It’s the worst feeling: you go to get dressed and see that permanent sparkle has been deposited all over your favorite shirt. You don’t want to throw it away, but it’s so covered in glitter that you can hardly even wear it. Luckily, there are ways to remove the glitter so you can still use your clothes.
To remove the glitter from clothes, Spray the affected area with hairspray. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rub the fabric together to remove as much of the glitter as possible (similar to when you use rubbing alcohol). If necessary, repeat steps 2 and 3 until all of the glitters are gone.
What Is Glitter Made Of?
Glitter is made of plastic.
It’s a form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a type of plastic that can be recycled but can also end up in landfills and oceans.
The good news is that some companies are making eco-friendly glitter, so if you want to do your part for the environment, look for it at your local craft store or online, it may be easier than you think!
Why Is Glitter So Hard to Clean Up?
There are several reasons why it’s so hard to remove glitter from clothes. First of all, glitter is essentially plastic. It may sound strange that something so pretty can be made of plastic but believe it or not, glitter is actually a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The second reason why glitter can be so difficult to clean up has to do with its composition as well as its shape. Glitter is essentially tiny pieces of microplastic made from PET that have been cut into smaller pieces for use in crafts or decorations like clothing and accessories (studded shoes being one example).
Since these tiny particles are so small, they’re often trapped inside clothing fibers rather than falling on the surface where they can be easily removed with soap or water alone.
How to Remove Permanent Glitter from Clothes
Use a Lint Roller
- Place the lint roller on top of the area that has glitter.
- Pull the lint roller away from you, and then repeat until all of the glittery particles have been removed.
Rub the area with petroleum jelly
If you have glitter on the back of your shirt, put some petroleum jelly on a soft cloth and rub it into the fabric. Use a gentle motion and apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly to the fabric. Rub in circles until all of the glitters are removed from your clothes.
Apply a stain remover to the affected area.
Applying the stain remover is the most important step in this process. While it may seem counterintuitive, you don’t need to be afraid of using a lot of stain remover. But you should be careful not to rub too hard or use too much water on the affected area.
In terms of the application method, you should never rub in circles or use an excessive amount of water. Also, never leave the stain remover on your clothes for more than 15 minutes (remember: they’re synthetic fabrics).
Spray the affected area with hairspray.
For this method, you’ll need hairspray. Hairspray is a solvent that can remove permanent glitter from clothes and fabric.
Spray the affected area with hairspray. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rub the fabric together to remove as much of the glitter as possible (similar to when you use rubbing alcohol). If necessary, repeat steps 2 and 3 until all of the glitters are gone.
Try rubbing alcohol or vodka on the glittery fabric.
- Rubbing alcohol is a good solvent for removing glitter, so you’ll want to try that first.
- Pour some rubbing alcohol on the glittery fabric and gently rub it with your fingers. (If you’re using vodka, pour about two tablespoons into a bowl of water.)
- Use warm or hot water to wash off the alcohol or vodka from your clothes.
Can Rubbing Alcohol Remove Glitter?
Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove glitter from clothing. It’s a solvent, meaning that it dissolves oils and greases. In this case, the grease comes in the form of glitter and its adhesive glue.
Rubbing alcohol can also act as a drying agent, which means it will help dry up any wet spots that might have been left behind by the solvent. It’s also an antiseptic, rubbing alcohol kills germs on contact and prevents infection in wounds like cuts or scrapes (this is especially useful if you’re using your clothes to clean up after working with chemicals).
Does Soap Remove Glitter?
Soap can remove glitter, but not all soap will work equally well. You need a very gentle soap that won’t damage the fabric or clothing you’re washing or the garment itself.
How to Remove Glitter from Shirt
- Use petroleum jelly to remove glitter from clothes.
- Use hairspray to remove glitter from clothes.
- Use rubbing alcohol or vodka on the glittery fabric.
Conclusion
glitter is a fun thing to have around, but it can also be a pain when it gets all over your clothes. Luckily, there are some easy ways to remove the glitter from your shirt so that you can get back out into the world with clean clothing.
