How to Remove Chewing Gum

When used chewing gum lands in or on carpet, clothes or hair it causes a sticky problem. Once the chewing gum has hardened the problem worsens. As an avid gum chewer in my teens and having been through a chewing gum "incident" with my oldest son I have learned ways to remove chewing gum from carpet, clothes and hair.

To remove chewing gum from carpet, clothes and hair try the freezing method first. Before freezing the chewing gum, scrape as much of it off as possible with a nonserrated knife. Next put a couple of ice cubes into a self-sealing plastic sandwich bag. Rub the bag of ice over the chewing gum until it freezes. Once the chewing gum is frozen, remove it by scraping it away. Keep repeating the freezing method until the chewing gum is removed. If the freezing method produce less than desirable results, try the other methods below to remove chewing gum.

To remove chewing gum from carpet heat is a big help. Heat the spot of stuck on chewing gum with a blow-dryer for a minute or two. Once the chewing gum has softened remove it by hand by covering your hand with a plastic sandwich bag and lifting the chewing gum from the carpet. Repeat the blow-dryer heating method to remove chewing gum until as much gum is removed as possible.

To remove chewing gum from carpet if any remains after the heating method, use a product such as a deep heating muscle rub. Again, use a plastic sandwich bag to lift more of the chewing gum from the carpet. If the gum has stained the carpet use a carpet spot remover to make it disappear.

To remove chewing gum from clothes, use the freezing method first. If the freezing method does not work well enough to remove chewing gum, try putting the clothing in a large, plastic, self-sealing food storage bag and put it in the freezer. Once the gum on the clothing has frozen, scrape it away with a nonserrated knife.

If the freezing method does not work well enough to remove chewing gum from clothing, try using the same heating method that can be used for carpets. Once either the freezing or heating method has been used to remove chewing gum, wash the garment as usual. Use a stain remover if necessary.