Finding gum on your clothes is always an unpleasant situation. What do you do to get gum out of your clothes? Not to worry, there are different methods to do so!
Whether you mistakenly sat on the gum or your kid left it in their pocket, these fixes will help you get them out quickly.
15 Ways to Get Gum Out of Clothes
Next time you find gum stuck to your clothes, consider these 15 tested and effective methods:
1: Use Gum or Duct Tape
Getting rid of gum with gum seems ridiculous, but it works. Place chewed gum or duct tape over the stained area to pull off the stuck glue. When using this method, ensure you only place the glue on the stuck glue to avoid messing up other areas of the fabric.
2: Remove Gum With Ice
Another method to remove gum is to place ice packs over the stuck-on gum. This will harden the gum, making it easy to scrape off with a butter knife or card.
3: Heat The Gum With Iron
You can use your iron to melt the gum out of your clothes. Simply place a cardboard on the ironing board, then face the part that has gum over it. Next, press your iron (medium heat) firmly over the back of the cloth. The heat will melt the gum, causing it to transfer to the cardboard. Now, launder the garment as usual.
4: Freeze Off The Gum in a Refrigerator
This technique works just like using ice packs. Put your stained cloth in a freezer for about an hour or until the gum hardens. Next, scrape off the gum using your expired credit card or fingernails.
5: Steam The Cloth
Another method to get rid of gum is submerging it in boiling water to loosen the stickiness. While the garment is in the water, use a butter knife to scrape off the gum gently. Then use a toothbrush to brush off extra gum residue and wash as normal.
6: Use An Hairdryer
You can also consider using the heat from your hairdryer to get gum out of your clothes. Use the hairdryer on the opposite side of the cloth until it softens. Next, use a butter knife on your fingernail to scrape off the gum and launder the garment as usual.
7: Use Laundry Detergent
Detergent is one of the most practical methods to remove gum from your clothes. Cover the stained area with detergent and use a toothbrush (soft-bristled) to spread it around. Next, use a knife to scrape the gum carefully and then wash as usual using a laundry cleaner.
8: Use Peanut Butter
Cover the stuck-on gum with little peanut butter and then leave to sit for some minutes. This will cause the gum to lose its stickiness, so you can use a knife to scrape off the gum. Next, use stain removal to wash the fabric as usual.
Note: Be careful when using peanut butter by covering the gum part only. This is because it can stain other areas of the fabric, leaving you with more stains to deal with.
9: Try Some Toothpaste
Scoop out toothpaste and apply it to the stained part of your clothes. Use your hand or a ruler to flatten the paste over the glue and leave it to dry. This will break down the gum stickiness making it easy to peel off without causing a mess.
10: Use Hot White Vinegar
White vinegar is a great household remedy for different stains, including gum stains. Simply heat white vinegar in a microwave and use a toothbrush to spread it over the gum. Keep doing this until the gum is gone, and then wash the garment as normal.
Note: Ensure you use hot white vinegar for this procedure for best results.
11: Use Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a great stain remover that can help deal with gum stains on your clothes. Apply the alcohol over the gum and leave for some minutes until it starts loosening. Then use a knife to scrape off the gum and launder the garment once the stain is gone.
12: Use Canned Air
Canned air can clean computer keyboards, dust your blinds, and also your gum stains! This product can harden the gum, thus making it easy to scrape it off.
Spray the canned air over the stained area until the gum hardens. Next, scrape out the gum and wash as normal.
13: Use Your Hairspray
Your hairspray can do more than hold your hair in place. You can also use it to remove gum from your cloth by spraying it over the stained area. Scrape with a butter knife or an expired credit card until the gum is out. Wash as normal once the gun stain is gone.
14: Use Hot Coconut Oil
If you are dealing with synthetic fabrics, coconut oil is an excellent choice to get gum out. Microwave a teaspoon of coconut oil until it’s hot and then use a toothbrush or Q tip to apply to the gum stain. Next, use the toothbrush to scrape off the softened gum until it disappears.
Wash your clothes with warm water and detergent to remove traces of coconut oil.
15: Use WD-40 or Goo Gone
Store-bought adhesive removals like WD-40 work perfectly to remove gum and other sticky stains from surfaces. Spray the product over the stain and let it sit for some minutes before scraping off with a butter knife.
How To Get Rid Of Gum From Delicate Garments
Clothes like wool and silk are delicate and require extra care when laundering them. To get gum out of delicate fabric, it’s best to apply rubbing alcohol over the stained area. Instead of a toothbrush, use a cotton stick to apply the alcohol, and then use a dull item like a spoon to scrape off the gum.
How To Get Gum Out Of Clothes After Washing
It’s possible to be unaware of stuck gum until you’ve washed and dried the clothes. While this isn’t really an ideal situation, it’s still possible to get the gum out with extra work.
Some methods include putting the fabric in a freezer or trying the ironing method. Also, you can try out a store-bought adhesive removal.
How To Get Smeared Gum Out Of Clothes
If you’re dealing with smeared gum, it’s best to choose hot vinegar for removal. Simply heat a cup of white vinegar and dip the gum stain in it or use a toothbrush to apply over the stain. Scrub off the stain and treat with detergent or laundry stain removal.
Tips To Keep in Mind When Getting Gum Out Of Clothes
Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with gum stains on your clothes:
- Don’t Dry Garment Until Gun Is Gone
One of the tips to keep in mind when dealing with gum is never to dry or wash the garment until the stain is gone. This will prevent the gum from setting permanently on the cloth.
- Avoid Smearing The Gum Stains
The last thing you want to do is spread the gum stain over other areas of the fabric. Try to focus on the gum-stained area as much as possible when applying any of the above solutions.
- Follow Care Label Instructions
Dealing with stains doesn’t mean you should ignore the instructions on your clothes. For example, if you are dealing with lightweight fabric, don’t use sharp objects to scrape up the gum. Also, if dealing with white fabrics, avoid using peanut butter as a solution. The gum removal method you pick should be suitable for the type of fabric you’re dealing with.