Imagine sitting down at a restaurant for a delicious dinner, only to realise that when you stand up, a piece of gum is stuck to the back of your favourite pair of pants. Or, picture your child coming home from school and seeing a chewed piece of gum right in the centre of their new t-shirt. But fear not! While it may seem like a disaster, removing gum from clothes is easier than you might think. With a few household items and some patience, you can restore your garments to as good as new. Below, we’ll discuss some age-old methods about how to get gum out of clothes so you can tackle this sticky situation confidently.
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What Makes Gum Stick So Much?
When we chew gum, we rarely think about what we’re putting in our mouths. How can we chew something for so long without it dissolving? The answer is in its chemical composition.
Chewing gum is sticky due to its base of rubber, resins, and waxes, which makes it both stretchy and tacky. However, gum is also hydrophobic, meaning it doesn’t dissolve easily in water. These factors combined make gum challenging to remove from regular cleaning.
How to Avoid Gum Stains
We know that accidents happen, but you can proactively mitigate gum stains with a few practical tips. This starts with proper disposal of gum immediately after use. Either wrap it in tissue or paper or spit it directly into the garbage can. This will save both your own clothes and those of other people around you. Also, teaching children the importance of responsible gum disposal is essential. Otherwise, you could end up with a heap of gum-covered laundry which we are no parent wants to deal with!
In addition to gum disposal, be cautious in public spaces! You can’t always trust other people to be as clean as you, so there’s the chance you can wind up sitting, leaning, or stepping on gum in public.
If you notice the moment that gum sticks to your clothes, act fast and gently, working to remove the gum piece as effectively as possible. This can be done by scraping it off with a sharp edge like a knife. However, we aren’t always lucky to spot the stain in time, and even if we do, as we said, gum is sticky! It’s not meant to come off. If you wind up with a stain, either send your clothing to a professional cleaner or try out a few helpful hacks for how to remove gum from fabric.
Tips and Tricks for How to Get Gum out of Clothes
Removing gum from clothes can seem daunting, but it’s manageable with the right techniques. This section will explore five of the most effective methods for getting gum out of clothes as quickly and headache-free as possible. These methods use everyday household items, so one option will likely be available in your home.
Ice It Off
If you’ve ever chewed a piece of cold gum, you know that it gets firm and loses some of its sticky properties. On the other hand, it tends to melt and get more tacky when the gum is warm. The ice-off method uses this thought process to remove gum from clothes.
Start by placing the gum-stained garment in a plastic bag, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the bag. Put the bag in the freezer for 2-3 hours or until the gum is completely frozen. Alternatively, you can place a small bag of ice over the gum spot. Once the gum is hard, remove the clothing from the freezer and immediately scrape off the gum with a blunt knife or a spoon. The frozen gum should chip off easily, leaving your fabric clean and gum-free. Ice it off method is certainly an effective way for how to get gum out of clothes.
Soak with Distilled White Vinegar
Due to its acidic properties, distilled white vinegar is a strong solvent. It promotes the breakdown of organic materials, releasing sticky substances from cloth fibers. This method is great if the gum has already hardened. All you need is a bottle of vinegar and a microwave-safe bowl!
Heat a small amount of vinegar until it’s warm but not boiling. Then, soak a cloth or sponge in the warm vinegar and dab it right onto the gum. After a few minutes, gently scrape off the softened gum with a blunt edge. Wash the garment as usual once the gum is removed to eliminate any vinegar residue and lingering odour.
WD-40
When we think about WD-40, we often think about a squeaky door, not a piece of gum stuck to denim. However, its chemical properties make it an effective gum solvent. While it’s excellent at breaking down sticky substances, it’s oily and more harsh than other household gum removal methods, so proceed cautiously.
To use this method, spray a small amount of WD-40 directly onto the gum stain. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the lubricant to penetrate the gum. Like the other methods, gently scrape the gum off once the gum has softened. Then, wash the clothes to remove any residue. Again, this method is effective on tougher fabrics like denim and is not recommended with delicate linens.
Peanut Butter
As delicious as it is, peanut butter can actually be a useful tool for removing gum from clothing. If you’re a fan of peanut butter, you know it can be oily. This oily nature counteracts the stickiness of the gum, making it easier to peel off.
To start, spread a thin layer of peanut butter directly onto the gum stain. Let it sit for a few minutes to give the peanut oils time to loosen the gum. Once softened, scrape the gum and peanut butter off with a blunt edge. Be sure to wash the garment afterwards to remove peanut butter residue and oil stains. This method works well for most fabrics due to its mild nature.
Heat with an Iron
The method of heating gum to remove it might initially seem counterintuitive, especially since we mentioned that freezing also works. However, it works well on firm gum by softening it with heat. Make sure your garment is iron-safe before proceeding.
First, place a cardboard or a thick paper bag on an ironing board. Lay the gum-stained area of the garment over it, with the gum facing down. Set your iron to medium and gently iron over the fabric. The heat will soften the gum, causing it to transfer from the fabric to the cardboard or paper bag. Be aware that a hotter setting can cause sugars in the gum to heat up substantially, so handle with caution.
Send Gum Stains to a Professional Cleaner
If home remedies aren’t doing the trick, or if you prefer a hands-off solution, consider sending your gum-stained clothes to a professional cleaner. CleanCo Commercial Cleaning offers expert advice surrounding garment care that can help you tackle even the toughest stains, including gum.
When you entrust your garment to professionals, you know it will be thoroughly and safely cleaned. This way, you’ll never have to wonder, “How can I remove gum from clothing?” ever again. Visit CleanCo Commercial Cleaning to learn more about our services and schedule a cleaning appointment today.