How to Get Silly Putty Out of Carpet

Co-authored by Haim Shemesh and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: May 23, 2024

The stretchy, impressionable quality of silly putty makes it fun to play with, but a mess to get out of the carpet. Fortunately, there are several tricks you can use to remove a glob of silly putty, even if it's already hardened on your favorite rug. For a quick fix, soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and blot the area repeatedly. Or, place a bag of ice on the stain for 2-3 hours and then break up the hardened putty with a knife.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Freezing the Silly Putty

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The number of ice cubes you use will depend on the size of the putty stain, but try to use at least three or four. You want there to be enough ice in the bag to cover the entire surface of the silly putty.
Make sure all the silly putty is covered by the bag. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

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Refill the bag with new ice if the old ice melts during the wait.
^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.} You want it to break apart into tinier pieces that you can easily pull up from the carpet. Discard the hardened bits of silly putty that you're able to remove.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using Nail Polish Remover

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You can also use rubbing alcohol if you don’t have access to nail polish remover. ^{[3]
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Make sure the surface of the silly putty gets completely covered in nail polish remover. ^{[4]
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Research source}
Discard the pieces of silly putty as you scrape them off. ^{[5]
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Research source}
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If the silly putty won’t come up from the carpet, try using more nail polish remover or freezing the silly putty with an ice pack before applying the nail polish remover. ^{[6]
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Research source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Cleaning the Carpet with Detergent

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Make sure the detergent is free of bleaches or chemicals that could stain the carpet.
If you don't have a cotton ball, you can also use towel or wash cloth.
Make sure the entire surface of the stain is covered in detergent.
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After 20 minutes, place a dry cloth over the silly putty and press down to absorb the detergent.
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The stain from the silly putty should be gone, and some of the leftover particles from the silly putty should be easier to remove.

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Question

How can I get silly putty out of my carpet without carpet cleaner?

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
Haim Shemesh is a Carpet and Rug Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration, a business based in New York City. Haim specializes in Oriental, Persian, handmade, and antique rug cleaning and repair. He also conducts rug restoration along with fire damage care. He has over 17 years of experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Their clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.

Haim Shemesh

Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Place a bag or towel of ice on top of the silly putty until it's hard and brittle. Then, you can chip it away from the fabric.

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Do you need to clean the carpet after using the nail polish remover?

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Yes you should because the nail polish remover could stain the rug too. Wash with soap and water.

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Warnings

Be careful when using acetone nail polish, since acetone can fade some types of carpet. ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

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Things You’ll Need

Ice
Plastic bag
Knife
Vacuum
WD-40
Cotton balls
Nail polish remover
Rubbing alcohol

[1]

Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

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How to Get Silly Putty Out of Carpet

Steps

Freezing the Silly Putty

Using Nail Polish Remover

Cleaning the Carpet with Detergent

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You’ll Need

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