Asked on Mar 25, 2018

How to get melted rubber band stains out of clothes?

Somebody posted a useful way to stop clothes from slipping off hangers by rolling rubber bands over the ends of the clothes hangers. I live in Rio De Janeiro Brazil and I did this with my silk short sleeved blouses that are always slipping off the hangers.

WOW! WHAT a mistake! The Rubber Band self destroys and melts into all my beautiful pure silk T-shirts and nice blouses with melted rubber that has permeated the fabric and ruined quite a few of them.

I still kept some where the fabric is more resistant thinking that some-one might know of some solvent to get this gunk off and out of my T-shirts. I used paint remover and it destroyed the silk. The most destructive "Üseful Hint" that I've ever tried out!

  7 answers
  • Becca Becca on Mar 25, 2018

    Oh, so sorry. Rubber bands are not hood in heat or humidity. Try a dry cleaning solution. I believe Amazon would have it. I would say try an ice cube to make the rubber "chip" off but silk gets water stains very easy. You could try it on a small spot, not kuch to lose if it doesn't work.

  • Sassy Sassy on Mar 25, 2018

    Acetone may remove the rubber stain, but does have the potential to ruin the clothing. Can you take one to a dry cleaners and see if they can get it out? Or can you buy Dry Clean Spot Remover or solvent?

    http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-melted-rubber-from-clothing/


    Instead of using rubber bands, try using elastic that is used in waistbands - comes in many sizes and the elastic is covered with thread that would protect your clothing. You can buy it in any store that sells fabric.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Mar 25, 2018

    I can't help you, but can give you a suggestion to keep those silky garments on their hangers. Get white velvet or white velvet type ribbon and wrap it around the hangers where you need it. That would me much less likely to harm your clothes. If you can get ribbon to match the colors of your tops and shirts, you can customize the hangers for each one as to where and how much you need the ribbon to cover to keep the top/shirt on that hanger. Otherwise, stick to white, that would be less likely to bleed a color onto your clothing in the heat and humidity. I got a box of the velvety colored hangers once at Bed Bath and Beyond and use them on the tops that don't like to stay on hangers and that did the trick. The only problem is, I usually only see them in black and I don't know if the black would transfer onto your clothes in the high heat and humidity you would have.

  • So sorry this happened to you! I never did it for that very reason. Where I live it is hot and dry and they distentgrate in no time flat. I replaced all my hangers with huggable hangers from Joy Mangano.


    http://joymangano.com/shop/a-happier-more-huggable-closet/


    Look for something similar in Brazil! Or order on Amazon.

  • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Mar 25, 2018

    What an awful thing to happen to your pretty silk clothing! I think those little catalogues like Harriet Carter or Carol Wright or Lydia something, sell little thin spongey covers for wire hanger that dry cleaners use. Maybe you could even buy some from the dry cleaner! Using white velvet ribbon is a great idea. I would use a spot of glue to keep the ends in place. Perhaps the silicone type. Now there's an idea, a dab or strip of silicone. Let it dry thoroughly (overnight)

  • Lynn Lynn on Mar 25, 2018

    silk is tough, would consult your dry cleaner.Have seen Non slip padded hangers look like a velvet coating,may help

  • Thanks everyone, I don't buy anything from The States as it takes an age to get here and is then taxed by customs. Amazon here only sells books , but seems to be expanding. I think next time I'll put sponge on the ends of the hangers. I managed to get the melted rubber off the T-shirts that survived with solvent. Threw away about eight expensive silk blouses.I keep seeing that tip about the rubber bands, especially on Pintinterest. Feel like warning people....