How to Remove Gum from a Shoe

Co-authored by Victor Adrian

Last Updated: November 13, 2024 Approved

Everyone has walked in gum at some point in their life -- it's not a fun experience, especially if your shoes are brand new. Luckily, there are several easy hacks for removing gum from the sole of your shoe. Find a method that appeals to you after the jump!

How to Get Gum off Shoes

Place the shoe in a plastic bag, letting the gum stick to the plastic. After 1–2 hours, peel away the bag, taking the gum with it. Alternatively, you can freeze the gum with ice and scrape it off, or use lubricants like WD-40 or peanut butter.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Freezing the Gum

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1
Place the shoe in a plastic bag. Take your gum-ridden shoe and put it in a plastic bag, such as a large food storage bag or a grocery bag. It doesn't matter if the entire shoe doesn't fit in the bag, just make sure the part with the gum is pressed against the plastic.
- This method is especially efficient if the shoe's sole is not smooth and flat.
Press the plastic bag firmly against the piece of gum for several seconds. You need the gum to stick to the plastic before freezing, otherwise this method won't work.

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Clear a space in your freezer for the plastic-covered shoe. If the shoe is not fully inside the plastic bag, you may want to keep it away from any food items, to avoid spreading any germs.
This will give the gum a chance to freeze onto the plastic bag. Once frozen, remove the shoe and the bag from the freezer.
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Remove the shoe from the plastic bag. The gum should stick to the plastic bag instead of your shoe, leaving your shoe gum-free!^{[1]
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- Another option is to simply scrape off the gum remnants with a utility knife. Be careful with the blade and use safety gloves if possible.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Using Ice

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Fill a large plastic bag with ice cubes. Place your shoe on top of the ice cubes, gum-side down. Avoid letting the ice cubes go inside or around the shoe, as this will make your shoe wet.
Keep the ice cold. To prevent it from melting too fast, use a food storage bag that can be zipped closed or tie the bag shut.
You will only be able to remove the gum after it has frozen solid. This may take a little while -- so have patience!
Carefully use a dull butter knife or putty knife to scrape the hard, frozen gum off the shoe. Move the knife slowly to avoid cutting the shoe or yourself.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Using WD-40

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Get a can of WD-40 (available in supermarkets and cleaning supply stores) and spray it onto the sole of your shoe, on and around the gum. Let it sit for at least a minute, to allow the WD-400 to loosen the gum's adhesive bond.
Use a paper towel, rag, or any cloth to wipe the gum from the sole of the shoe. It should come away pretty easily. If not, give the gum a second spray and try again.
Clean the sole of your shoe. Once the gum has been removed, use a paper towel or clean rag to wipe the shoe again to remove any additional residue left from the spray. Toss the rag or paper towels away when finished.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Using Peanut Butter

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Take some creamy peanut butter. Apply a thick layer of creamy peanut butter (approximately two tablespoons) to the gum, then leave it to sit for 10 minutes.
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Scrub away the peanut butter. After 10 minutes, use a wire brush to scrub away both the peanut butter and the gum. It may take a little elbow grease, but the gum should come away too.
- Remember to scrub with the grooves of the sole instead of against them, to avoid damaging your shoe.^{[2]
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Hold the sole of your shoe underneath some cold running water and scrub with a sponge to remove any peanut butter residue.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Using Sand and a Stick

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This method works well if you're outside and happen to step on some fresh gum that is still pretty soft and pliable. All you need is some dry sand (or dirt) and a small wooden stick.
Remove your shoe and sprinkle some sand on top of the gum. Use the stick to start rubbing the sand into the gum -- it should start coming away in small chunks.
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Continually add more sand and keep rubbing. As the gum starts to come away, sprinkle some more sand on top and continue rubbing. The sand acts kind of like an exfoliator for the bottom of your shoe!
- Keep going until the gum is more or less completely removed. This may take a little while, but it's better to act quickly instead of allowing the gum to dry and harden onto your shoe.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Dissolving the Gum

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1
Use lighter fluid. Soak an old cloth or piece of paper towel in some naphtha and rub it onto the gum. The gum should start to dissolve away.
- Make sure to use the naphtha in a well-ventilated area, away from any heat sources, as naphtha is highly flammable.
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Use nail polish remover. Acetone-based nail polish remover can also be used to dissolve chewing gum from the sole of a shoe. Soak a paper towel or cloth in the remover and rub it onto the gum until it disappears.
- Just be careful what type of shoes you use this method for, as acetone may damage the finish on patent or suede shoes.^{[3]
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Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Using Olive Oil

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Rub olive oil on the gum. Avoid getting it directly on leather or suede on the shoe, or it might stain.
The gum should now be all off. Dispose of appropriately.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you get dried gum off shoes?

Victor Adrian
Footwear Expert
Victor Adrian is a Footwear Expert based in London, UK. He is a Researcher, Tester, and Editor for BestForMyFeet.com, a leading footwear and footcare blog that discusses the importance of wearing the right footwear for the right occasion. Adrian is well-versed in determining which type of footwear is ideal for a variety of work and casual environments thanks to his vast working experience in different types of industries. He teams up with footwear professionals to test products and create comprehensive product reviews and comparisons that help readers choose the ideal footwear for their needs. Additionally, he collaborates with US board-certified podiatrists and foot doctors in order to make sure the information his team provides is always accurate. Adrian studied Biochemistry at the I.E.S. Calderon de la Barca Institute.

Victor Adrian

Footwear Expert

Expert Answer

One of the easiest ways to do it is by getting the blade of a utility knife under the chewing gum gently and scraping it off. If you feel that the gum is kinda hard to scrape, simply use a hairdryer to warm it a tiny bit. That should do the trick.

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Question

How do I remove gum from my shoe if it has ridges?

Community Answer

These methods should work fine. The WD-40 method is probably the easiest. Spray it on and wait for a minute, then the gum should slide right off.

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Question

What do I do if the gum is already hard on the shoe?

Community Answer

Use the ice method with three ice cubes, and let the gum get wet. Use a tool such as a flat-head screwdriver to scrape it off. If the shoe has accumulated mud, wash it off with a hose; some gum will come off with the hose as well after you scrape.

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Tips

If you can't remove the gum right away, then you may want to try to scrape off as much gum as possible. Use a dull knife to scrape off the gum or you can rub the sole of your shoe against a concrete sidewalk in a place that no one else will step in it.

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If you're working on a flat sole, a simple utility knife might be enough to scrape off the gum, with no need for additional methods.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you can't remove the gum right away, try scraping off the gum or rubbing the sole of your shoe against a concrete sidewalk in a place that no one else will step in it.
For the ice cube method, consider using a plastic knife to get the job done. You don't know where that gum has been!
If the gum has been stuck to the shoe for a short amount of time, consider using a Cheeto to remove from the sole.
Duct tape can work really well to remove gum from shoes.

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