How to Get a Gooey Compound Out of Clothes

Whether your child has worked some craft putty into the fabric of his sweatshirt or you accidentally spilled some caulk sealant on your jeans, you'll have a tough stain on your hands. Tough, gooey stains can embed themselves into the fabric of your clothing, rendering conventional stain-removal techniques useless. To best lift a gooey compound you should first harden the substance, then chip it away with a blade. A household solvent can be used to clean up the excess.

Large plastic bag
Butter knife
Plastic butter knife (optional)
Old rag
Solvent
Stiff brush
Prewash stain remover
Laundry detergent

Instructions

- 1
  Place the article of clothing in a large plastic bag. Place the bag in your freezer and leave it overnight so that the compound may harden.
- 2
  Remove the clothing from the bag. Wedge the blade of the butter knife between an edge of the hardened compound and the fabric. Turn the handle to begin prying up the compound from the fabric.
- 3
  Scrape away as much of the compound from the fabric as possible. Work cautiously to avoid ripping or cutting the article of clothing. For very delicate garments, use a plastic butter knife to avoid damage.
- 4
  Saturate an old rag with a solvent such as acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Dab any remaining compound with the rag. Brush away any small particles with a stiff brush.
- 5
  Apply a prewash stain remover to the area. Launder the garment as normal.

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