How to Clean Flarp Out of Carpet

If you’ve ever trodden on a strange, squishy glob and learned it was Flarp, you know how awful it is to find that multicolored noise putty squished into your carpet. Flarp is fun—until it becomes all sticky on soft floors. But don’t freak out! There are techniques to get Flarp out of your carpet without hurting it, whether it’s fresh or dried. This tutorial tells you everything you need to know about cleaning your carpet and getting rid of Flarp.

What Is Flarp and Why Is It So Hard to Get Rid Of?

Flarp is a gooey, stretchy putty that makes amusing sounds when you squeeze it. Polymers provide it flexibility and stickiness, which makes it stick to carpet strands even more when it is imbedded in them. Because it doesn’t dissolve in water and doesn’t respond to many common cleansers, getting Flarp out is a little more difficult than cleaning up a normal mess.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Flarp Out of Carpet

Step 1: Do It Quickly If the Flarp Is Still Fresh

You’re lucky if the Flarp is still soft and hasn’t dried yet. The sooner you start cleaning, the better it will go.

What You’ll Need:

A dull butter knife or plastic scraper
A clean cloth or paper towels
A ziplock bag full of ice cubes
Vacuum cleaner
Soap for dishes
Water that is warm
White vinegar (optional)

How to Do It:

Take off the extra Flarp: Use the dull edge of a butter knife or a plastic scraper to get as much of the putty off the carpet as you can. Don’t push down; you don’t want to smear it deeper.
Blot with paper towels: Use dry paper towels to gently blot the area to get rid of any loose pieces. Don’t massage; this will push the Flarp deeper into the fibers.
Put ice on the residue to solidify it: If the Flarp is very stuck, put a bag of ice over it for 10 to 15 minutes. The cold will make the putty harder, which will make it simpler to get off.
Gently scrape again: Once the putty has set, use your butter knife to gently scrape again. You will probably see more of the Flarp lift off in pieces.
Clean up the mess: Use a vacuum to pick up any pieces that have broken off and become hard.
To clean the area: Mix a few drops of dish soap with a cup of warm water. To get rid of any sticky residue, dip a clean cloth in the solution and gently blot the area.
Rinse and dry: Use a second damp cloth with plain water to get rid of the soap. Then use a dry cloth to blot.
Optional vinegar rinse: If there is still an odor or sticky feeling, mix equal parts white vinegar and water and dab it on the spot to get rid of both.

Step 2: Getting Rid of Dried or Ground-In Flarp

When Flarp has dried or been pressed deeply into carpet fibers, it requires more work, but you can still accomplish it.

What You’ll Need:

Ice cubes in a bag
Dull scraper
Vacuum
Goo Gone (or anything like it that removes glue)
Soap for dishes
(Optional) rubbing alcohol
Cloths that are clean

How to Do It:

Ice will harden the Flarp: The first stage is to make it brittle, much like with fresh Flarp. Put a bag of ice on the region for 15 to 20 minutes.
Gently scrape the dried putty: Use your dull scraper to break up the hardened Flarp. Don’t rush; it can come off in layers.
Vacuum the pieces that have come loose: Use a vacuum cleaner to pick up all the loose fragments.
Use Goo Gone or a comparable product to get rid of the glue:
Before you use it, try it out on a part of your carpet that isn’t very visible to be sure it won’t hurt or change the color of the fibers. Then, put a little bit on a clean cloth and dab it on the spot that needs to be cleaned.
Let it sit, then blot: Let the product sit for a few minutes. Then, blot the area to get rid of the Flarp residue. Don’t rub.
To clean: Mix dish soap with warm water and dab the area to get rid of any residual cleanser or glue.
Rinse and dry the area: Use a clean, moist cloth to rinse, and then a dry towel to blot.
Optional alcohol spot treatment: A little rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab can get rid of dye spots, but only on carpets that won’t fade. Always try it out first.

What You Shouldn’t Do When Cleaning Flarp Out of Carpet

If you use the wrong methods, cleaning up Flarp can go awry. Don’t make these common mistakes:

Don’t rub or scrub: This can push the Flarp deeper into the carpet fibers, making it harder to get rid of.
Don’t use heat: Steam or hot water can make the Flarp melt or stick to the carpet more tightly.
Don’t use colored towels: Use just white ones to keep the dye from getting on your carpet.
Don’t overdo it: If you put too much water on the carpet, it can get into the padding and cause mold or mildew.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Flarp

If you don’t want to use chemicals, here are some natural options that work surprisingly well:

1. Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Put some baking soda on the place where the Flarp is soiled.
Use a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water to spray.
Let it bubble for ten minutes.
Gently blot and scrape.
Use water to rinse and then blot dry.

2. Juice from a Lemon

Put some lemon juice on the sticky place.
Give it a few minutes to sit.
Gently scrape, then blot with warm water.

Both ways can get rid of small bits of dirt and make the carpet smell better organically.

How to Keep Flarp Carpet Stains from Happening Again

Let’s be honest: if you have kids, Flarp is probably going to end up on your floors again. Here’s how to stop it from happening again:

Only play on tables or hard floors: Put down a play tray or a plastic mat.
Set a rule for Flarp that there is no carpet: Turn the “Flarp-safe zone” into a game.
Cover up play areas with carpet: Use rugs that can be washed or covers that can be taken off.
Watch smaller kids while they play: Flarp’s biggest fans are toddlers, and they are also the worst.

Questions That Are Often Asked:

Can I get rid of Flarp using a carpet cleaner?
A regular carpet cleaner won’t do anything until you’ve cleaned up most of the Flarp by hand. But it’s a good way to clean up the area once you’ve taken it down.

Is it okay to use Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol on carpet?
Yes, but you should always try it on a hidden area first. If you don’t use them carefully, both can be excessively harsh on colorful or sensitive carpets.

Will Flarp leave a permanent stain on my carpet?
Not if you deal with it right away. The color may leave a faint mark, but vinegar or alcohol treatments usually get rid of it.

Can I get rid of Flarp using a steam cleaner?
Don’t do it. The heat can make the Flarp melt deeper into the carpet, which makes things worse.

It’s annoying to have Flarp in the carpet, but it’s not going to last forever. You can get rid of it by scraping, blotting, freezing, and gently cleaning it, no matter if it’s fresh or dried into the fibers. Use the correct instruments, stick to cold treatments, and be patient. And what do you do the next time your kids ask for a new tub of Flarp? Maybe give it to them just if they swear not to go on the carpet.

Want more advice on how to clean up after kids? Stay with us; we have a lot more guidelines to help you maintain your home clean, no matter what happens during the day.

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