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How to Get Playdough Out of Clothes

Play-doh is fun to play with but can cause a mess on clothing. Learn how to remove playdough from clothes and fabric whether it&;s fresh or dried play dough.

More from Clorox experts

Question

I received the following question from a reader recently on Play-Doh®. Check out my response for some tips in removing it from clothing.

“My 11-year-old daughter got a new shirt for Christmas from her grandma and somehow got red Playdough ground into the front of it. Is there a special way to get Play-Doh out of clothing? I’d appreciate the help.”

Answer

Wow, I can still remember when my kids were playing with Play-Doh. The always had in their fingernails and on their clothes.

This one shouldn’t be too hard assuming the shirt is cotton or poly/cotton. I would scrape off as much of the dried on material as possible. Then, try pre-treating it with liquid detergent (apply, rub in, wait 2-3 minutes) and then presoak before you finish washing. I do this by filling the washer like doing a regular load, then stopping the cycle for 10-15 minutes. This gives the detergent an extra few minutes to soften and start to break down the soil. Finish by running a full cycle (15 minutes or so) and don’t forget to check at the end of the rinse cycle for success. You may have to re-treat and wash it.

Anyway, give this approach a try and let me know if they work.

Good luck!