This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH and by wikiHow staff writer, Annabelle Reyes. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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If you've discovered sticky gum on your favorite blanket or clothing item, you may feel like you'll never be able to get it off. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to remove gum from fabric, and you probably have everything you'll need in your kitchen already! We’ll go over all the best ways to remove gum from fabric, from freezing it off to soaking it in hot vinegar. Keep reading for everything you need to know!
How to Get Gum Off of Fabric
If you’re removing gum from a small item, fold it and place it in the freezer with the gum facing upward. If the item won’t fit in the freezer, hold an ice cube or ice pack to the gum until it hardens. Once the gum is frozen, pick it off with your fingers or scrape it off with a dull knife, then launder as normal.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you remove chewing gum from clothes at home?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsYou can first try to freeze the gum for about 10-15 minutes before trying to pry it off with a knife and a spatula. Small items can easily fit in the freezer, but large items will require ice cubes. You can also try to soak the item in a hot vinegar and lemon juice bath. In addition, you can try items such as peanut butter, or mineral spirits. -
QuestionHow do you get gum out of upholstery?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsSince upholstery is rather big and bulky, you should first try using ice cubes to freeze the gum. If you can lay the item on the floor and rest a bag of ice cubes on it, that would be easiest. If not, you can try to hold a bag of ice cubes with a towel in your hand until the gum has hardened. Then, try to pry the gum off with a butter knife and spatula. If that does not work, you can try to harden the gum with hairspray. Be sure to check that the hairspray will not damage your item. -
QuestionWhat should I do if my sheets are white?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsRegardless of color, you should be able to freeze the gum on your sheets. You can try to put the entire sheet in the freezer by folding it up with the gum stain on top. After the gum has hardened, you can pick off or scrape the gum away. If that does not work, it is recommended to try some of the other options recommended in the article.
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Reader Videos
Tips
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Avoid heating the gum using a hair dryer. This will work the gum into the fibers of the fabric which will actually make it harder to remove.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/q-and-a/a20896/remove-chewing-gum-mar06/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/q-and-a/a20896/remove-chewing-gum-mar06/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes
- ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-remove-gum-from-clothing-even-bum-gum/
- ↑ /https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-remove-gum-from-clothing-even-bum-gum/
- ↑ https://www.persil.com/uk/laundry/laundry-tips/stains/dirty-secrets-remove-chewing-gum-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-chewing-gum-from-clothes.html
About This Article
To remove gum from fabrics, fold the fabric so the gum is on the outside and place the fabric in your freezer for 1-2 hours until the gum hardens. If you can't fit the fabric in the freezer, put an ice cube or ice pack directly on the gum for 10-15 minutes. Next, use your fingers to pick off as much hardened gum as you can, then use a butter knife or spatula to scrape away the remaining bits. Remove any residue with mineral spirits before cleaning the fabric according to the normal care instructions. To learn more, like how to get gum out of leather fabrics, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
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"cloth with gum soaking in hot vinegar...it only took about 15-20 minutes and it came off beautifully. Thanks so much!"..." more