How to Remove Slime From Carpet: 3 Safe and Effective Ways

Slime is so much fun to make and play with, it's no wonder kids absolutely love it. But cleaning it up when it lands on your carpet is not nearly as much fun. 

Don't panic; slime is mainly made of glue and can be washed off, much like chewing gum. With a few common household items and a little elbow grease, you can remove slime from carpet without risking any damage to the fibers.

In this article, we show you how to remove slime from carpet safely and effectively. We’ve compiled three easy, nontoxic methods used by the pros to remove slime from carpets and rugs, whether the slime is wet or days-old dry.

If you need help deep cleaning your carpet or keeping other areas of your house clean, you can easily hire a local, affordable, and reliable cleaner on Homeaglow. 

Wet or dry? How to remove dried slime from carpet

The more time slime has to settle, the harder it is to remove. If the slime on your carpet is still wet, scoop up as much of it with your hands as possible. Then use any of the methods outlined below.

However, if the slime has dried, you’ll need to get the bulk of it off the carpet before moving on to a deeper clean. 

Use these steps to remove dried slime from your carpet before cleaning the fibers.  

• Place ice cubes on top of the dried slime.
• Wait 10 minutes, or until the slime has frozen, before removing the ice.
• Use a spatula or butter knife to carefully scrape the frozen slime out of the carpet.
• Follow any of the methods below to remove any residual slime.

Does hot water get slime out of carpet?

If you don’t want to use ice cubes, hot water is another option for removing dried slime. For most people, using ice vs. hot water is a matter of preference. Either method works.  

To remove dried slime from carpet using hot water, simply pour a small amount of very hot water on the dried patch of slime to soften it. After the slime softens, scrape it off and use any of the cleaning methods below to remove the residuals.

How to remove slime from carpet

Slime can leave a sticky residue that attracts dirt and stains your carpet fibers. These three methods for removing slime from carpets all use common household cleaners.

Method 1: Baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-true combo for many household cleaning projects, including this one.

What you’ll need:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Clean cloth
• Vacuum cleaner

Steps to clean:

• Blot up as much excess slime as possible using a clean cloth.
• Sprinkle baking soda over the area.
• Pour white vinegar over the baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Blot the area with a clean cloth.
• Repeat as needed until all the slime has been removed.
• Air dry, then use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda.

Method 2: Hydrogen peroxide and dish soap

For this method, use hydrogen peroxide with no more than a 3% concentration. (Most, if not all, hydrogen peroxides sold for household use come in this concentration.) Anything stronger than this runs the risk of bleaching your carpet fibers. 

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What you’ll need:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Dish soap
• Clean cloth
• Vacuum cleaner

Steps to clean:

• Blot up as much of the excess slime as possible using a clean cloth.
• Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and dish soap in a bowl.
• Dip a clean cloth into the solution and blot the affected area.
• Repeat as needed until all the slime has been removed.
• Allow the carpet to air dry.

Method 3: Hot water and detergent

Liquid detergent is built to cut grease, so it goes without saying that it works well on the gooey mess we call slime. 

What you’ll need:

• Hot water
• Liquid detergent
• Clean cloth
• Vacuum cleaner

Steps to clean:

• Blot up as much of the excess slime as possible using a clean cloth.
• Mix hot water and a small amount of liquid detergent in a bowl.
• Dip a clean cloth into the solution and blot the affected area.
• Repeat as needed until slime is removed. 
• Air dry the carpet.

Does rubbing alcohol get slime out of a carpet?

Rubbing alcohol is another effective way to remove slime from carpet. Rubbing alcohol breaks down the strong bonds between the glue in slime, making it easy for you to get slime out of your carpet with a soft piece of cloth.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Rubbing alcohol
• Clean cloth
• Vacuum cleaner

How to use rubbing alcohol to get slime out of a carpet

• Blot up as much of the excess slime as possible using a clean cloth.
• Soak a clean cloth in rubbing alcohol.
• Blot the affected area with the alcohol-soaked cloth.
• Repeat until the slime has been removed.
• Allow the carpet to air dry.

Bonus tip: How to clean vomit from carpet using baking soda and vinegar

Kids are unpredictable. You never know what might end up on your carpet, including vomit. Use this method to clean vomit from carpet before it soaks into your carpet fiber.

What you’ll need

• Paper towels or clean cloths
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• Warm water

Steps to clean vomit from carpet

• Blot up as much of the vomit as possible with paper towels or a cloth.
• Mix 1T white vinegar, 1T baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap in a cup of warm water.
• Sponge the solution onto the affected area using a clean cloth.
• Blot the area with a clean cloth to remove the solution.

For other pro-tested ways to get throw up (human or pet) out of carpet, read our in-depth guide to cleaning vomit from carpet.

More carpet cleaning tips from the experts

There are plenty of ways to make a carpet dirty. Thankfully, we have plenty of tips for getting a carpet clean. Check out these other pro guides:

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• Six Proven Techniques for Removing Wax From Carpet
• How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet
• How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Carpet

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Slimy situations don’t have to ruin your carpet

It might take some time and elbow strength, but you can remove slime from your carpet using these straightforward methods and common house cleaning products.  Forget pricey cleaning products or tools that harm your carpet.

Need help keeping on top of your house cleaning tasks? With Homeaglow, you can easily book an affordable, top-rated cleaner in your area. Read reviews, compare your options, and schedule online in minutes.