How to Remove Sticky Substances from Fabric

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At some point or another, something sticky will stain your clothes. Whether you're dealing with chewing gum, glue, stickers, or tape, this can feel stressful at first—but never fear! There are actually so many ways to remove that sticky goo from your fabric, and we're here to teach you how. Ready to learn more? Let's dive in.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using an Adhesive Removal Product

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  1. There are a number of different products that you can use to remove sticky substances from clothing and fabric. You can use whatever you have on hand. Some are alcohol based, while others are oil based. They break down the sticky residue once they’re rubbed into the stain. [1] You can use these adhesive removal products on every type of fabric. Here are some of the most common products:
    • Dish soap
    • WD-40
    • Rubbing alcohol
    • Peanut butter
    • Vegetable oil
    • Nail polish remover with acetone [2]
    • Goo-Gone or another product made specifically to get rid of goo
  2. The amount of product that you’ll need will depend on the size of your stain, but start with a small amount at first. [3]
    • For more liquid products, like nail polish remover, soak a cotton ball and then dab it on the fabric. [4]
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  3. Using your fingers or a soft brush, massage the product into the fabric until the sticky substance disappears. This may take up to 10-15 minutes. Keep working and massage the product into the fabric, scraping off any pieces of goo that come off in the process.
  4. For some set in sticky substances, you may need to use the soft brush to scrub the product in.
    • If the clothing has been through the wash, you’ll most likely need to do some scrubbing in order to lift up the adhesive.
  5. Once the sticky substance has been removed, you can wash the fabric as you normally would. [5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Removing Sticky Substances Using Heat

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  1. You can also use heat to remove sticky goo that has been set into the fabric by washing. Set your iron on high and wait for it to heat up. Do not use the steam setting. [6]
    • You will also need paper towels for this method.
  2. Lay the garment on the ironing board with the sticky stain face up. Cover the stain with two layers of paper towels. The paper towels should cover the entire sticky area, so if you have a very large stain you may need a few more paper towels.
    • This method works well for sticky substances, like the adhesive on the back of stickers, that have been put through the wash.
  3. Take your iron and press down on top of the paper towel covered stain. Hold the iron on the stain for about 5 to 10 seconds. This heats the sticky goo up, making it easier to remove.
    • Some fabrics can burn more easily than others, like polyester or acetate. The paper towels should prevent the iron from burning your fabric, but be careful and use another method if you start to burn the fabric.
  4. After about 5-10 seconds of heat, the goo should be heated up enough that you can begin to scrape the sticky substance off. Use a flat edge, like an old credit card or your fingernail, to scrape the goo.
  5. This might take a few rounds of heat and scraping before the goo is gone. Repeat the process of 5 to 10 seconds of heat and then scraping until the set in stain is gone.
  6. After all the gunk has been removed, you can wash the fabric according to its care instructions.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Freezing Off Sticky Substances

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  1. Some sticky substances, like hot glue or gum, become very brittle when they are frozen. Put the fabric in the freezer until the sticky substance is completely frozen. This method works better with gum and glue-like substances rather than stickers or sticky substances that have seeped into the fabric. [7]
    • You can put the garment into a freezer safe plastic bag as long as the sticky substance does not touch the bag.
    • You can freeze any type of fabric without damaging it.
  2. Once the sticky substance is frozen, remove the garment from the freezer. Immediately begin to scrape the substance off with a flat butter knife or an old credit card. The frozen glue should pop off and detach from the fabric.
    • You may be able to use your fingernails to pry off the gum as well.
  3. If freezing the sticky substance didn't remove all of the residue, use another method to remove the remaining stain. Try using heat or an adhesive removal product to remove the remaining stickiness.
    • Once the stain is fully removed, you can wash the garment.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Preparing Your Garment

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  1. Once you’ve realized that something sticky has gotten onto your shirt, sweater, or any other piece of clothing, put it on a flat surface where you can work at removing the stain.
    • Do not wash your garment after you notice a stain. Washing the fabric sets in the stain and makes it harder to remove. If you've already washed the fabric before you noticed the sticky substance, removing the stain will take more work.
  2. Work carefully, using an object with a flat edge, like as a table knife or an old credit card. Try to remove as much of the substance as you can. This will make the removal process much easier.
    • If you’ve already washed the fabric, you might not be able to scrape much off.
  3. To remove the stain, you’ll need to choose a removal product. You will also need a soft brush to massage the product into the stain. An old toothbrush works well, or even an old cotton washcloth. Once you’ve massaged the stain out you’ll need to wash the garment, so you’ll need laundry detergent. [8]
    • You can also use cotton balls to blot the stain if you do not have a soft brush.
  4. Before you start, you’ll want to test the removal product that you’ve chosen on a small area of the fabric. Choose an area that is inconspicuous and isn’t noticeable. This way, you’ll know if the product will stain your fabric. Some delicate fabrics, like satin or silk, are more likely to become stained than more durable fabrics, like cotton or polyester.
    • If the removal product does happen to stain your garment, choose another removal product. Test this new product in another inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t stain.
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    How do I remove putty from pants?
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    First remove as much of it as possible by hand. Then, apply vinegar to the stain and run under hot water. Wash it after.
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    I have a new pair of jeans that has a shiny mark from the size tape on the leg. How can I remove this?
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    It will go away after a few washes; however, if you don't want to wait, just grab a damp rag, add a little dish washing liquid and gently rub it in a circular motion on the mark.
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    How do I remove slime from my carpet?
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    Consult Get Dried Slime Out of Carpet .
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      Tips

      • For permanent glues, like epoxy or super glue, you will need to use acetone to remove the substance.
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      • If you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked, you can make the sticky substance less sticky by dusting it with talcum powder.
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      • You can also use a hair dryer to heat up the stain if you don’t have an iron on hand. Hold the hair dryer on high over the stain for about a minute to loosen it up.
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      Warnings

      • Be very careful when working with acetone based nail polish remover. Acetone fumes can be toxic so work in a well ventilated area. It can also damage wood, so be very careful if you’re using acetone on fabric near wood.
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      • For fabrics that are dry clean only, let a professional take care of the stain instead of trying to remove it at home.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
      2. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
      3. ↑ https://ccetompkins.org/resources/stain-removal-guide
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvvd8nPCczo
      5. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/laundry-basics
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IefbbiREyPY
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcg3p-Tyx3g
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcg3p-Tyx3g

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To remove something sticky from a piece of clothing, use table knife to scrape off as much of the substance as possible. Then, use an old toothbrush or washcloth to rub a removal product into the stain to break down the sticky residue. There are many options for the removal product, like WD-40, acetone, vegetable oil, dish soap, and even peanut butter. Once you’ve removed as much of the substance as possible, you can wash the fabric in the washing machine as usual. To find out how to use heat to remove a sticky substance, keep reading!

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