First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Lift off big pieces with your fingers while they're still soft or dry.
- Blot rather than rub, and avoid excessive rubbing on delicate fabric.
- Test any solvent on a hidden spot before it goes near the stain.
Slime and putty on bed sheets are tricky because they smear the moment you press on them, so lifting comes before scrubbing. A wet smear on cotton comes up far more readily than putty that has baked into the weave over a day or two, and that dried putty may only fade with repeated treatment. Read the tag before anything else, because a dry-clean-only sheet changes the whole plan.
If you want to remove slime from a blanket without vinegar, a prewash stain remover spray works well on whatever is left. Use an enzyme laundry pretreater on any dough or slime residue, then wash in the warmest water the tag allows. Hold off on the dryer until the marks are gone, since heat can lock in what remains.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens 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
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- Ice cubesChill putty so it firms up and scrapes away.
- Dull knife or spoonLifts the chilled putty off the fabric.
- Cotton ballsHold the rubbing alcohol for blotting. (opens Amazon)
- Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl or 90% denatured)The solvent for the blot, with no added color or fragrance. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid dish soapRubbed into what's left after the alcohol blot. (opens Amazon)
- White clothFor blotting and any solvent work, so it won't add color. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Pick off the big pieces
Lift off any large wet or dry pieces by hand before you treat the stain. If it's wet dough, don't rub it into the fabric.
Step 2 of 5
Chill and scrape the putty
If it's putty or modeling clay, hold ice cubes against it until it hardens. Then scrape off as much as you can.
Careful. Keep to a dull edge; a sharp blade can cut the fabric.
Step 3 of 5
Blot with rubbing alcohol
Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and blot the stained area. Switch to a clean part of the cotton ball as it picks up color.
Tip. Work from the edge of the stain toward the middle so it doesn't spread.
Careful. Test rubbing alcohol on a hidden spot first, since colored fabric with untested dyes can bleed.
Step 4 of 5
Rub in liquid dish soap
If the stain is still there, rub a little liquid dish soap straight into it. Work it in gently, then repeat the alcohol blot as needed.
Careful. Keep dish soap off silk, velvet and other delicate fabrics.
Step 5 of 5
Wash and check the sheet
Wash the blanket as normal once the stain is treated, then check it while it's still damp. If anything shows, repeat the alcohol and dish-soap steps and wash again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for slime and putty on sheets, towels & table linens
Choose liquid dish soap for the rub, not bar soap, since bar soap can set a fresh stain. Pick rubbing alcohol in the 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured strengths, with no added color or fragrance.
Goo Gone Goo & Adhesive Remover Spray Gel
Goo Gone Original Adhesive Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sheets, towels & table linens, 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.
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
Progress shows as less residue on each cotton ball, and the spot should look flatter and lighter once it's dry. If the patch turns stiff and stops lifting after two rounds, the putty has set into the weave, so switch to the set-in section.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Dried putty
Putty that has dried stays fairly pliable, so it can often be pulled off the blanket. Try lifting it gently by hand before any wet treatment touches the spot.
If it's still soft or smeared, chill it until it firms up before you lift it. Once the putty is gone, the alcohol blot and the dish-soap rub work the same way as in the steps above.
Dough
Dough changes the first step more than the rest. Pick off as much of the dough as you can by hand while it's still soft or dry, and leave the wet part alone rather than rubbing it into the fabric.
Once the bulk is off, the alcohol blot and dish-soap rub work the same way as for slime. If the dough has been ground in, that's where repeating the dish-soap rub and washing again comes in.
Colored sheets
Colored sheets need a hidden-spot test before any alcohol touches the stain. Dyes that haven't been tested can bleed, so a small patch in an inconspicuous area comes first.
If the test is clean, go ahead with the steps as written. If the color shifts at all, stop and take the sheet to a dry cleaner rather than using anything stronger.
Silk or wool sheets
Silk and wool need the gentlest approach, since many of the usual options are off limits for them. Skip the dish soap and any bleach, and blot only with the alcohol on a cotton ball.
