How to Remove Goo & Sticky Residue from Clothing & Fabric

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 so many ways to remove that sticky goo from your fabric, from using adhesive remover to applying isopropyl alcohol , and we're here with various cleaning experts to teach you how. Ready to learn more? Let's dive in.

How to Get a Sticky Stain Out of Clothes

Choose an adhesive removal product, like Goo-Gone or Takeoff Adhesive Remover.
Massage the product into the stain with your fingers or a brush for 10-15 minutes.
Scrub away any remnants of the stain with a brush.
Wash your garment as normal.

Section 1 of 8:

Using an Adhesive Removal Product

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1
Choose an adhesive removal product. There are a number of different products that you can use to remove sticky substances from clothing and fabric. Some are alcohol based, while others are oil-based. They break down the sticky residue once they’re rubbed into the stain. ^{[1]
X
Research source} Use these adhesive removal products on every type of fabric. Here are some of the most common products:
- Dish soap
- WD-40
- Rubbing alcohol
- Nail polish remover with acetone ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
  - If you opt for nail polish remover with acetone, make sure the fabric doesn’t have acetate, or else the acetone will immediately break it down.
- Goo-Gone
- Takeoff Adhesive Remover
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Andrew Outman is a cleaning expert and founder of Salty Veterans Services LLC, a cleaning company in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kamel Almani is a laundry and cleaning specialist and the co-owner of WashyWash, a laundry and dry cleaning service in Amman, Jordan, that’s toxin-free and eco-friendly.

Raymond Chiu is a house cleaning professional and the owner of Maid Sailors Cleaning Service, which offers affordable residential and office cleaning services.
2
Massage the removal product into the garment, then wash as normal. The amount of product that you’ll need will depend on the size of your stain, but start by applying a few small drops at first to see how the removal agent reacts to the stain. If the removal agent starts to break it down, follow these instructions: ^{[3]
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Research source}
- Apply enough product to cover the stain.
- Massage the product into the fabric with your fingers or a soft brush until the substance disappears. This may take 10-15 minutes.
- Scrub away any sticky substances that weren’t removed in the previous step.
- Wash as normal.
- For liquid products, like nail polish remover, soak a cotton ball and then dab it on the fabric. ^{[4]
  X
  Research source}

Section 2 of 8:

Using Isopropyl Alcohol

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Soak the residue with isopropyl alcohol for 5-10 minutes, then scrape it off. According to cleaning expert Andrew Outman, isopropyl alcohol will help break down hot glue or other sticky substances that are stuck to a fabric. ^{[5]
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Expert Source

Andrew Outman
Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview} 91% isopropyl alcohol tends to work best. To break the stick substance down, follow these instructions:
- Apply the isopropyl alcohol around the edges of the sticky stain.
- Let the isopropyl alcohol act for 5-10 minutes.
- Gently scrape the stain off using a card or spoon.
- Wash as normal.

Section 3 of 8:

Removing Sticky Substances Using Heat

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1
Set up an ironing board and iron. Use heat to remove sticky goo that has been set into the fabric with washing or drying. Set your iron on high and wait for it to heat up. Do not use the steam setting.
- This method works well for sticky substances, like the adhesive on the back of stickers, that have been put through the wash.
2
Place transfer paper over the garment, then iron it for 5-10 seconds. Laundry & cleaning specialist Kamel Almani suggests using the iron’s heat to break the stain down. ^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} Lay the garment on an ironing board with the sticky side facing up. Cover the stain with a cloth or piece of transfer paper , then iron for 5-10 seconds to break down the sticky substance and make it easier to remove.
- Some fabrics can burn more easily than others, like polyester or acetate. The cloth or transfer paper should prevent the iron from burning your fabric, but be careful and use another method if you start to burn the fabric.
Remove the iron, being careful not to burn yourself, and use a flat edge, like a credit card or plastic spatula, to scrape the goo off the fabric. If some goo remains, repeat the heating and scraping process until you’ve successfully removed it. Then, wash the garment as you normally would.

Section 4 of 8:

Freezing Off Sticky Substances

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Place the fabric in a freezer. Some sticky substances, like hot glue or gum , become very brittle when they are frozen. House cleaning professional Raymond Chiu suggests using ice or an ice pack to freeze the sticky substance and make it easier to scrape off: “Once it’s hard, scrape away what you can with a spoon. Rinse with water afterward and then wash the fabric as normal.” ^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview}
- 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.
- This method works better with gum and glue-like substances rather than stickers or sticky substances that have seeped into the fabric.
- If there's any residue left, Chiu says to try using a solvent that is safe for the fabric to clean up any remaining stains. ^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 5 of 8:

Removing Sticky Substances with Packing Tape

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Use the sticky side of packing tape to remove sticky residue. For substances that are lightly stuck, the sticky half of packaging tape can be used to lift them off the fabric and get your garments looking fresh. All you have to do is flip the tape inside out, loop it around your hand, and press it into the sticky substance. Pull the tape away to pull up the residue, and repeat until the substance is gone.
- This method works best for gently stuck items, as you’ll be able to remove them without damaging the fabric.
- If you don’t have tape, a lint roller works the same way.

Section 6 of 8:

Removing Sticky Substances with White Vinegar

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Dab the substance with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar. White vinegar can help break down sticker residue and other sticky substances, making it easier to lift off the fabric. Soak a cotton ball or paper towel in white vinegar, then lay it over the sticky substance. Let it soak for 15 minutes to dissolve the residue. Then, wash the garment as normal. ^{[9]
X
Research source}

Section 7 of 8:

Dissolving Sticky Residue with Natural Oils

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Dab some oil onto the sticky spot, then scrape it away. If all of the other methods fail, this one can work in a pinch as long as you’re careful. Soak a cotton ball in olive oil, baby oil, coconut oil, or citrus essential oil , and hold it against the sticky substance for 10 minutes. Then, scrape the residue off the fabric using your fingernail or a dull edge, like a credit card.
- Immediately wash your clothes with soap and water to keep the oil from setting in and making a new stain.

Section 8 of 8:

Preparing Your Garment

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1
Lay out the garment on a flat surface. 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
Scrape the substance off the fabric with a flat-edged object. Work carefully, using an object with a flat edge, like as a butter 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. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
- If you’ve already washed the fabric, you might not be able to scrape much off.
3
Gather your removal materials. To remove the stain, you’ll need to choose a removal product, as well as 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, wash the garment as usual.
- You can also use cotton balls to blot the stain if you do not have a soft brush.
4
Test the removal product in a small area. Before you start, test the removal product that you’ve chosen on a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric. This way, you’ll know if the product will stain your fabric. ^{[11]
X
Research source} 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?

Community Answer

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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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, 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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[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Expert Source

Andrew Outman
Cleaning Expert

[6]

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

[7]

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

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How to Remove Goo & Sticky Residue from Clothing & Fabric

How to Get a Sticky Stain Out of Clothes

Steps

Using an Adhesive Removal Product

Using Isopropyl Alcohol

Removing Sticky Substances Using Heat

Freezing Off Sticky Substances

Removing Sticky Substances with Packing Tape

Removing Sticky Substances with White Vinegar

Dissolving Sticky Residue with Natural Oils

Preparing Your Garment

Community Q&A

Video

Reader Videos

Tips

Warnings

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