How can I get old silly string out of my shirt?

May 31, 2007 7:18 PM

Does anything get old silly string out of, say, my favorite shirt?

At a show a year or so ago, some joker - damn his eyes - sprayed silly string into the crowd, he was so close that it was still liquid and it hardened all over me. I managed to get it out of my hair and eyes, but ever since then my awesome "BODY MASSAGE" shirt has had a couple spots of old silly string. Has anyone had to clean up after a party or something where they came across a way to dissolve this stuff? I've tried soaking it, picking it, goo-gone type stuff, but I don't want to ruin the shirt with something more hardcore.

posted by BlackLeotardFront to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

Have you tried alcohol or mineral spirits? Neither will bleach, and have different chemical properties than water.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:30 PM on May 31, 2007

I think I tried mineral spirits, but not alcohol, we didn't have any around. I'll ask around, though.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:57 PM on May 31, 2007

I wouldn't pretend to know what silly string is made out of, but this Google Answer suggests that it may be a methacrylate or styrene polymer. If it's a polymethacrylate, toluene (paint thinner) may work; if it's a polysterene, acetone (nail polish remover) is worth trying. ***I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE SOLVENTS MAY DO TO THE FABRIC. Try them as a last resort.***
posted by solotoro at 8:57 PM on May 31, 2007

I think you may be out of luck.
"Children love to spray Silly String on other children's clothing, especially shirts. It usually comes off if wiped.

But if it is sprayed from a very close distance(1-2 feet) onto fabric, it stains and leaves a bright spot of either color ink or foam from the string. It can permanently stain and partly dissolve some varieties of vinyl wallpaper. It has also been seen to occasionally permanently mark or remove paint from cars."

Vinegar worked amazingly well for getting Silly Putty out of hair, and I know it works for a lot of other substances. Given the wiki info, I don't have high hopes, but there's nothing to lose by trying it.
posted by Iamtherealme at 11:22 PM on May 31, 2007

Paint thinner seems to have dissolved it; now there is only to see whether it dissolves the color of my shirt as well, or stains it. I'll let you know. But paint thinner/spirits will dissolve it, if any of you people get it on your wall/shoes/etc.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 10:30 PM on June 2, 2007