If you’ve got kids, the likelihood is that you – or, possibly more likely, a grandparent – has bought them some silly putty. Kids go mad for the stuff. It bounces, stretches, snaps and puddles. The problem is that silly putty loves carpets and other textiles. On carpets and rugs, sofas and bedding, silly putty is almost as adhesive as superglue.
(Even our complete guide on how to remove stains from carpet doesn’t give you the trick you’re about to learn.)
If you try getting silly putty out of carpet with a knife – a common mistake – you’ll probably do no more than create a bald patch. Luckily, there is a very simple solution. It’s cheap, effective, and fast. Best of all, you don’t need any special solutions or potions. It’s even something your kids could do (under supervision, of course).
Step one: Get the equipment together
All the equipment you need will probably be at hand in the home:
- Washing detergent
- A bowl
- A clean cloth
- Cotton balls
- 91% alcohol
That really is it!
Step 2: Get ready
Squeeze a little washing detergent in your bowl and add warm water.
Step 3: Get that putty up
Pour a little of the alcohol on a cotton ball, and start rubbing on the silly putty. You might need a little elbow grease. Sorry I didn’t mention that earlier!
Within a few moments, perhaps as long as a minute, you’ll see the putty start to soften and dissolve.
Step 4: Clean the silly putty spot
Once it looks like the silly putty is out of the carpet, dip you clean cloth in the warm, soapy water. Wring it out so that it’s not too wet – you don’t need to drown the carpet.
Use a little more of that elbow grease to give the spot a final scrub.
Hey presto! No more silly putty in your carpet.
Step 5: Put everything away and relax
Now that you’ve got that silly putty out of the carpet, put everything away. Sit down, relax, and enjoy the evening. I expect the kids will be hiding away, trying to avoid the recriminations of all that hard work you’ve had to do to get their silly putty out of the carpet.
Get in touch with us for more tips and tricks about cleaning your carpet using the simplest household items – and if the stain or spillage is something that really can’t be cleaned using a little elbow grease, we’ll have the solution for you.