Many of us have a love-hate relationship with chewing gum – we love the taste and minty freshness it provides, but we hate when that taste fades and we need to throw it away. What’s even more irritating than having your bubble gum fade is finding a piece stuck somewhere on your clothes.
This sticky situation is one that occurs all too often. The next time you find yourself stuck and not knowing what to do, we’ve got you covered with 4 simple and effective ways to get chewing gum out of your clothes.
| Quick Tip: Before moving on to any of the other methods that require a bit more effort, try removing the gum with another piece of chewed gum. That’s right, just as you would with prestik, remove one piece with another. You can also try using duct tape for this method of gum removal. |
1. Using Toothpaste To Remove Chewing Gum From Clothes
Break out one breath freshening product to help you get the other out of your clothes. Use these 4 simple steps to remove chewing gum from your clothes with toothpaste:
- Apply enough toothpaste to cover the chewing gum.
- Rub the toothpaste in until the gum starts to break apart.
- Use a toothbrush to remove the gum before rinsing with cold water.
- Wash your clothing as per usual at the hottest temperature allowed for that specific fabric.
2. Using An Iron To Remove Gum From Clothes
While the iron may be the perfect tool to get creases out of your clothes, it can also be used to get chewing gum out of your clothes. Follow these 5 easy steps to remove gum using an iron:
- Start by placing a piece of cardboard on your ironing board.
- Set your item of clothing down with the gum facing down onto the cardboard.
- Using a medium heat setting, press your iron down onto your clothing.
- Hold steady and do not move the iron as it melts the gum and transfers it to the cardboard.
- Wash and dry your clothes as per usual.
If your iron is being used often for accidents like this and others, you might want to think about giving it a clean. Cleaning your iron often enough can prolong its quality and save you from having to buy a new one.
3. Using Peanut Butter To Remove Gum From Clothes
This delicious snack loved and eaten by so many can also be used to remove gum from your clothes. The fats and oils of the peanut butter are what help to loosen and separate the gum from the clothes. Use these 4 steps to remove gum from your clothes with peanut butter:
| Pro Tip: Use smooth instead of crunchy peanut butter for this method as there are more oils and fats to help with removing the gum. |
- Spread enough peanut butter to cover the gum on your clothing.
- Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes so that the gum can soak up the oils and fats from the peanut butter.
- Scrape off the gum and peanut butter with a bank card or any other object with a hard, flat edge.
- Wash and dry your clothes as per usual.
4. Using Steam To Remove Gum From Clothes
Our final method to remove gum involves the least amount of tools or products. Follow these 3 simple steps to remove chewing gum from your clothing using steam:
- Use a steamer to spray against the gum, or hold the section of your clothing with the gum on over a steaming kettle.
- Once the gum has softened enough, remove it using a bank card or similar-shaped object.
- Wash and dry your clothes as per usual.
5. How To Remove Gum That’s Dried Up For Longer
If you’ve only noticed the piece of gum after a few days, or after it’s been put through the dryer, there’s no need to worry. These 4 steps will help you remove gum from your clothing that’s had a longer time to dry:
- Use an ice cube to harden the gum by rubbing the affected area. Alternatively, place your item of clothing in the freezer for a couple of hours if need be.
- Scrape the hardened gum off with a blunt knife or spoon.
- Rinse the stained area with warm water.
- Wash and dry your clothes as per usual.
Save these methods of gum removal for easy access the next time you find gum stuck to your favourite item of clothing. Share them with friends and family too as you never know when they might find themselves in a similar sticky situation.
