How to remove chewing gum from clothes?

Everyone has probably soiled their clothes with chewing gum at least once. Sometimes a careless lean against a wall or sitting on a park bench or other public place leads to an unpleasant surprise on your skirt, pants, or coat.

Fortunately, chewing gum does not penetrate deeply into the fabric fibers, so it can usually be removed without damaging the garment. All you need to know is the right method of doing so. Below we will present a few popular ways on how to remove chewing gum from clothes.

Chewing gum – choosing the method vs. the type of material

Before proceeding, you should carefully check the type of fabric you will be removing the chewing gum from. If we do not want to damage the fibers and safely remove the gum, without worrying about deformation or discoloration, we should follow a few simple rules.

First of all, too high or low temperatures are not advisable for delicate fabrics (used to make blouses, dresses or scarves, for example). In such cases you should be very careful with methods involving freezing or softening the gum. The same is true for solutions using grease. After all, you will not be able to remove a greasy stain from every fabric.

How to remove chewing gum from fabric – freezing out

The most popular, at-home way to get rid of gum stuck to your clothing is to freeze it. Frozen gum hardens and can be chipped away from the material without any trouble.

This solution is ideal for clothes made of cotton, especially jeans. All you need to do is put them in the freezer for about an hour, and then gently remove the gum, for example, with a blunt knife.

What if you don’t have the time or are worried that low temperatures will damage the fabric? Then it is worth using ice cubes, and putting them onto the gum. In most cases, it will begin to harden after just a few minutes and you will be able to chip it away easily.

Removing chewing gum with high heat

Removing gum from more delicate blouses or dresses may require the use of high rather than low temperature. An ordinary iron will prove helpful. It should be set to a medium temperature. You put a piece of cardboard, to which the gum will stick, on the ironing board. Then, you place the material in such a way that the gum is on the underside and adheres to the cardboard. Later, gently apply an iron and soften the gum so that it sticks to the board. This method usually allows you to remove the gum in several minutes.

Some people use steam irons or a steamers to remove the gum. All you have to do is direct the stream at the gum and let the heat and moisture soften it after just a few minutes. Then, you can gently peel it off the fabric. A similar effect can be achieved with an ordinary hair dryer.

How to remove chewing gum from clothes using grease?

Another option of removing chewing gum from clothing is to use a grease, such as oil or butter. Simply grease a piece of fabric with the gum on it, and after a few minutes you will notice that it starts to peel off. This method allows you to completely remove unwanted gum from the fabric, but it has its drawbacks. After using it, you still have to remove the greasy stain, which is not easy with every fabric.

How to remove chewing gum stains?

Sometimes after removing chewing gum, an unsightly stain remains on the fabric. How can you get rid of it? You can use a standard stain remover, adding it while doing laundry. A more natural solution is to use vinegar, dishwashing liquid, and warm water. You apply them to the stain with a sponge, and then leave it for a few minutes – the ugly reminder of chewing gum should disappear.

Effective ways to remove gum from clothes

Although getting chewing gum stuck on your clothes is nothing pleasant, you don’t have to worry about it too much. After all, there are many methods on how to effectively remove the unwanted decoration out of your favorite clothing, without damaging the fabric. As a result, it is possible to continue enjoying your favorite clothes without having to worry about such surprises.