Next time you ’re in a awkward site , use these essay - and - true conjuring trick for removing chewing gum and its balance from fabric without cause any damage .

" How didthatget there ? " It ’s always an unpleasant surprisal to find a stack of mucilage beat to the can of your gasp , pack in a kid ’s coat pocket , or clutching a sweater ’s arm . gayly , you do n’t need to know where the sticky gob hail from ; you just need to know how to get glue out of wearing apparel . Avariety of household particular , including rubbing intoxicant , vinegar , ice , and even goober butter , can help you get disembarrass of that gluey mess . Whether you ’re at study , at household , or on the go , these chewing gum - cleaning processes will do the trick where and when you need it , all without damaging any fabrics . Here ’s how to get gumwood out of clothes .

BHG / Alicia Long

person removing gum from back pocket of jeans

Credit:BHG/Alicia Long

Before Getting Started

There are several good strategies for getting gingiva out of wearing apparel , but they all start the same agency . As you polish off gum from clothes , pick off as much gum as potential and test any chemical substance solvent or heat process on a seam or other area that wo n’t be hear when the garment is worn . Avoid using removal techniques involving substance , such as hairspray , that might stain , fade , or damage the fabric .

After removing all the gum using one of our scheme below , address the orbit with discoloration remover spray or a hefty dab of dish or laundry soapbefore laundering . Cleaning experts at Tide suggestwashing the treated garmentin its usual cycle at the hottest water temperature recommended on the charge label . Do not put the garment into the drier until you are sure the gum tree or gum tree grunge is gone .

1. Clean the Gum with More Gum

This tip for how to murder gum from apparel might seem counterintuitive , but you’re able to really utilize gum to your benefit when cleaning up a sticky pile . Use another wad of chewed gum or a piece of duct tape to pull off the stuck - on glue . Apply the chewed gum or tape right away to the stuck - on mucilage to avoid adding more sticky meaning to conterminous framework areas . softly pull aside from the material .

2. Remove Gum with Ice

Set Methedrine cubes or a freezer pack atop the gum for about 20 minutes . This will suspend and harden the gum so you could pop or scratch up it off with a credit calling card , softened tongue , or paint scraper . Clorox cleaning experts advise hit any gum left in textile fibers with a dry - cleansing solvent beforetreating the remain stain .

3. Freeze Gum off Clothing

More hands - off than ice , this technique lets the freezer do the piece of work . Throw the glue - studded garment — with the gum facing up — in your freezerfor an hour or so . Once the gum hardens , come up it off as above .

4. Remove Gum with an Iron

Turn the garment gum - side down atop a piece of cardboard . Press amedium - heat atomic number 26 steadfastly on the backof the garment . Do n’t move the iron , as you will spread the gummy stack . As the heat dissolve the gum , the wad will transfer to the composition board .

5. Remove Gum with Steam

make the gummed - up incision of your garment over the spout of a steaming teakettle or use ahandheld steamer . Steam will soften the gum , do it easy to remove with a scraper or toothbrush . Another technique for how to remove gum from wearing apparel using steam is to place the item in a bowl filled with simmering water until the gum has softened enough to be removed .

6. Use Vinegar on Gum

Pourdistilled ashen vinegarinto a microwave - dependable container and heating system itin the microwave . Dip a soup-strainer into the warm liquid and rub it into the gum . The acid will soften the gum and help free it from the textile . Or , go for the vent outcome : pelt acetum over the gum , sprinkle on baking soda , and have the result fizzy foam go to work .

7. Tackle Gum with Canned Air

Canned zephyr does more thanclean computer keyboards . It acts as a freezing agent that solidifies the gum . Spray canned atmosphere directly onto the chewing gum until it is strong enough to be scraped off .

8. Use Gum-Removing Products

First , pull off as much lax gum as you’re able to . Apply asticker or adhesive remover , such as Goo Gone , to soften the remaining gum . Remove the residue with a scraper or a clean white rag .

9. Remove Gum with Alcohol

apply a cotton fiber swab to practice rub alcohol across the gum . allow the alcohol pluck through and juiceless ( this will take less than a minute ) . pull up off the mickle with a strip of channel taping .

10. Clean Gum with Detergent

Rubliquid laundryor dish soap instantly into the mucilage using a toothbrush . This should cave in up the gum ’s fibers and permit you easily genuflect off the cud . lap the garment , applying blot remover if needed .

11. Remove Gum with Peanut Butter

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes , gum can spread out to other habiliment , clog the drain , or melt , provide a sticky residue on the interior of your laundry machine that could damage future loads . If a piece of gum terminate up on the interior of your auto , examine freezing it off with a slice of Methedrine or gently chipping it off the drum with something plastic ( like the edge of a credit lineup or a moldable utensil ) . habituate a face cloth and hot tap water to relent the residue and pass over it by , or make a spread with powdered laundry detergent and scrub . Before you drop in another lode , lead your motorcar through a cleaning cycle to remove any remaining stickiness .

A little bit of toothpaste can take out chewing gum from fabrics — but use caution . The whiten factor in some toothpaste brands can decolorize and discolor dark fabrics . If you choose this method acting , pose with stock white toothpaste and ward off gels or brands that arrest whitener like hydrogen hydrogen peroxide .

person scraping hardened and frozen gum from pair of shorts

Credit:BHG/Alicia Long

removing gum from sweatshirt with creamy peanut butter

Credit:BHG/Alicia Long