How to Get Gum Out of Clothes With or Without Vinegar

Picture this: you're sitting at the park on a beautiful day, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. You try to stand up and realize you sat on chewing gum. 

We've all been there, and it's never a fun experience. But don't worry; there's hope! 

We’ll show you how to get gum out of clothes with a few household supplies and a little elbow grease. So whether you're dealing with fresh gum or dried gum, read on to learn how to get rid of it once and for all.

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What you’ll need

• Freezer or an ice pack
• Spoon or dull knife
• White vinegar or rubbing alcohol
• Clean cloth or cotton ball or sponge
• A toothbrush or soft-bristled brush
• Laundry detergent

How to get gum out of clothes: 2 easy ways

When it comes to how to get gum out of clothes, vinegar and rubbing alcohol are two most effective methods. Freeze the gum, scrape off the excess, then soak the area in either vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Finally, scrub the area and then wash the clothing as normal. 

Follow the detailed instructions below for each method.

Method 1: Vinegar

White vinegar’s acidic qualities dissolve the gum's adhesive properties, making it easier to remove. It is also non-toxic and safe to use on most fabrics. 

In addition to removing gum from clothes, white vinegar can also help to remove other types of stains and odors around the house. So, whether you need to remove cat pee smell out of clothes or remove sharpie stains from your walls, vinegar helps you solve these problems.

Freeze the gum

Start by freezing the gum. You can either put the clothes in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or use an ice pack or a bag of ice cubes to freeze the gum directly. This will harden the gum and make it easier to remove.

Scrape off as much gum as possible

Once the gum has hardened, take a spoon or a dull knife and gently scrape off as much of the gum as you can. Be careful not to damage the fabric of the clothes in the process.

Soak the affected area in white vinegar

Pour some white vinegar directly onto the affected area and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. You can use either undiluted white vinegar or mix it with a small amount of water, depending on the severity of the gum stain.

Scrub the area with a brush

Next, scrub the area with a toothbrush or any other soft-bristled brush. This will help loosen any remaining gum and break down residual stickiness.

Wash the clothes as usual

Finally, rinse the clothing with warm water and wash it as usual. You can use any type of laundry detergent you normally use, but avoid using hot water, as this can set the stain.

Method 2: Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a stronger solvent that can dissolve the gum more quickly. As a result, it evaporates quickly, leaving little residue behind, which can be helpful when dealing with delicate fabrics. 

Like vinegar, rubbing alcohol is also safe to use on most fabrics. Although you should always test it in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't damage your clothes.

Freeze the gum

As with the white vinegar method, start by freezing the gum. This will make it easier to remove the gum from the clothes.

Scrape

Use a spoon or a butter knife to gently scrape off as much gum as possible. Don’t put too much pressure so you don’t damage the fabric in the process.

Apply rubbing alcohol

Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth. You can also use a cotton ball or a sponge if you prefer.

Next, dab the cloth onto the gum area, making sure to saturate the gum with the rubbing alcohol. This will help to break down the gum's stickiness.

Once the gum has been saturated with rubbing alcohol, use another clean cloth to rub the area gently. This will help to break down the gum further and lift it from the fabric.

Wash the clothes

Finally, rinse the clothing with warm water and wash it as usual. You can use any laundry detergent, but use only cold water, as hot water can set the stain.

Meanwhile, if you’d also like to learn how to get gum out of your carpet without damaging the carpet fibers, read our article on 4 trusted methods to get gum out of carpet.

How to get dried gum out of clothes with an ice cube and a credit card

There are several other ways to get dried gum out of clothes. Here’s a common method for getting dried gum out of clothes with an ice cube and a credit card. 

What you’ll need

• Ice cube
• Plastic credit card
• Laundry detergent

Steps to clean

• Freeze gum with ice cube: Rub the ice cube over the gum until it hardens. 
• Scrape with credit card: Gently scrape off the hardened gum using a plastic credit card. 
• Pretreat with detergent: After you remove the dried gum from your clothes, apply laundry detergent directly to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes to break down any residual stickiness.
• Wash as normal: Finally, wash the clothing as you normally would, using your regular laundry detergent. 

What can dissolve chewing gum?

All of these can dissolve chewing gum:

• White vinegar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Adhesive remover
• WD-40
• Hand sanitizer
• Acetone or nail polish remover 
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Boiling water or steam cleaner

We recommend testing a small, inconspicuous area first before using any of these products on a larger surface.

How does toothpaste remove chewing gum from clothes?

Water, glycerol, and propylene glycol present in toothpaste act as a solvent to dissolve the stickiness of the chewing gum, making it easier to remove. Meanwhile, calcium carbonate, silica, or aluminum hydroxide in the toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive to help scrub away the gum residue.

How to get gum out of clothes and dirt off your floor

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