How to Get Chia Seeds Out of Clothes (+ Pooey Diapers) in 5 Easy Steps

Chia seeds are good for you, they said. Add them to anything and everything, they said. What they didn’t say is just how do you clean spilled seeds that end up EVERYWHERE. (Your clothes included.)

Or seeds from chia pudding that your baby decided to self feed by fingering and smearing it all over their cutest knit sweater.

(Or the horror of chia-pooped cloth diapers!)

To remove chia seeds from clothing, you’ll need a comb, duct tape, and a little bit of patience. You can also use a handheld vacuum cleaner if you really struggle.

(Which you often will.)

1. Shake, Shake, Shake It Off

If you get raw chia seeds all over your clothes, the first step is to pick them up and shake them off. The best place to do this is, of course, outdoors. That way you reduce the risk of creating a bigger mess with the seeds. 

Don’t have a lot of outdoor space? Shake the clothing off over a garbage can. This helps to keep the seeds contained in an area where you won’t have to worry about spreading them around.

But what if it’s a smoothie or a pudding? Scrape it off the clothes as much as you can using a spoon or piece of cardboard. If there are any stubborn seeds stuck into the texture, turn on your hairdryer to dry out the liquid and release the seeds. And then proceed with the following steps!

Finally, if you’re dealing with a pooey diaper, it’s best to scrape it off, then soak it up and leave for a couple of hours. That should make the seeds (or what’s left of them) easier to whoosh away with a shower head, toilet spray or garden hose!

While at it, make sure to protect the drain with a strainer. Seeds are among the main culprits for clogging!

Once you’re done, skip to step #5.

2. Brush 1000 Strokes A Day

Usually, shaking your clothing is enough to get the worst of the chia seeds off. From time to time, however, you may find that there are a few stragglers still stuck to your clothes. 

If you have this problem, you can use a dry brush method to get rid of the seeds. Using a thick bristled brush, comb the clothing to rub off any chia seeds that are especially stuck to your clothing’s fibers. 

3. Break Out the Duct Tape

The next trick is to take some duct tape to your clothes. 

1. Simply lay out strips of duct tape on the parts of your clothes where the chia seeds are stuck. 
2. Then, rip the duct tape off the clothes. 
3. You can also wrap the duct tape around your hand sticky side out. Place your hand on the fabric and quickly lift it up to remove the seeds.

For those who don’t have duct tape on hand, packing tape or masking tape also works. Or, you can use a lint roller. 

4. Vacuum the Seeds

If after all these steps you’re still left with chia seeds on your clothes, it’s time to break out the vacuum. A handheld vacuum is best here but a vacuum with an attachment will also work just fine. 

1. Turn the vacuum on and run it over the parts of the clothes with the chia seeds stuck to them. 
2. Press down the rest of the clothing as you work to prevent it from getting sucked into the vacuum. 
3. Continue vacuuming until you’ve got the worst of the seeds up. 

5. The Finishing Touches

Once all the chia seeds are gone, it’s time to launder your clothes. Place them in the washing machine with your favorite eco-friendly laundry detergent. (I currently use Dropps pods, but any will do!)

I can’t stress this enough: make sure your clothes are entirely chia-free BEFORE tossing them into the washer!

When damp, chia seeds will puff up. Of course, they are most likely to end up in the filter. But in a worst-case scenario, they may end up breaking your washer!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Remove Seed Pods from Clothes?

Shake the clothes off outside, then pick up as many as you can with a piece of duct tape. If you don’t have a handheld vac, some manual work is also likely to be needed. Whichever method you choose, just make sure to get rid of all or nearly all the seeds. Or else they might clog up your washer! 

How Do You Dissolve Chia Seeds?

You can’t dissolve chia seeds. However, when you place chia seeds in water they expand. They create a thick gel that many people enjoy eating as a pudding or as a health beverage.

Can Chia Seeds Get Stuck?

Chia seeds can sometimes get stuck to clothing. This often depends on the type of fabric your clothing is made from. Of course, it’s most likely to happen with knits! If it happens, try to brush them off or use duct tape. 

Do Chia Seeds Soak Up Liquid?

Yes! The reason why it’s so important to get the seeds off your clothes before you wash them is that the seeds can soak up liquid and create a gooey mess in your laundry machine.