How do I get slime out of hair and clothing?
HELP. My son and I made slime for him to play with, and he accidentally got it all over his clothes and even got some stuck in his hair. Please tell me there's a way to get it out quickly without giving him a haircut?
View hidden comment
For a complete guide to this topic, read the wikiHow article How to Get Slime Out of Hair.
wikiHow forums are moderated for quality. Learn more about our moderation policy here.
Submit Answer
Vinegar is an effective home remedy for cleaning up slime. Mix white vinegar and water in a bowl, and apply it to the slime to break it apart.
Vinegar works great for removing slime from hair, but it also is effective for cleaning slime off of carpet, clothes, and upholstery.
View hidden comment
Vinegar works great for removing slime from hair, but it also is effective for cleaning slime off of carpet, clothes, and upholstery.
If the slime got on any fabric, I'd recommend taking it to the laundromat. The machines at the laundromat rinse out the slime a lot better, and you won't risk getting any of the mess in your own washer.
Try to remove as much dirt on the surface of the fabric before putting in the machine, and follow the care instructions on the label.
View hidden comment
Try to remove as much dirt on the surface of the fabric before putting in the machine, and follow the care instructions on the label.
Adding way too much slime activator like borax solution or contact lens solution or whatever you used for the slime can harden the slime so it clumps together and falls off. You can also add slime softener like lemon juice or glycerin so the slime kind of dissolves and you can rinse it off. You might still need to wash it a bit though. I find that a lot of hand sanitizers work if you rub it into the slime and then scrape it off with a hard flat tool (like a plastic card) works really well.
View hidden comment
if you are working with hardened slime, try rubbing an ice cube on it to loosen it up, just like you would with bubble gum in your hair. then add the vinegar. rub the vinegar in with a toothbrush or some other similar brush.
View hidden comment
Did you make the slime with contact solution? If so, soak his hair in contact solution and it will loosen it up enough that you should be able to slide it right out of his hair, no cutting required. :)
View hidden comment
Olive oil worked wonders for me. My kids tend to get slime in their hair pretty often, so I have some experience here. Just pour a dollop of olive or vegetable oil over the clump of slime and then work it in with your hands. The slime will come right out. Give them a bath and shampoo their hair when you're done.
View hidden comment
Oil also worked for me, but I used baby oil! Also, I found a comb helpful for working the oil into my kid's hair and getting the slime out.
View hidden comment
I got slime on my sweatshirt, but was thankfully able to use vinegar and laundry soap to get it out, so it's worth trying that before spending money at the laundromat, especially because the longer the slime sits, the faster it'll harden.
View hidden comment
Use conditioner. The conditioner should soften up the slime enough to get it out of his hair, although it may take a few washes with shampoo to get all of the residue out.
View hidden comment
Yeah try letting the conditioner sit for a few minutes in between washes too, I think it helps.
View hidden comment
What’s on your mind? Ask anything.
Get advice and feedback from experts and wikiHow readers just like you.
Ask a Question
More Forum Discussions
Related wikiHows
What do other wikiHow readers have to say?
Other wikiHow readers have submitted their own tips on topics similar to this one.
Reader Tips from 5 Easy Ways to Make Slime at Home
When playing with slime, try not to wear any fake nails—they may stick to the slime, which will be difficult to remove. Your nails will be ruined.
Make sure your hands are moisturized when you play with your slime—this prevents it from sticking to your dry hands.
Reader Tips from How to Make Slime Without Any Glue or Borax
For a different slime recipe, mix white glue, borax powder, and water. This classic version forms easily without odd ingredients. Adjust the borax levels to reach the desired stickiness.
When coloring slime, use just a few drops of food dye to prevent staining your hands later. Though stains fade over time, limiting the amount of dye keeps things tidier.
Thoroughly mixing all ingredients is key, no matter the slime recipe. Half-stirred batters stay too thin. Keep stirring until completely blended for best texture.
Shaking up the slime recipe can yield fun results, too. Try swapping in shampoo or paint in place of food dye. Get creative with your on-hand supplies!
If the oobleck dries out, revive it by stirring in water to regain a moldable consistency. Letting magic mud air out is fine; just rehydrate as needed.
Reader Tips from How to Make Slime with Soap
If your slime is over-activated or dried up, you can use hot water in the slime, wait for a few minutes, and then pull it out. Try kneading it if some parts are still dried up.
When your slime gets too dirty or sticky, throw it in the waste bin instead of playing it.
