There is no need to panic if you accidentally get gum on your clothing. It is indeed a sticky situation, but you don’t have to throw away a favorite piece of clothing. You can remove chewing gum from clothing without damaging it. Many people do not know how to remove gum from clothing without damaging the fabric. They either abandon the item of clothing or resort to cleaning methods that harm the garment.
MaidForYou has five ways that are guaranteed to remove gum from clothing. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to remove gum from clothing. You only need a little bit of patience, a few basic household items, and a step-by-step manual. We’re going to share that with you! Continue reading.
Rubbing Alcohol
Wet a clean, dry sponge with a little rubbing alcohol. (Preferably 70% isopropyl Alcohol).
Gently press the gum for 30 seconds.
Holding the sponge in position, gently peel the gum off. You may need to add more rubbing alcohol depending on how much resistance you encounter (especially for the underside of the gum when it is lifted).
Use a butter knife or plastic spoon to gently scrape away any gum that remains after following the above steps.
Use a stain remover that is suitable for the fabric (follow the directions on the label) and wash the item of clothing as usual.
White Vinegar
Mix 1 part white wine with two parts water in a pot and heat until just warm but not boiling.
Use a teaspoon or dropper to soak the gum in the water-vinegar mixture. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
Then, dampen the bristles on a medium-hard toothbrush and remove the gum by brushing up from the bottom. The heated vinegar will harden the gum, and the adhesive should be broken down. This allows you to remove it slowly but efficiently.
Apply more water-vinegar (heated) if necessary to remove the chewing gum completely.
Final step: Apply a stain-removing agent to the affected area, and then machine wash the item.
Freezing
Fold the item neatly, leaving the gum at the top exposed. Cover it with a small cup or plastic container. Then, put the folded clothing item (with the cup/container on top) in a Ziploc bag, seal it well, and place it in the freezer.
Check if it has completely hardened after a few hours. It would be best if you moved on to the next step when it has solidified.
Remove the article of clothing from the bag. Peel it off immediately with a butter knife or putty blade. Avoid damaging the fabric by doing this with care.
It would be best if you worked quickly because the gum begins to soften when it is at room temperature. If you cannot remove the entire piece of gum at once, put it back in the freezer.
If necessary, apply a stain-remover to the affected area and then machine wash the item.
Hairspray
Fold the clothing and lay it flat on a flat surface. The gum should be facing up.
Cut a hole in the cardboard large enough to cover a folded item of clothing.
Position the cardboard so that the gum can poke through (even 70 percent of the hole will be sufficient). Be sure to cover all fabric, as hairspray will leave stains.
Spray the gum while holding it at approximately 1-foot distance. It usually takes 2-3 spritzes of hairspray and 1 minute to sit down for chewing gum to harden.
Peel the gum off of the fabric using a plastic spoon or butter knife. The gum will fall apart if the hairspray hardens it completely.
Some of the gum that is exposed when you remove the pieces from your clothes may be sticky and soft. This gum will need to be sprayed once more, as described in step 4.
Scrape the remnants of gum gently before using a stain-removing product. The fabric can be washed in a regular cycle.
Label Remover
There are label removers that are specifically formulated for fabrics. This allows you to spray the gum generously and evenly without missing any of it.
After a few moments, coat the gum with talcum powder to make it less sticky.
Use a butter knife to remove the gum by dusting some talcum over it. Spray the label remover on the sticky gum as it begins to lift. Continue peeling the gum off.
Use the spray and talcum powder as needed to get the best results.
Use a stain remover to clean the area affected before washing your clothing.
You shouldn’t be discouraged by the fact that one method doesn’t work on an old or stubborn piece of gum stuck on clothing. Instead, move to the next one, and your sticky situation will disappear!
