking soda sit and then vacuuming helps dry and lift that residue away.
Dried Slime Removal Tips
Slime dries quickly when it’s left out of its container. Kids often leave it on the floor, and you may find it later once it’s dried and hardened. Depending on the recipe, dry slime can be easy or tricky to clean.
First, break up the slime and pick out the large chunks by hand. The more you remove at this step, the easier the rest will be.
Second, use baking soda and a vacuum on any remaining bits. Let the baking soda sit for about 5 minutes, then run the vacuum over the area at a few different angles.
Finally, if hard slime is still stuck in the carpet, wet it. Warm water mixed with a little lemon juice works well. Be careful not to soak the carpet too much or it may develop mold.
Wet Slime Removal Tips
Wet slime can usually be cleaned from carpet, but you need to act quickly. If the slime was made with glue or hair gel, it’s much easier to remove before it hardens. A wet sponge or paper towel plus cleaning spray is often enough. Light scrubbing can work—just avoid spreading the stain.
Related guides
- How to get slime out of hair – when slime ends up on heads instead of the floor
- How to get slime out of clothes – for slime on fabric and laundry
- How to store slime – keep slime in its container so it stays off the carpet