How can I safely remove "therapy putty" from my clothes? I put it inside my pocket and it is a mess. Thanks!

Question

Help!!
I work in a lifecare facility, and while enroute with a patient the other day, I absent-mindedly put their "therapy putty" inside my uniform pants pocket. It is a mess! Lime-green putty is inside my navy blue uniform pocket:(....I have tried freezing & chipping it off and also have tried spraying it with WD40 to help lossen it as I tried getting it off the material. Is there a safer, faster or better way to remove the "therapy putty?" Thanks for all who answers; I am desperate to clean this mess all up.

Answer 1

Oh, you are out of luck........ I am so sorry. I am a therapist (x 17 years) and I always tell my patients to never let it get on the carpet or their clothes because it won't come out. It spreads out between all the fibers and once set in, it is set.

Here is a number of a place that sells it and if they came up with a new way of getting it out that I do not know of, you can ask them. Good luck.http://www.activeforever.com/p-23-rainbow-hand-putty.aspx?source=overture 1-800-377-8033

Or here is one popular catalog we order from that they might have a new way to help: http://www.sammonspreston.com/
Phone toll-free: 800-323-5547

I have always wanted them to come up with a new way. We always tell our patients not to let kids to play with it because it is not like play-do. I pray they come up with a way to help it not stick to clothing and carpet like they do and if so, a way to help clean it up with ease.

Answer 2

There is only one solution for this, and it's going to sound gross - but it is effective: Urinate on it. Seriously. The trick is to drink some really high octane espresso, about 3 or 4 shots worth (straight or as close to it as you can stand) on an empty bladder, then the next time nature calls, answer it by drowning the putty covered portion of clothing. Let drip dry for a few minutes, then blast with a blow dryer at the highest speed and temperature settings it has for about five minutes. At this point, you will want to take baking soda and apply it to the affected area after you turn the blow dryer off. Use an ample amount - enough to fully cover the whole situation in white powder. Rub it in as best you can. You should notice that the putty is starting to lose some of its tackiness now. The last step is to get about a half a cup of vinegar (again just an approximation - use enough to cover the entire area lightly but not to the point it is soaked and dripping). I find that White Vinegar is best, but my grandmother swears by Apple Cider vinegar for this task. I'm not sure what it is about the coffee that makes the difference, but at least you'll be good and wired when you clean up the frothy mess of pee-pants-vinegar-volcano you now have in front of you. That putty is never coming out so just light the whole thing on fire. My grandmother, in case you were wondering, is not in the habit of urinating on her clothing.

Answer 3

Therapy Putty

Answer 4

If it's what I'm envisioning, it's an alum-based putty that's pretty elastic. If so, try soaking it in 1 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of really hot water and letting it sit an hour or so. Then scrub with a stiff brush and it should be soft enough to rub away from the fibers.

Ammonia is probably the most under-rated degreaser, dewaxer, stain killer in the world. It's great for softening or dissolving things like this.

Answer 5

I'm a therapist as well... to the loving folks that suggested peanut butter and ice. or to wait for it to dry you have never seen this stuff. It really doesn't come out. I am going to try the ammonia but I am rather doubtful. I feel for you and your scrubs and lab coat. I have now lost one set of scrubs a shirt and two lab coats to the stuff. Usually I am victim to pink or orange when a child strings it and then I don't realize I have a string on me until an hour later. But my worst is when a tub cracked in the back seat of my car. Now I am desperate to try to find a solution. I can't just throw out the carpet of my car floor. Maybe the ammonia will work. Until then... I can at least commiserate with you.

Answer 6

For carpet I used a product called "Freeze It", which is mainly for getting gum out of items. It worked great. I first pulled out as much of the putty as I could then froze the rest, then scraped it with a plastic scraper. It came right out. Might work well with clothes too? I d test it first though.

Answer 7

Try Peanut Butter next. Put enough on to cover the "putty" , let sit and then wash.

Answer 8

Oh, I'm not sure. probably wait until it's dry. It'll be easier that way.
Wish I could help more!