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Gum might seem like a harmless little treat, but it’s actually surprisingly difficult to get off clothes. Needless to say, it is sticky, chewy, and almost sticks to everything. And using your portable washing machine can’t do anything about it.
It can be stubborn, so we’ve compiled this list of 14 tricks on how to get gum off clothes.
Will Gum Come Out of Clothes in the Wash?
If you find gum on your clothes, don’t just wash them. This is a bad idea. Coldwater can make the gum stick to the clothes even more and hot water can melt it and create a sticky gooey mess inside the machine.
Before you put your clothes in the washer with gum on it, make sure that there is not a lot of gum on the clothes. If there is a lot, then use one of our methods to remove the gum. Then we will know if it is safe to put them in the washer.
You may also want to check: 6 Ways on How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes
How to Get Gum Off Clothes
Choosing the best method for you may be as simple as picking the one that sounds the easiest.
Remove Gum with Alcohol
- Use a sponge or cloth to apply a little rubbing alcohol.
- Rub the alcohol into the gum. It may take a couple of minutes for the gum to start working. Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol will not stain your clothes if it contacts your clothing.
- The gum can then be gently scraped from fabric with a butter knife once it has started to loosen.
- You can then wash as normal.
Using a Vinegar
- Microwave a cup of distilled white vinegar for 30 seconds.
- Rub the gum with a toothbrush dipped in vinegar. Apply the vinegar while it is hot.
- Repeat the process until the gum is gone.
- As soon as the gum lifts, wash the garment using a stain remover if necessary.
Using a Toothpaste
- Take a drop of toothpaste and apply it to your gums.
- Make sure you flatten the toothpaste with an old ruler or the heel of your hand. Allow the toothpaste to dry completely.
- Your gum should feel hard after it has dried. You should also notice that it has broken down the gum’s stickiness. Remove the gum by peeling or scraping.
- Clean the fabric normally.
Clean Gum with Detergent
- Over the gum, pour liquid laundry detergent.
- Make sure to saturate the detergent into and around the gums with a toothbrush.
- Gently scrape the gum off the clothes using a butter knife or dull knife. Then just scrape off the excess gum with your fingernails.
- Wash as normal. If necessary, use a stain remover.
Remove Gum with Ice
- For about 20 minutes, place ice cubes or a freezer pack on top of the gum.
- By doing this you will freeze and harden the gum, allowing you to pop or scrape it off with a credit card, dull knife, or paint scraper.
- Once removed, you can wash as normal.
- If necessary, use a stain remover.
Freezing the Clothes
- Turn the clothes outward so the gum faces out.
- Insert the clothes into a plastic bag. Be sure the gum does not stick to the bag. If you are unable to find a way, put the clothes on top of the plastic bag.
- Freeze the bag and clothe for at least two hours or until the gum has frozen.
- Take the gum out of the freezer and scrape it off with a butter knife as soon as you get it out. This must be done while the gum is frozen hard, otherwise it will start to adhere to your clothes again.
Using Peanut Butter
- Put the peanut butter on the gum, covering as much of the gum as possible, but avoiding the fabric as much as possible.
- Allow the gum to soften and lose its stickiness by letting it sit for a few minutes.
- Remove the gum by scraping it off gently with a butter knife.
- Apply stain remover if necessary and wash as normal.
By Ironing
- On your ironing board, place a piece of cardboard. Position the gum-stained garment with the gum face down on the cardboard.
- Use a medium setting on the iron. Heat the fabric on the back. You should see the gum begin to transfer to the cardboard. Continue doing this until you have removed all gum from the clothing.
- It may be necessary to move the cardboard so that the gum sticks to a different area.
- After the gum is removed, wash the garment normally.
Using a Duck Tape
- You will need a piece of duct tape that can cover the entire gum.
- Place it over the gum. Don’t get the tape on the fabric if you can.
- You will see the gum come out when you lift the tape.
- Continue until you have removed all gum.