If the stain doesn't lift with that, take the sheet to a professional cleaner who works with delicate fibers.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old slime or dough is harder than a fresh spot, so expect to go through the steps more than once. Scrape or brush off any crusted matter first, because the alcohol and soap can only reach what's exposed.
If the putty has dried, it may still be fairly pliable, so pull it up gently before anything else. Amyl acetate can soften what's left, but use it very sparingly on a white cloth, with a window open, no open flame nearby and rubber gloves on. Keep it off plastics and furniture finishes too.
For dough that's been ground into the weave, re-treat it with liquid dish soap and wash again. If the stain is still there after that, a professional cleaner is a safer next step than more solvent.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on slime and putty on sheets, towels & table linens?
Vinegar and baking soda are common suggestions for slime, so you may wonder whether to use them. You don't need either one: rubbing alcohol and liquid dish soap do the job on sheets, and the others are a poor fit for fabric.
Works2Skip4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't wait until the stain dries
Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so start as soon as you see it. A stain you notice late in the day is still worth treating now rather than in the morning.
Don't use acetone on a sheet you haven't identified
Acetone dissolves acetate, triacetate and modacrylic fabrics, and a blanket's label may not say which fiber it is. If you don't know, take it to a dry cleaner rather than reaching for nail-polish remover.
Don't rub wet dough into the weave
Dough pushed into cotton or linen grinds down between the threads and makes the mark bigger. Lift the wet pieces off with your fingertips first, then move on to the liquid soap.
Don't pour solvent straight onto the sheet
A pour spreads the stain outward and can carry it into the fabric around the mark. Dab rubbing alcohol on with a cotton ball or a white cloth, and test a hidden seam first.
Don't press the soapy towel down hard
Pressing hard drives the residue deeper and can leave a ring where the towel edge sat. Use light circles and keep the towel only slightly damp.
When to call a professional
A dry-clean-only sheet should go to a dry cleaner soon instead of sitting through home treatments, and you should tell them whether the mark is putty or dough. Silk or wool bedding with a stain that has dried in is also safer in a professional's hands, since those fibers don't tolerate much trial and error.
Questions
Can I use vinegar on slime on a blanket?
You can skip it. The method above doesn't need vinegar, and it can weaken cotton and change color, so it's a risk on a blanket you can't test. Stick with the alcohol and dish-soap steps.
What if I can't tell what my blanket is made of?
Don't guess. Look at the care label first, and if the fiber isn't listed, stick to picking off pieces, chilling putty and a small alcohol test before using anything stronger. If you're still unsure, a dry cleaner is the safer choice.
Will slime come out if the blanket has already been through the dryer?
It may be harder, since heat sets stains and can make them impossible to remove. Keep working through the steps anyway, because some stains still come up, and take it to a dry cleaner if it doesn't.
Does dough need a different method than slime?
Dough mostly needs its pieces removed first, so the first step matters most. Once the bulk is off, the alcohol blot and dish-soap rub are the same for dough as for slime.
How long should I keep working on a stubborn spot?
Keep going through the steps, repeating the alcohol and dish-soap treatment, as long as the stain keeps lifting. If it stops changing after a few rounds, stop and take it to a professional.
Can I wash a putty-marked white sheet in hot water?
Not until you know the mark is gone, because heat can lock in some stains you haven't identified. Work the spot in cold water with liquid detergent first. Once it has faded, use the hottest wash the care label allows for cotton or linen.
Is chlorine bleach an option for colored sheets with putty on them?
Only if the sheet is colorfast and its label allows bleach, and even then test a hidden seam before you treat the mark. If the color shifts at all, stop and switch to an all-fabric bleach. Full-strength chlorine can weaken the fibers, so always dilute it.
Can I leave a putty-stained sheet in a pretreater overnight?
Yes, on a washable sheet, an enzyme laundry pretreater can soak overnight and loosen residue that has dried into the weave. Keep the soak in cold water, and check the bottle for its time limit. Liquid and spray pretreaters are different, since leaving them on too long can fade colored fabric.
Slime and Putty on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
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.