The 10 Best Ways to Get Gum Out of Things

Oh look, there’s gum stuck to the carpet. Or the bottom of your shoe. Or your child’s hair. Don’t fret—there are some tried-and-true ways to get gum out of things, beyond just peanut butter. Try these 10 terrific tricks.

By Rachel Brougham, The Family Handyman

Freeze It

Did your child get their bubble gum stuck on their clothing? Just place the item of clothing in the freezer and leave it there for about two hours. Remove the item and you should be able to peel the frozen gum right off.

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WD-40

Next time you find gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe, in your child’s hair or ground into your kitchen floor, grab some WD-40. Just spray the gum, let it sit for a couple minutes and then wipe it clean.

Mayonnaise

Oil can help remove gum, so try using mayonnaise to remove gum from surfaces. Just rub it on the gum and it should be pretty easy to peel off. Just note that the oil in mayo can leave a stain, depending on the surface or fabric.

Lemon Juice

Try this lemon juice cleaning trick: If you get gum on your clothing, soak it in some lemon juice and then scrape the gum off with a butter knife. Wash the clothing on a normal cycle.

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Vinegar

Vinegar also works for gum removal. Soak the item in vinegar and then brush the gum off gently.

Hairspray

If you have hairspray on hand, spray some directly on the gum and wait for it to dry and harden. You should be able to scrape the gum right off.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste will not only clean your teeth, it can help you remove gum. Toothpaste works by breaking down the gum’s stickiness. You’ll be able to easily scrape off the gum after the toothpaste does its job.

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Ice

If you find gum stuck on your carpet or on your couch, grab an ice cube or two or an ice pack and hold it on the gum for a few minutes until the gum hardens, then scrape away the gum.

Hair Dryer

Soften gum with a hair dryer. Just apply some heat to the gum and then use a rag or plastic bag to pull away the gum. Use caution with heat on carpets or rugs, as heat may harm some fibers.

Oh, Yeah—Peanut Butter!

Peanut butter is a hero when it comes to removing gum. You usually have it on hand, it’s not expensive and it doesn’t smell bad, either. Spread some peanut butter on the offending glob of gum and let it sit for a few minutes. The gum will soften up and be much easier to remove. This works especially well for gum stuck in hair.


See more at: The Family Handyman