How to remove gum stains from clothes so you don't have to dry clean or throw them in a landfill? The answer to this question is in our article. Sometimes we are faced with such a problem as ingrained chewing gum in clothes, bags, shoes, hair, furniture, carpet, etc. Sticky gum is very difficult to remove, even though it does not penetrate the surface fibers. However, there are still ways to get rid of such stains. In this article, you will learn a few effective and easy ways to remove gum stains to bring things back to their original appearance.
It is very problematic to clean this sticky substance without available means. You won't be able to simply remove the gum. But there is always a way out, the main thing is to choose the right remedy correctly. Before using any method, I recommend that you first remove the chewing gum from the surface as much as possible, since the less it remains, the easier it will be to get rid of it further. And after the gum is completely removed, wash the thing with a stain remover and prewash in the washing machine.
Method 1. Wedge wedge or other chewing gum
As strange as it sounds, another chewing gum will help remove the stain. Chew the new gum a little and knead it with your hands to soften the mass so that it sticks well. Press it firmly against the stuck spot and wait a few seconds. Then tear off. Repeat the steps 2-3 times. The sticky substance will begin to stick to the new gum and pull away from the surface.
Method 2. Heating
By choosing this method, you need to be sure that the damaged surface tolerates high temperatures well. Therefore, this method is not suitable for synthetics, but it will remove stains well from natural fabrics: cashmere, cotton or silk. Place a sheet of paper on top of the sticky mass. Heat the iron as much as possible and iron the damaged area. The Velcro will lag behind the surface and stick to the parchment. You can also melt the adhering mass with a hair dryer, and then peel it off with a toothbrush.
Method 3. Freezing
Apply dry ice to the gum for a couple of minutes. During this time, it will turn into a hard crust, crumble, easily peel off and easily lag behind the surface. This method is suitable for cleaning upholstered furniture or carpet. Spoiled clothing can be placed in the freezer for a short time. The effect will be the same: the chewing gum will peel off easily. The only thing that needs to be done is to make sure that the fabric can handle frost well. It is not recommended to put leatherette and artificial leather in the freezer.
Method 4. Vinegar
This method is more suitable for removing sticky mass from jeans. Heat the vinegar without boiling and apply to the damaged fabric. Do not wait for the vinegar to cool down. Rub the damaged area with an old toothbrush. It will peel off the gum well, the sticky mass will quickly come off. Then wash your clothes to get rid of the vinegar smell.
Method 5. Gasoline
Gasoline works well for trousers or other dense surfaces. It will not ruin the fabric or corrode its color. Soak a piece of gauze in the solution and soak the damaged clothing. Repeat the action several times.
Method 6. Acetone
The solvent will remove stains well, but it can leave greasy stains behind. Therefore, the item will need to be washed additionally. Apply acetone to the stain and scrub with a brush. The elastic will dissolve in front of your eyes and will be easy to remove.
Method 7. Liquid for nail polish remover
Nail polish remover, like acetone, will remove the sticky mass without any problems. But for colored fabric, take it without acetone so that there are no traces of divorce.
Method 8. Solvents
Before using the solvent, you must first try it on the seamy surface to make sure that it does not corrode the paint, and only then treat the stain. Cope with this task: dimethylformamide, dichloroethane, gasoline for lighters. Apply these products to the gum, wait 5 minutes and carefully collect the mass. Repeat the procedure if necessary. At the end of the work, moisten a cotton swab with solvent and clean the contaminated area well. Then wash the thing. This method is also suitable for shoes.
Now you know the TOP 8 ways to remove chewing gum stains. This knowledge will help you in the future. But if, nevertheless, none of the method outlined above helped to get rid of the annoyingly ingrained gum, then never exclude professional dry cleaners.
At the end of the article, I suggest watching the video “How to clean chewing gum from clothes. Advice from viewers”.
