First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Deal with it before it cures, since hardened epoxy can't be removed from fabric.
- Blot up spills with paper towels rather than wiping them across the fabric.
- If epoxy spills on your clothes, change them immediately.
Epoxy and resin on clothes are a fast-moving problem, since they harden through a chemical reaction and cured material can't be lifted from fabric. Wet, uncured spots can often be worked out if you act right away, before the material sets into the fibers. A dry-clean-only garment needs a professional sooner rather than later, whatever you do at home.
Keep the garment out of the dryer, since heat can set resin into the fibers before you're done. Getting resin out of jeans is a different job from getting it out of white clothes, so match the product to the fabric. If you're dealing with hardened resin on clothes that matter to you, a professional cleaner is the safer bet.
Before you start
What clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Liquid citrus-based hand cleaner (not cream)Makes the cleaning solution with water.
- WaterHot water makes mixing easier, and cold water is the safe choice for an unknown fabric.
- ContainerHolds the mixed solution.
- Disposable glovesProtect your skin from the epoxy in the solution. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towelsBlot up wet epoxy before the solution goes on. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothLifts the softened epoxy without spreading color onto the fabric. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Mix the citrus cleaning solution
Mix 1 part citrus-based hand cleaner with 2 parts water in a container. Hot water and a liquid citrus-based hand cleaner make mixing easier, so use them if you have them.
Tip. A cream hand cleaner won't mix as well, so stick with the liquid.
Step 2 of 6
Gloves on, then blot the spill
Wear gloves before you touch the stain, since the epoxy dissolves into the solution and can reach your skin. Blot up any wet epoxy with paper towels first, so there's less to lift out of the fabric.
Step 3 of 6
Dab the solution onto the epoxy
Dab the solution onto the uncured epoxy with a clean white cloth, working from the edge of the spot toward the middle. Keep the cloth moving so the epoxy lifts onto the cloth rather than spreading across the fabric.
Careful. Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap; soap sets many stains.
Step 4 of 6
Lift the softened epoxy away
Press the cloth into the spot to lift the softened epoxy and solution away. Switch to a clean section of cloth as it fills, and repeat the dabbing until no more epoxy comes off.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse, then wash on the label's hottest setting
Rinse the spot under water, then wash the garment at the hottest temperature its care label recommends. If the label is missing, wash in cold water instead, since you can't safely guess at hot.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry and check the spot
Lay the garment flat or hang it to air dry, then check the spot in good light. If any uncured epoxy shows, repeat the dabbing and rinse before drying again.
Careful. Never dry or iron the stained garment; heat sets the stain and may make it impossible to remove.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for epoxy on clothes
Look for a liquid citrus-based hand cleaner, not a cream, for the solution. Cream hand cleaners make mixing harder, so they're the wrong pick here.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on clothes, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The spot should soften and come away onto the cloth as you blot. If it stays tacky, firm or dull after several rounds, the epoxy has started to cure, and the solution will do less from there.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your clothes
Other resin types
The method above works the same way for every resin type, as long as the material is still uncured. Epoxy and similar products all harden by chemical reaction, so timing matters more than the type of resin.
What changes is how fast you work and what you do if the material has already hardened, since cured material can't be removed from fabric. If you don't know which resin you have, test the solution on a hidden seam first.
Jeans and white clothes
Denim and white cotton can take the hottest wash the care label allows, which helps once the epoxy is out of the fabric. Skip that hot wash on any spot that's still tacky, and stick to the solution first.
If a faint mark remains on white cotton after washing and drying, chlorine bleach can be used as the very last step, but only if the label allows it and the fabric passes a bleachability test. Rinse everything out before it goes near bleach.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Fresh epoxy comes out far more easily than old epoxy, so the earlier you start, the better your odds. Once it has begun to harden, the solution will only lift the softer part, and what's left may stay on the fibers.
Cured epoxy cement on fabric cannot be removed, so don't keep trying stronger products on a hard spot. If the spot is still tacky, repeat the cleaning solution on the uncured residue and blot it away again.
If the garment has already been through the dryer, the heat may have set the spot, and full removal becomes less likely. A spot that still shows after treatment is usually as far as it goes, so decide whether the item is still worth keeping.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on epoxy on clothes?
Most household remedies aren't needed for epoxy on clothes, and several can damage fabric. The list shows which ones to leave out and why, so you don't add a risky product to the steps.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the spot
Blot rather than rub, because excessive rubbing spreads the epoxy and can wear the fabric. Rubbing is only worth considering on tough, durable fabric, and even then go gently.
Don't reach for acetone
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate, triacetate and modacrylic, so they can ruin the garment. Check the fiber on the label before you try any solvent-based product.
Don't mix removers
Ammonia and chlorine bleach make toxic fumes together, so rinse thoroughly between any two removers. Don't use bleach on wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex, or on fabric that isn't colorfast.
Don't keep wearing stained clothes
If you can't completely remove epoxy from your clothes, don't keep wearing them. Once you've done all you can, set the garment aside rather than risk the epoxy reaching your skin.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The resin started hardening before I could treat it
Work the solution into whatever is still soft and blot it away. Areas that have already cured will not dissolve, so focus only on the tacky parts.
The solution is streaky and will not blend
You may be using a cream cleaner or cold water. Switch to a liquid citrus-based hand cleaner and mix it with hot water.
A faint sticky patch remains after washing
Repeat the solution and blotting while the garment is still damp, then rinse and launder again. Keep it out of the dryer until it is clean.
My hands got epoxy on them while cleaning
Stop and clean your skin with a waterless skin cleanser, then wash with soap and warm water. Put on a fresh pair of gloves before going back to the garment.
When to call a professional
Take dry-clean only items to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and the stain. Take even washable items if the stain covers a large area, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
Can cured epoxy come out of clothes?
No. Cured epoxy cement on fabric can't be removed, so the window to act is while it's still uncured. If it has hardened, the realistic outcome is a stained garment rather than a clean one.
Do epoxy glue and epoxy paint come out the same way?
Yes, as long as it's still uncured. Epoxies and similar products harden by chemical reaction, so use the same citrus solution and work quickly. Wear gloves and blot the spill before you start.
Is hot water safe for removing resin?
Hot water is fine for mixing the solution and for the final wash, as long as the care label allows the hottest setting. Don't use it on a spot that still has uncured epoxy, since heat can set the stain.
Does the citrus solution harm synthetic fabrics?
The solution is meant to remove uncured epoxy without damaging synthetic fibers. If you're unsure of the fiber, test a hidden seam before you treat the visible spot.
What if the care label is missing?
Don't guess at hot water. Soak the spot in cold water, wash the garment in cold, and air dry it. Only move to a hotter wash once you know the fabric can take it.
What if epoxy gets on my skin too?
Skin needs different handling, and solvents shouldn't be used on it. Follow the Skin & Hands guide for that part of the cleanup.
Epoxy on other materials
Other stains on clothes
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.