Are there quick and effective ways by which you can remove chewing gum from clothes yourself at home? Find out more about it in this post!
Because of their stickiness and elasticity, chewing gum stains often stick to clothing fabrics and are difficult to get rid of. Unfortunately, in such cases, washing in the washing machine doesn't help and can even make the situation worse. Fortunately, some inexpensive home remedies that are available in most households have proven to be effective against annoying residues of this type. However, when using them, it is important to use the correct cleaning techniques so that chewing gum does not leave marks on the affected clothing. If you are also facing such a problem, you can consider the following solutions.
What hacks help when you want to remove chewing gum from clothes?
You've most likely experienced stepping on chewing gum, or worse - sitting on it. Did you know that selling and throwing away such products on the street is actually illegal in Singapore? This may seem strange to those who have never encountered such a situation. However, getting rid of a stubborn gum stain can be a tedious task for many people if they have not had experience with it. Instead of thatstained garmentThrowing it away or spending money on dry cleaning, you can save it yourself and with your own resources. Here are some best practices you can use for this purpose.
How do you get rid of chewing gum on clothing fabrics with hot water?
If you notice sticky residue on your jeans or denim jacket, you should not immediately try to scrape it off. Smearing the stain will only make it more difficult to remove. Instead, do the following:
- First try soaking the affected area in cooking water and only then scraping the stain off with a dull knife.
- This way, most of the gum will come off the denim and you can scrub away the residue with a toothbrush.
- Or have someone pour hot water directly onto their jeans while you use a toothbrush to remove gum from clothing. It is important to protect yourself from burns.
- If possible, then apply any stain remover to it and wash the garment in the washing machine.
Use ice cubes or the freezer and remove chewing gum from clothing
Another option is to freeze the affected area to get rid of the stain. To do this, you can either place ice cubes on it or put the item of clothing in the freezer for a short time. This method is suitable for clothing fabrics such as linen, cotton or leather that could be damaged by boiling water.
- First, make sure the gum stain remains on the top when you fold the garment.
- Then take a plastic bag or film and place the garment in the freezer and wait for the rubber to harden or freeze.
- Again, use an appropriate knife to scrape the piece without damaging the fabric. This should be done as quickly as possible.
- The next option is to remove chewing gum from clothing by placing ice cubes on top. This would be a quick and easy method even if it sticks to your shoe.
What home remedies and other tricks help with chewing gum stains?
You've probably heard about the classic method of removing gum from clothes using an iron. In this way, sensitive clothing materials such as silk, shirts or underwear can be treated gently.
- First place the lid of a shoebox or a piece of cardboard on your ironing board and then place the affected item of clothing on top with the stain facing the box.
- Set your iron to medium heat and gently iron the stained area until the gum melts and sticks to the paper. You can also use this technique on home textiles such as carpets.
There are also other ways to use home remedies such as hot white wine vinegar, rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover or liquid soap and gasoline to remove chewing gum stains.
- If you want to try vinegar, you'll need to bring about a cup of it to a boil first, but don't bring it to a boil. Then moisten the affected area with it and scrub away the remaining chewing gum with a toothbrush or a dull knife. Afterwards, wash the garment to get rid of the stain and vinegar smell
- For the gasoline or alcohol method, you can soak a cloth with it and apply the stuff to the stained area. Let it work for a short time and it will make it easier to remove chewing gum from clothing. Wash them immediately afterwards to prevent any damage.
- You can also remove chewing gum stains more easily with dish soap or liquid soap by rubbing them diligently with a toothbrush and then rinsing them off.
- Last but not least, it would be possible to use nail polish remover or acetone as a solvent for wool fabrics or non-sensitive fabrics. To do this, use a cotton pad with nail polish remover and rub the stuff into the affected area. Then put on rubber gloves and try to scrape away the residue with your fingers. If it's an expensive item of clothing, you shouldn't risk it and take it to the dry cleaner instead.
