How to Remove Chewing Gum Stains

Chewing gum is not as hard to remove from fabrics, carpets and furnishings as you might think.

But still, the thought of finding a big wad of chewing gum on your new carpet, in your child’s hair, or on a car seat is not appealing.

It happens, but chewing gum stains can be removed.

Removing Gum From Washable Fabrics:

Put the garment in the freezer or put a plastic bag full of ice over the gum stain.
Remove as much gum as possible by scraping it with a kitchen knife or putty knife.
Put some lighter fluid on a clean cloth and rub out the remaining stain. Test the lighter fluid first on a part of the garment that is not normally seen.
Wash in the washing machine as usual. Check the stain before putting in the dryer.

Alternate Methods:

After freezing the garment and scraping off the gum, these are alternate methods that can be tried instead of the lighter fluid.

Rub the stain with a beaten egg white and then wash.
Use gasoline rather than lighter fluid on a clean cloth.
Most of us will have salad oil in the refrigerator, try rubbing this on the stain instead of the above methods.
Make sure to use a stain remover, or pretreat with straight laundry soap to dissolve the oil before laundering.
Peanut butter is also a popular household food that can help to remove a gum stain. Rub it in until the gum is lifted. Use a stain remover before laundering.

Dry Clean Fabrics:

Do not put these garments in the washing machine but follow the instructions for washable fabrics up to that point. Once the stain is removed, send the garment to the dry cleaner.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself with clothes that are dry cleaning only – simply take it in and have the professionals remove the stain for you.

Carpets and Upholstery:

Put a plastic bag full of ice cubes on the gum to harden it then scrape off as much gum as possible.
Then use lighter fluid to additionally remove as much of the remaining stain as possible.
Follow up with carpet shampoo if there’s any stain left.
Use the ice cube method then beat an egg white and rub it over the stain to take out the last traces of the gum stain.
The alternate methods listed above can also be used on your carpets and upholstery.

Removing Gum from Hair:

This method will work for your child’s hair or on your pet’s hair.

Rub peanut butter into the gum and carefully pull it out.

Household Surfaces:

Gum can be removed from household surfaces like paint, plastic, aluminum, and asphalt by using the freezing and scraping method.

Then wipe with a clean, sudsy cloth until the gum is all gone. Rinse and dry.

Cleaning Leather:

Scrape off as much of the gum as possible. Mix up some mild soap and warm water. Make lots of suds.

Using only the suds and not the water, apply with a sponge or clean cloth and rub gently until the gum stain is gone. Dry with a clean cloth then apply a leather cleaner.

Gum On Linoleum and Vinyl Floors:

Freeze the gum with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Scrape the frozen gum off. Rub the residue with a cloth dipped in cleaning fluid. Then use extra fine steel wool. Wash and wax when dry.

Cleaning Suede:

Remove as much of the gum as possible. Use a gummy art eraser to remove as much of the remaining gum as possible.

An emery board or extra fine sandpaper can be used to remove anything left.