Sustainability made simple

How to Naturally Remove Gum From Clothes

remove gum from clothes
Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / RobinHiggins

Finding gum stuck to anything can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you aren't sure how to get rid of it. Read on to learn to remove gum from your clothes.

When it comes to food and drink, accidents are bound to happen. It’s unfortunate when you find your own chewing gum stuck to your clothing, but it’s even worse when you find someone else’s gum. Instead of tossing out the ruined clothes, use the following natural methods to remove gum from clothes. 

1. Freeze It

Remove gum from clothes by freezing the item of clothing first.
Remove gum from clothes by freezing the item of clothing first.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Bru-nO)

The best way to remove gum from clothes is to let it harden first. To speed up the process, take an ice cube and run it over the gum until its frozen. Then take a knife or razor, or other flat edged tool and gently remove the gum from the clothes. Alternatively, you can put the clothing inside the freezer until the gum hardens.

2. Remove Gum from Clothes Using Heat

Much like freezing, heating up the gum should make it easier to remove. Use steam or hot water and apply it directly onto the gum. This will make the gum messier, but it can more easily be wiped off or brushed off of your clothes once its warm.

3. Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol will help remove the gum from your clothes,
Rubbing alcohol will help remove the gum from your clothes,
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Gadini)

Rubbing alcohol is a lighter, less invasive liquid and will not stain or damage the colors of your clothing. Put a bit of alcohol onto a rag and then rub the rag into the gum. Give it a few minutes to permeate the fabric, then remove the gum with a butter knife. You can also try using homemade hand sanitizer as well. 

4. Cover in Laundry Detergent

Soak the gum spot in laundry detergent, then take an old toothbrush and rub the soap into the gum. This should start the process of breaking down the gum. Using a butter knife, remove as much gum as you can. Follow up with your fingernail to get the small pieces leftover, then wash as normal.

5. Use Vinegar to Remove Gum from Clothes

Vinegar is a great multipurpose liquid, and it removes gum from clothes.
Vinegar is a great multipurpose liquid, and it removes gum from clothes.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / NatureFriend)

Vinegar is a natural remedy which has many household applications, including removing gum.

  1. Heat a cup of vinegar until it is about to boil.
  2. Take a toothbrush and dip it into the vinegar.
  3. Rub the warm vinegar onto the gum.
  4. Repeat until the gum starts to dissolve, then wash as normal. 

6. Try Coconut Oil

There are several health benefits of coconut oil, as well as many household applications. Similar to the vinegar method, coconut oil should help dissolve the gum. Heat the oil until just before boiling, then take a toothbrush and work the heated oil into the gum. Repeat until it dissolves, and wash as normal.

Read on:

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Do you like this post?

Thank you very much for voting!

Tags: