How to Remove Gum From Fabric

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Get rid of pesky gum stains on blankets, clothing items, & more

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: July 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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If you've discovered sticky gum on your favorite blanket or clothing item, you may feel like you'll never be able to get it off. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to remove gum from fabric, and you probably have everything you'll need in your kitchen already! We’ll go over all the best ways to remove gum from fabric, from freezing it off to soaking it in hot vinegar. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

How to Get Gum Off of Fabric

If you’re removing gum from a small item, fold it and place it in the freezer with the gum facing upward. If the item won’t fit in the freezer, hold an ice cube or ice pack to the gum until it hardens. Once the gum is frozen, pick it off with your fingers or scrape it off with a dull knife, then launder as normal.

1

Freeze the gum.

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When gum gets super cold, it hardens and becomes less sticky. This makes it much easier to remove. If you’re removing the gum from a small clothing item or blanket, simply fold it and place it in the freezer with the gum facing upward for an hour or two. ^{[1]
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Research source} If the item is too big to fit in the freezer, hold an ice cube or ice pack to the gum until it hardens (this should take about 10-15 minutes).
- Once the gum has completely hardened, use your fingers to pick it off of the fabric. You can also use a dull butter knife, spatula, or credit card to gently scrape the gum away. ^{[2]
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- If there is any remaining gum residue stuck to the fabric, apply a small amount of dry-cleaning fluid to the area, or spray it with a pre-wash treatment , and sponge the area until it’s not sticky anymore. ^{[3]
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- Finally, place the item in the washing machine or handwash it according to the instructions listed on the care label. ^{[4]
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2

Spray hairspray on the area.

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Hairspray hardens the gum in the same way that freezing does. Spray the hairspray directly onto the gum stain, and allow it to harden for a few seconds. You should now be able to simply pop the gum off with your fingers, but you can also pry it off with a blunt butter knife or spatula if you prefer. ^{[5]
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- Ensure that the hairspray won't damage the fabric by patch testing a small, unnoticeable area before you begin.

3

Use vinegar.

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Vinegar will help dissolve and soften the gum. Pour some white vinegar into a microwave safe bowl. Heat the vinegar up in the microwave until it’s warm, but not super hot or boiling (this should take about 15-30 seconds). Place the part of the fabric with the gum into the bowl with the vinegar, and let it soak for a few minutes. ^{[6]
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Research source} You should now be able to easily scrape the gum off with a butter knife or any other blunt edge.
- If there are any residual pieces of gum on the fabric, rub the area with a soft toothbrush. The clumps will stick to the toothbrush and lift off of the fabric.
- As soon as you’ve removed the gum, wash the item as you normally would in the washing machine or by hand.
- If you’re worried about discoloration or damage, patch test the vinegar on a small, unnoticeable area before soaking the fabric. If there’s no noticeable change, you should be good to go!

4

Try lemon juice.

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A quick soak in some lemon juice will make the gum easier to scrape off. Simply pour your lemon juice into a bowl, then dip the part of the fabric with the gum into it. Let the gum soak for a few minutes, then remove it from the lemon juice. Use a blunt edge to scrape the gum off of the fabric, then launder the item as normal according to the instructions on the care label. ^{[7]
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- The lemon juice shouldn’t cause any discoloration to the fabric, but you should wash the item as soon as you’re done removing the gum, just to be safe. ^{[8]
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5

Apply some mayonnaise.

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It may sound strange, but mayonnaise works wonders on gum stains. Just pour a small amount of mayo onto the gum, and massage it into the fabric with your fingers. You should now be able to peel the gum off smoothly and easily. ^{[9]
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- Keep in mind that mayo has a high oil content, and you may have trouble removing oil stains from delicate fabrics.
- Because of this, it may be best to save this option for a last resort, or only use it on items that can withstand a strong stain-fighting treatment afterwards.
- If you don’t have mayonnaise, peanut butter should work the same way, since it also has a high oil content.

6

Try rubbing alcohol.

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Rubbing alcohol breaks down gum and makes it less sticky. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub it into the gum until it’s thoroughly wet. Let the rubbing alcohol sit on the gum for about 45 seconds, then press a piece of duct tape onto the area. As you remove the duct tape, the gum should lift off of the fabric and stick to the piece of tape. ^{[10]
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- Keep pressing the duct tape onto the area over and over again until all the gum is lifted off of the fabric. ^{[11]
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7

Use an iron.

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The heat from your iron softens the gum, making it easier to remove. Start by placing a piece of cardboard on your ironing board or another flat surface. Next, lay the item on top of the cardboard with the gum facing down. Set your iron to medium heat, then run it over the garment. Once the heat has softened the gum, gently peel the garment away from the cardboard. The gum should stick to the cardboard, leaving your item clean and gum-free. ^{[12]
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- Make sure your iron isn’t too hot! The medium setting will be hot enough to soften the gum without melting it (which makes it harder to remove). ^{[13]
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- Only apply the iron to the area for 15-30 seconds at a time. This also helps prevent the gum from melting and becoming too sticky.

8

Use a steamer.

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If you have a handheld steamer, simply turn it on and aim the steam at the gum to warm it up. If you don’t have a steamer, heat up some water in a tea kettle and hold the gum-stained area near the spout as it releases steam. The heat should soften the gum and make it easier to scrape off with a blunt edge. ^{[14]
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Join the Discussion...

How to get gum out of my clothing

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WikiFawnSeeker757

I’m going to keep it short. My child loves gum. My child is not good at disposing of gum. I’ve got gum in my shirt and jeans for what feels l... Read More

WikiCaveRider633

You didn’t actually mention if the gum is wet or not, but I’m assuming it’s dried if you’re just discovering it. Anyway, there’s a simp... Read More

WikiDesertWatcher959

What has worked for me in the past is pouring a generous amount of detergent on the gum, letting it soak for a few minutes, and then pouring salt... Read More

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How do you remove chewing gum from clothes at home?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

You can first try to freeze the gum for about 10-15 minutes before trying to pry it off with a knife and a spatula. Small items can easily fit in the freezer, but large items will require ice cubes. You can also try to soak the item in a hot vinegar and lemon juice bath. In addition, you can try items such as peanut butter, or mineral spirits.

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Question

How do you get gum out of upholstery?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Since upholstery is rather big and bulky, you should first try using ice cubes to freeze the gum. If you can lay the item on the floor and rest a bag of ice cubes on it, that would be easiest. If not, you can try to hold a bag of ice cubes with a towel in your hand until the gum has hardened. Then, try to pry the gum off with a butter knife and spatula. If that does not work, you can try to harden the gum with hairspray. Be sure to check that the hairspray will not damage your item.

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Question

What should I do if my sheets are white?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Regardless of color, you should be able to freeze the gum on your sheets. You can try to put the entire sheet in the freezer by folding it up with the gum stain on top. After the gum has hardened, you can pick off or scrape the gum away. If that does not work, it is recommended to try some of the other options recommended in the article.

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Avoid heating the gum using a hair dryer. This will work the gum into the fibers of the fabric which will actually make it harder to remove.

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How to Remove Gum From Fabric

How to Get Gum Off of Fabric

Steps

Freeze the gum.

Spray hairspray on the area.

Use vinegar.

Try lemon juice.

Apply some mayonnaise.

Try rubbing alcohol.

Use an iron.

Use a steamer.

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