If chewing gum sticks to your clothes, furniture or even your hair, removing it can be a big challenge. Here are eight simple tricks to reliably get rid of chewing gum.
For many people, chewing gum is part of everyday life. It freshens your breath – and the sweet, sticky mass is also extremely popular with children. However, chewing gum can easily fall out of the mouth and land on clothes or furniture.
And once the chewing gum has stuck there, it is very difficult to get it out again. At least if you don’t know how to do it properly. We’ll tell you the best tricks you can use to fight off stuck chewing gum from now on.
Removing chewing gum from clothes
Chewing gum on clothes is pretty much the classic. Kids get stuck in chewing gum at school or it happens to ourselves – for example, on the train or on a park bench. Sticky chewing gum like this is not only disgusting (especially if it’s not your own), but also totally stubborn.
Before you tug at the gum and desperately try to remove it from your pants with a rag and water, make sure you try our tips.
#1 Rub garment with dish washing liquid
The simplest trick to get chewing gum out of a garment is to treat the area with dish washing liquid. Drop some dish washing liquid on the gum and rub it in gently with your hands. Now soak in warm water for about an hour. The dish washing liquid will make the chewing gum come off. After the soaking time, scrape it off gently with a knife. Then wash the garment in the washing machine to remove all residues.
#2 Put the garment in the freezer
If the detergent did not help, put the garment (after it is dry again) in the freezer. Yes, read that right. To remove chewing gum, you should put the garment in the freezer for about half an hour. Once the gum is frozen and solid, you can easily peel it off. Any residue that still sticks to the garment will usually come out during the next wash cycle. If you don’t want to wait, remove the residue straight away with a brush and some washing-up liquid.
#3 Remove chewing gum with an iron
If you want to get rid of the chewing gum more quickly, you can also use an iron. First place an absorbent cloth, for example a flannel cloth or alternatively kitchen roll over the area with the chewing gum. Now carefully iron the chewing gum with the iron.
It is important that the iron does not come into direct contact with the chewing gum, otherwise it will stick to it. After several ironing’s, the gum should come off and stick to the cloth or kitchen roll. You can remove the remaining stain with washing-up liquid and water or during the next wash cycle.
How do I get chewing gum out of the carpet?
It happens very quickly, especially to children, that chewing gum lands directly from the mouth on the beautiful carpet. If it is a high-pile carpet, the fun of removing it is even more limited. However, two home remedies can help to get rid of the chewing gum as quickly as possible.
#4 Remove chewing gum with salt
Salt can help to remove the chewing gum from the carpet. But be careful, especially if your carpet is a delicate material. Sprinkle the area generously with salt and then scrub the gum with a soft brush. The salt acts as an exfoliate and the gum should come off after a few minutes.
#5 Removing chewing gum with vinegar
Vinegar has also made a name for itself as a home remedy and is popular for fighting stains. To get rid of chewing gum, drip vinegar on the carpet and let it sit for a few minutes. The vinegar should loosen the chewing gum. You can then remove it with a soft kitchen towel.
How do I get chewing gum out of the sofa, upholstered furniture and car seats?
At least as annoying as on the carpet: chewing gum sticks to a piece of upholstered furniture or in the car. Unlike a high-pile carpet, these surfaces are usually quite sensitive. You should be careful with home remedies.
#6 Remove chewing gum with a cold pack
Place an ice-cold ice pack directly on the chewing gum and wait a few minutes until it hardens. As a rule, it should now be easy to remove.
Tip: Removing chewing gum is even quicker and less complicated with an ice spray.
#7 Remove chewing gum with adhesive tape
If you don’t have a cold pack or ice spray at home, adhesive tape can help you remove the chewing gum. It’s best to use one that sticks really well. However, you should be careful with this, especially on delicate fabrics.
Keep pressing the tape onto the chewing gum with a fresh, sticky spot and pull it off again. There should always be a small piece of chewing gum stuck to the tape. Repeat the process until the gum is completely removed.
How do I get chewing gum out of my hair ?
Anyone who has ever had chewing gum in their hair knows how annoying and nerve-wracking it can be. Before you reach for the hair scissors, first try to get the chewing gum out of your hair with home remedies.
#8 Removing chewing gum with butter or oil
This will make the hair smooth and the gum will slip better. Rub the hair with soft butter, oil or a greasy cream. Then try to gently comb the gum out of the hair piece by piece with a brush. Hold the strand of hair with the other hand so that it doesn’t pull so much.