- If necessary, use a stain remover and wash as usual.
Boiling Clothes
- Put a large pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil.
- Soak the area of the garment affected by gum in the water. It is recommended you wear gloves to prevent yourself from being burned.
- You can use a butter knife to scrape the gum off the garment while it is submerged.
- Make sure the garment remains submerged. Remove any extra gum residue with an old toothbrush.
- Allow the garment to air dry. Then repeat if necessary or wash as normal.
Using a Hair Spray
- Apply some hairspray to the gum until it hardens.
- Use a butter knife to scrape it off. There will probably be cracks and breaks. Don’t worry, as long as it comes off.
- Keep going until it’s all gone.
- Then wash as normal.
Tackle Gum with Canned Air
- To harden the chewing gum, spray canned air onto it.
- Scrape the gum from the clothing with a butter knife or the edge of a credit card.
- Continue until the gum is gone.
- Then wash as normal.
Remove Gum with Steam
- Over the handle of a steaming teakettle, hold the gummed-up section of your garment.
- As the gum softens, it can be removed with a scraper or toothbrush after steaming.
- Once removed, wash as normal.
Clean Gum with Gum
- It might seem counterintuitive to use gum to remove gum, but you can actually use gum to your advantage when cleaning a sticky mess.
- Remove the stuck-on gum with another wad of gum.
- To avoid adding more sticky substances to adjacent fabric areas, apply chewed gum or tape directly to the gum.
- Pull away gently from the fabric.
- If necessary, use a stain remover and wash as usual.
Need a visual? Check out these 4 easy ways video tutorials.
4 Easy Ways to Remove Chewing Gum from Clothes with Toothpaste [Video]
How to Get Gum Out of Clothes After Washing and Drying
If you spot gum in your clothes after washing and drying, don’t worry. It is not stuck there for good. We recommend the freezer method to harden the gum and then it should be easy to remove.
Nevertheless, ironing also works well! It may take a little longer since the gum has now set in.
Prepare a stain remover at the ready in case gum stains appear on your garment.
Then wash as normal. You should not dry the garment until the gum stains have completely disappeared.
You may repeat the process until the gum is already gone.
3 Cleaning Products for Removing Gum From Clothes
There are quite a few household cleaners for removing sticky substances from clothes and other fabrics. Check out these 3 products to remove sticky substances from fabric! Your clothes will be good before you know it!
Before you apply these products, make sure to test them in an inconspicuous area of your garment.
Goo Gone Original – Surface Safe Adhesive Remover
Cleans carpets or fabrics quickly and easily of gum and other sticky residues. This product works with a wide variety of materials such as stickers, candle wax, permanent marker, crayon, glue, gum, tape residue, adhesive, paint, tree sap, tar, and more.
The product should be applied directly to the gum. Let it sit for a few minutes. Using a butter knife, scrape off the gum. Then wash as normal.
Duck Brand 527263 Adhesive Remover
Duck Brand Adhesive Remover easily removes tapes, adhesive residue, stickers, labels, tar, gum, caulk and more. This multi-purpose adhesive remover is perfect for both home and office use.
Spray it on the gum and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, scrape it off with a butter knife or the included scraper.
Zippo 12FC Lighter Fluid, 12 Ounce , Black
Apply a little lighter fluid to the gum. Put on safety gloves and put the garment far away from a fire.
To saturate the gum with lighter fluid, scrub it with a toothbrush. Using a butter knife, scrape off the gum.
Wash the garment with warm water and detergent. Dry it normally if the stain has been removed.
Conclusion
In the article, we discussed 14 methods for getting gum off of your clothes. We hope you learned a thing or two about how to deal with that pesky gum on your clothes.
If these 14 tricks don’t work, just remember the sage advice of our granny who always said “if at first you don’t succeed try and try again!”
What are some other ways to get rid of stubborn gum?
If you have any other ideas or tricks that work well, be sure to share them below!
