How to Get Silly Putty Out of Carpet

The stretchy and most impressive feature of silly putty is the pleasure to play with it. The less exciting part revolved around getting your kids silly putty out of carpet! Although it is a lot of work to remove this slime from the carpets, there are a couple of ways of getting it out completely. For instance, by freezing the slime stains, by using a detergent or by blotting the putty using a nail polish. This way, you can protect any carpet from any stubborn putty stains.

It was originally manufactured to replace rubber in the United States throughout the Second World War. Back then, Silly Putty was referred to as nutty putty. It also contains (silicone polymers) as one of its major constituents. Apollo astronauts also used it to protect their equipment in space (zero gravity) and since then, generations of both children and adults have enjoyed playing with it.

However, due to the good adhesive characteristics and its unusual flow properties, it is difficult to remove, but not impossible because, it rapidly loses its thrill. Luckily, it can be cleaned with a little effort without damaging the carpet.

Below are 4 major ways of removing putty from any carpet. So, let’s begin.

... or how to get slime out of carpet

Method 1: Using alcohol to remove slime

You will need:

Steps to follow

Start rubbing as much putty as possible with a blunt spoon or knife.
Once most of the putty is removed, it's time to work on the small amount that remains.
Soften a cotton ball with a good amount of alcohol.
Blot the putty by rubbing alcohol.
It may be helpful to let the rubbing alcohol sit on the residue for one minute, but this is not always obligatory.
Then, Clean the area thoroughly with a clean cloth.
Be careful not to push the putty any further into the carpet. It may be useful to rub in a circular manner or completely cover the outer area with a clean cloth.
Continue to mop until all the putty is removed.
Rinse the spot with a clean towel dipped in clean water.
Then, Wipe using a clean cloth to dry.
Once the putty has been removed and the area rinsed, place a clean cloth over the area and apply some pressure for a few seconds to absorb the remaining moisture.
Finally, let the area dry completely.

Additional Ideas and Tips of getting putty out of the carpet.

No alcohol available to scrub? Use a hand sanitizer instead.
If the putty is too stubborn, and WD-40 to facilitate lubrication and ease removal.
If the putty cannot be removed using the above methods, scrub it with a Rock soap.
White vinegar or mayo are two other products that can be used to successfully eliminate dried putty.
If the putty is deep in the fibers and you cannot remove it, you can actually cut out one square of the carpet and replace it with another.
If there are dye stains after removing the putty, try the foam carpet cleaner.

Method 2: Use or Nail Polish Remover to get rid of silly putty

Steps to follow

Method 3: Using detergent to clean silly putty from carpet

Mix three tablespoons of mild detergent in a container of slightly warm water. Ensure the chosen detergent does not contain bleach or substances that might discolor the carpet.
Dip cotton balls into the thinned detergent mixture. In case you do not have the cotton balls, you might also use a washcloth or a towel.
Use a cotton ball to remove the stain and the remaining putty. Ensure that the whole stained area is covered with the detergent.
Leave the detergent on the carpet for 30 minutes to soak, so as to leave the putty behind. After another 30 minutes, then spread a dry towel over the putty and then press on gently in order to grip the detergent.
Then, rub the putty stained area with a damp cloth. The stain of putty should be clear, and if there are any remaining particles, they will be easier to get rid of.

Method 4: Getting rid slime using a solvent

In case the detergent does not readily remove putty, it may be necessary to smear a solvent related stain remover. For instance, a spray-n-wash or shout. The solvent has the putty remover, which assists in breaking down the polymers in the putty stain, which eases its removal.

Steps

As soon as the carpet is free of putty, use the spray bottle to rinse using clean water and a white towel. Apply a thicker layer of towels to the wet carpet and weigh them with a plastic bag filled with books. Leave the towel and books on the carpet until it dries.

Removing putty off the carpet usually requires a little effort and time. It may be necessary to repeatedly apply the cleaning solutions as small pieces of putty separate from the carpet fibers. Once the silly putty is removed, and no stains remain, you may also want to use some carpet shampoo to remove these nasties from your carpet.

Conclusion: The best way to get silly putty out of carpet

On the brighter side, silly putty does not contain any dyes and it does not affect the carpet coloring. Although silly putty is a fun and cool product, it is not good for carpets.

However, with the above methods on getting putty out of the carpet effectively, you can do it depending on what you have at hand. It only takes a little time, energy and a few simple steps to restore your carpet’s original state. So, if your carpet has some of those silly putty stains, get to work.