If you’ve ever had the misfortune of dealing with a chewing gum stain on your clothing, you know it can be an absolute nightmare to remove. Gum removal can be tricky, especially when the mess has wound up on your favorite clothing item.
Luckily, if tackled properly and quickly, removing gum from clothes is totally doable. With some household items and a bit of patience, you can remove gum from your clothes quickly and effectively. With these tips in mind that will be listed below, you should never have to endure those frustrating gummy surprises ever again!
Let's Remove Chewing Gum From Your Clothes
Removing gum from garments can be a tricky task, requiring a bit of ingenuity and patience. No matter what option you choose to remove chewing gum from your favorite piece of clothing, you must do the same thing first. Pick off as much gum as possible with your fingers, a spoon, or another utensil without breaking the garment fibers.
If the gum is difficult to remove, pretest any chemical solution or heat process on an inconspicuous area, such as a seam or hemline, before applying it to the fabric in order to avoid damaging the clothes.
If using a chemical solution, ensure it is safe for use on fabrics, and read and follow all instructions carefully and check your clothes care label. Additionally, when using heat to remove gum from clothes, ensure that you are using an appropriate device set at an appropriate temperature level that won't damage the fabric.
Freeze It Off
To remove gum, it is best first to apply ice cubes on both sides of the material and rub it until hardened, then use a spoon, blunt knife, or paint scraper to gently lever off the gum before it has an opportunity to soften again due to the temperature.
Or, in the same fashion, you can freeze the gum off your clothing. To do this, you must find a large bag to fit your clothing article. Zipper-top bags are best, as they create an airtight seal that will help keep the gum frozen longer.
When folding the garment, try to position it so that the gum is facing up--this will help prevent any melting or softening of the gum from occurring and make it easier to remove once solidified. Additionally, if you have some ice packs handy, adding them around the garment can help keep everything extra cold while freezing.
Once ready to remove the gum, use a dull knife or spoon to help chip away at it--avoid using sharp objects here, as they could damage or tear your clothing. After all pieces of gum are taken off, put your garment in cold water with a tablespoon of dish soap for a few minutes before washing normally--this will help get rid of any residual stickiness left behind.
Clean Gum With Detergent
Laundry detergent can also be very helpful when it comes to removing gum from clothing. Begin by lightly rubbing the soap onto the gum with the toothbrush, creating a lather. This will help break up the gum's fibers and loosen them from the fabric.
Once you have worked the soap into the gum, use your fingers or a scraper to lift off as much of it as possible gently. Any remaining residue can be treated with a stain remover for fabrics to help lift any stubborn pieces away. When utilizing this process, it helps to choose a great detergent for the job.
By choosing a laundry detergent from Tru Earth, you can rest assured that you will get the gum off your clothing safely and easily. Our laundry detergent strips are the perfect solution for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable laundry routine.
Each strip packs ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly cleaning power into a tiny pre-measured strip of liquidless detergent that is easy to use- just toss it into the wash after scraping off what you can of the stuck gum.
You can trust that our product is free of harsh chemicals – we guarantee it is paraben-free, phosphate-free, free of added dyes, chlorine bleach, and free of 1,4-dioxane (as certified by independent laboratory tests), and readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 310D standards.
With our laundry strips, you get a quick and easy laundry solution while taking care of your health and protecting the environment at the same time. Using them when removing gum stains from clothing has always been challenging.
Remove From Fabric With Heat
Removing gum from clothing can be a tricky and tedious task. The best way to get it off is to use an indirect source of heat, like a hairdryer. It’s important to keep the heat at a safe distance to avoid scorching the fabric. Once the gum has been warmed up, it should be soft enough for you to peel away from the surface with your fingers or a spoon.
To protect your hand, it's advisable to wear gloves or put on a plastic bag before starting this process, as the melted gum can become quite hot. While this method may not work for tougher materials like leather, it is effective for most fabrics and will make removing gum less of a hassle.
Remove Gum With Steam
To begin, hold the gummy section of your garment over the spout of a steaming tea kettle, allowing the steam to enter into fabric fibers and soften the gum. This process can take two to three minutes before the gum is ready to be gently scraped away with either a razor blade or an old toothbrush.
However, if you don’t have access to a tea kettle, you can make use of boiling water instead. Fill up a bowl with hot water and submerge the affected area for several minutes until it has softened enough for scraping. It is important to handle this process delicately as fabric may tear or discolor over time due to excessive steaming or boiling.
After removing as much gunk as possible, finish by washing your garment according to its laundering instructions for the best results.
Use Vinegar on Gum
Last but certainly not least is the option of using vinegar to remove gum. To do this, fill a microwave-safe container with vinegar and heat it up in the microwave. Once it's warm enough, dip a toothbrush into the liquid and use it to rub the area of fabric that has gum on it.
The acid in the vinegar will help break down or soften the gum so that it releases from the fabric more easily. Alternatively, you can create a volcano effect by pouring vinegar onto the gum, sprinkling baking soda over it, and allowing the resulting fizzy foam to work its magic. For both methods, make sure you are gentle when rubbing or scrubbing the fabric in order for your efforts to be effective yet safe for your garments.
With these simple steps, you can effectively remove stubborn pieces of gum from any type of fabric without causing too much damage!
