How To Get Gum Out Of Clothing?

Chewing gum always sneaks up where it does not belong-under the desks, on the seat, sidewalk and carpet. You do not need to know where the gum came from; just know how to get gum out of clothing. There are so many household items, including ice, vinegar, and peanut butter, to get rid of the mess. 

These quick methods to get gum off will work whether you are at home or the office. All you need is some household items and a little perseverance.

Let’s check it out!

How to get gum out of clothing?

Things You Will Need

Equipment / Tools

• Butter knife

Materials

• Plastic bag
• Ice
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Distilled white vinegar
• Laundry detergent

Before You Begin

If your garment is labeled dry clean only, start by hardening the gum and remove as much as possible. Go to the dry cleaners and point out the stain to the professional cleaner. 

If you own a home dry cleaning kit, make sure to treat the remaining stain after all the solid of gum is removed with a stain remover, then put the garment in the dryer bag. 

If you are trying to remove gum from vintage clothing or silk, always consult a professional before you attempt to remove the stain.

Instructions:

• Harden the Gum

Place the stained clothing in a plastic bag and put it into the freezer for many hours. This method works best when the gum has melted in the dryer and smeared over the fabric. In case the gum stain is minor, put some ice cubes in the plastic bag along with stained fabric and hold the cubes on the gum for a few minutes.

• Scrape Off the Gum

Take the garment out of the freezer and scrape off the gum immediately using a butter knife or credit card edge. The goal is to get rid of most of the gum, refreeze the item, and then scrape it off again. 

• Pretreat the Stain
• To treat the remaining spot, use a mixture of white distilled vinegar with liquid dishwashing detergent. Rub the solution gently on the front side of the fabric and let the mixture sit for around 15 minutes. 

How To Remove Dried-Up Gum From Clothing

When the gum stain is dry and old, you can use petroleum jelly to loosen the gum. Just dab the petroleum jelly on your finger and work it into the stained fabric at the base side. The gum will loosen enough that it can be picked up. Before you wash the fabric, treat it to get rid of grease stains caused by petroleum jelly. You can use heavy-duty laundry or stain remover to pretreat the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wash as usual. 

• Wash As Usual

Wash the garment like you would normally with your favorite laundry detergent. Carefully inspect the stained area before putting the fabric to air dry. If the stain remains, treat it using vinegar and soap mixture, then wash it again. Do not put the fabric into the dryer until the stain is removed completely. 

How to Get Gum Off Shoes?

Things You Will Need

Supplies:

• Plastic bag
• Ice (Optional)
• Liquid dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar

Tools:

• Butter knife
• Sponge
• Cloths

Instructions:

• Freeze the Shoe

Keep the shoes in a plastic bag and seal them. Put the ball into the freezer for an hour until it completely hardens. You can also use the ice cube in the plastic bag method. 

• Remove the Gum

        Scrape off as much gum as you can using a butter knife or a credit card edge. Be very careful when working with suede boots and shoes. 

• Apply Soap and Vinegar

To treat the stain using a mixture of white vinegar with liquid dishwashing soap. Sponge the solution and let it sit for 10 minutes, then blot it off with a clean cloth. Repeat this process until the stain is removed completely. Finish by botting off with a clean wet cloth. Let the shoe air dry. You can use a leather conditioner on leather shoes to bring back the shine.

How to get gum out of carpet and upholstery?

You can use the same techniques and products to get rid of gum from both carpet and upholstery. 

THINGS YOU WILL NEED:

Supplies:

• Plastic bag
• Ice
• Dry cleaning solvent (for upholstery only)
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Distilled white vinegar

Tools:

• Butter knife
• Cloth
• Soft-bristled brush
• Vacuum

Instructions:

• Apply an Ice Pack

Put some ice cubes in a sealed plastic bag. Keep it on the gum stain for a few minutes and let it freeze to allow the gum to harden.

• Scrape Carefully

Using a dull knife or old credit card, scrape off the gum and remove as much as possible.

• Apply a Cleaner

Apply a dry cleaning solvent in the stain of carpet or upholstery as per the manufacturer’s direction. Make sure to test the solvent on the fabric in a hidden area to not remove the color of the upholstery. 

To carpet stain, mix white vinegar and liquid detergent in equal parts. Using a soft-bristled brush works with small amounts of solution to get rid of the stain. Let it sit on the stain for about 10-15 minutes and then blot with a clean white cloth dipped into plain water. 

Keep blotting using clean areas of cloth until no more residue or solution is left on the cloth. 

• Dry and Fluff

Let the carpet fibers air dry completely and vacuum the fabric or fluff the fibers as you like.

Final Words:

Taking gum out of fabric can be a real pain. However, with the help of the above-listed steps, you can easily remove gum from clothes and shoes. We hope you like this guide on how to get gum out of clothing. Upholstery and shoes. 

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