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Amanda asked: How do I clean a melted green balloon from a pair of shorts? I sat down on a melted balloon.
Whether
it’s a melted balloon or hot rubber on the car, when melted rubber attaches to clothing, it’s sure to leave a sticky mess. While most of the time this can be removed, it will require prompt treatment. Here’s how to remove the sticky goop.
You Will Need:
- Spoon or dull knife
- Ice
- Dry cleaning solvent
- Laundry detergent
- Sponge or soft cloths
Steps to Remove the Melted Rubber:
- Begin by scraping off as much of the rubber as possible. If it is still soft, harden it by placing an ice cube on it for a few seconds.
- To remove the remaining residue, moisten a sponge or soft cloth with dry cleaning solvent and dab it onto the rubber. Dry cleaning solvent is available online or at janitorial supply stores, or a smaller bottle can be found in a Dryel Home Dry Cleaning kit, which is available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets.
- Allow it to soak and dab again.
- Continue until the rubber residue is broken down and removed.
- Allow the area to dry.
- Apply laundry detergent directly to the area where the melted rubber was.
- Wash as normal.
- Do not dry until all of the rubber is removed. Do not place it in the dryer, or it may melt further and spread.
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Additional Tips and Advice
- If the garment is dry clean only, do not attempt to clean it yourself. Take it to the cleaners as soon as possible to have the spot treated.
- Fabrics may react differently to the dry cleaning fluid. Test a small, hidden area first to ensure there are no adverse effects to the fabric.
- If the rubber is on the surface of the clothing, it may “pop” or crack off when frozen. Allow the rubber to get really hard before trying to peel it off of the fabric.
Which dry cleaning solvent do you recommend for removing a melted balloon from clothing?
I had a bright red rubber balloon melt onto a very fine see-through curtain. I rubbed it with non-acetone nail polish – no result. Then I washed it with detergent – nothing. After a couple of minutes, tried the detergent again, scrubbed the cloth on itself with my hands (but not too roughly), and it worked like magic! I think it was the combination of soaking, detergent and persistent hand scrubbing that got it out.
How do I remove a latex coating inside my nylon jacket? I removed the stuff from inside my sleeves after hours of patiently scraping it off with a paring knife. I also cut out a fleece lining and a nylon lining then the third layer was latex.I’m going to try freezing it in my deep freeze for a few hours then see if it’ll crack and easily fall off.
How do I remove a stain from rubber gloves in a coat? The coat is a very light gray color and the gloves are black…
Seriously, there’s really a difference between washing and scrubbing with a sponge; it saved me. I think it (scrubbing) helps take away the smaller detailed stains caused by the melted rubber on the fabric.