This article was co-authored by Haim Shemesh and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. 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.
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The stretchy, impressionable quality of silly putty makes it fun to play with, but a mess to get out of 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. By freezing the silly putty, using a bit of detergent, or blotting the putty with nail polish remover, you can save any carpet from a permanent silly putty stain.
Steps
Freezing the Silly Putty
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1Fill a plastic bag with ice. 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.[1]
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2Place the bag of ice on top of the silly putty. Make sure all the silly putty is covered by the bag.[2]Advertisement
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3Let the silly putty harden under the ice for 2 - 3 hours. Refill the bag with new ice if the old ice melts during the wait.[3]
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4
Using Nail Polish Remover
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1Soak a cotton ball in acetone nail polish remover. You can also use rubbing alcohol if you don’t have access to nail polish remover.[6]
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2Blot the silly putty with the cotton ball. Make sure the surface of the silly putty gets completely covered in nail polish remover.[7]
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3Use a knife to scrape away the silly putty. Discard the pieces of silly putty as you scrape them off.[8]
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4Repeat the process until all the silly putty is gone. 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.[9]
Cleaning the Carpet with Detergent
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1Mix two spoonfuls of mild laundry detergent into a cup of warm water. Make sure the detergent is free of bleaches or chemicals that could stain the carpet.[10]
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2Soak a cotton ball in the diluted detergent mixture. If you don't have a cotton ball, you can also use towel or wash cloth.[11]
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3Use the cotton ball to blot the carpet stain and any remaining silly putty. Make sure the entire surface of the stain is covered in detergent.[12]
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4Let the detergent soak into the carpet and leftover silly putty for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, place a dry cloth over the silly putty and press down to absorb the detergent.[13]
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5Use a damp cloth to wipe the stained area. The stain from the silly putty should be gone, and some of the leftover particles from the silly putty should be easier to remove.[14]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I get silly putty out of my carpet without carpet cleaner?
Haim ShemeshHaim 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.
Carpet & Rug Cleaning SpecialistPlace 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.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionDo you need to clean the carpet after using the nail polish remover?
HwikiowCommunity AnswerYes you should because the nail polish remover could stain the rug too. Wash with soap and water.
Warnings
- Be careful when using acetone nail polish, since acetone can fade some types of carpet. [15]⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You’ll Need
- Ice
- Plastic bag
- Knife
- Vacuum
- WD-40
- Cotton balls
- Nail polish remover
- Rubbing alcohol
References
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ Haim Shemesh. Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ Haim Shemesh. Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ http://www.crayola.com/support/stain-tips/silly-puttyreg/silly-puttyreg-on-carpeting/
- ↑ http://www.crayola.com/support/stain-tips/silly-puttyreg/silly-puttyreg-on-carpeting/
- ↑ http://www.crayola.com/support/stain-tips/silly-puttyreg/silly-puttyreg-on-carpeting/
- ↑ http://www.crayola.com/support/stain-tips/silly-puttyreg/silly-puttyreg-on-carpeting/
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ https://homyden.com/how-to-get-silly-putty-out-of-the-carpet/
- ↑ Haim Shemesh. Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.
About This Article
To get silly putty out of carpet, first fill a sealable plastic bag with ice cubes. Seal the top of the bag and place it on the silly putty. Let it sit for 2-3 hours, refilling the bag as needed whenever the ice melts. Then, remove the bag and use a small knife to cut the frozen putty into small pieces. Discard the small pieces and continue freezing, cutting, and removing the putty until it’s entirely gone. For a silly putty stain, dip a cotton ball into some nail polish remover and gently blot the stain with it until it's gone. Finally, soak up any leftover nail polish remover with a clean cloth. To learn more, like how to get silly putty out of carpet with laundry detergent, keep reading the article!
