How to Remove Chewing Gum Stains

Creative Methods to Remove Gum from Clothes

Because not all fabrics (or gums) are created equal, you may find yourself making several attempts to remove gum residue or stains from clothing and needing to try varying methods to do it. So whether you’ve sat in wet gum, washed a pair of pants with gum in the pocket, or have a child who has stuck gum to their favorite outfit, the good news is that many common household items are fantastic solutions when it comes to getting gum out of clothes.

Before undergoing any cleaning treatment, always check your garment’s care label first for any specific cleaning or drying instructions. Also, be sure to spot test your cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the fabric, allowing the cleaner to sit for at least ten minutes. If, at the end of the ten minutes, no discoloration, damage, or fading has occurred, it’s safe to proceed.

1. Vinegar

If you’re trying to figure out how to get smeared gum out of clothes with vinegar, start with some distilled white vinegar in a microwave-safe container. Heat it briefly in the microwave but only enough to make it warm. Using a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush, dip into the vinegar and rub into the stuck gum. Vinegar is naturally acidic, which can help soften the gum, thus making it easier to remove from the fabric.

2. Toothpaste

If you’re wondering how to remove chewing gum from clothes with toothpaste, it’s a pretty easy process. After spot testing an inconspicuous area of the garment to ensure colorfastness, gently rub some toothpaste into the gum stain using a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush. Allow the toothpaste to sit for a few minutes, then pretreat the area with Tide Ultra Stain Release Detergent before washing as you normally would.

3. Ice

If your fabric has fresh gum stuck to it, often you can freeze the gum to harden it for easy removal. Just be careful not to force the gum if it’s too attached to the fabric or you may risk tearing some fibers. To freeze, just apply a bag of ice cubes to the gum for 20-30 minutes or you can even stick the garment in the freezer, provided it’s small enough to fit. Once frozen, use a dull plastic knife or other scraping implement to remove the excess. Then wash the garment as you normally would.

4. Iron

Sometimes you can even use a regular iron set to medium heat to remove gum. To do this, turn the garment with the gum side facing downward on a piece of clean cardboard. Next, apply the medium-heat iron to the back of the stained area, pressing it into the cardboard. As the gum is heated, it will stick to the cardboard, allowing you to transfer it away from your fabric. Gently pull the fabric and separate from the gum once it’s been thoroughly heated. Wash the garment as you normally would.

For alternative steps and extra tips, watch the video below for other chewing gum stain removal tips:

How to Remove Gum Stains from Different Types of Fabric

No matter what kind of fabric you’ve got gum stuck to, knowing how to remove it will help get rid of this frustrating problem. So whether you’ve got gum stuck to your favorite shirt, jacket, or pair of pants, understanding how to get rid of gum stains may save them from the trash bin.

How to get gum out of a shirt

Getting gum out of a shirt, while difficult, isn’t impossible with a little patience and know-how. Start by removing as much of the excess gum as you can, being careful not to force it, risking the chance you’ll tear some of the threads. If the gum is fresh, you can try freezing it with some ice cubes to harden it and make it easier to pull away from the fabric. If the gum remains, try taking some Tide Free & Gentle, applying it to a soft-bristled toothbrush, then gently rub into the remaining gum to loosen it from the fibers. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash the shirt as you normally would. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning and laundering process until you’re satisfied, then dry the shirt and put it away.

How to get gum out of jeans

Getting gum out of jeans, while difficult, isn’t impossible with a little patience and know-how. Start by removing as much of the excess gum as you can, being careful not to force it, risking the chance you’ll tear some of the threads. If the gum is fresh, you can try freezing it with some ice cubes to harden it and make it easier to pull away from the fabric. If the gum remains, try taking some Tide Free & Gentle, applying it to a soft-bristled toothbrush, then gently rub into the remaining gum to loosen it from the fibers. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash the jeans as you normally would. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning and laundering process until you’re satisfied, then dry the jeans and put them away.

How to get gum off pants

Getting gum out of pants, while difficult, isn’t impossible with a little patience and know-how. Start by removing as much of the excess gum as you can, being careful not to force it, risking the chance you’ll tear some of the threads. If the gum is fresh, you can try freezing it with some ice cubes to harden it and make it easier to pull away from the fabric. If the gum remains, try taking some Tide Free & Gentle, applying it to a soft-bristled toothbrush, then gently rub into the remaining gum to loosen it from the fibers. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash the pants as you normally would. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning and laundering process until you’re satisfied, then dry the pants and put them away.

How to get gum out of sheets

Getting gum out of sheets, while difficult, isn’t impossible with a little patience and know-how. Start by removing as much of the excess gum as you can, being careful not to force it, risking the chance you’ll tear some of the threads. If the gum is fresh, you can try freezing it with some ice cubes to harden it and make it easier to pull away from the fabric. If the gum remains, try taking some Tide Free & Gentle, applying it to a soft-bristled toothbrush, then gently rub into the remaining gum to loosen it from the fibers. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash the sheets as you normally would. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning and laundering process until you’re satisfied, then dry the sheets and put them away.

How to get gum out of a blanket

Getting gum out of a blanket, while difficult, isn’t impossible with a little patience and know-how. Start by removing as much of the excess gum as you can, being careful not to force it, risking the chance you’ll tear some of the threads. If the gum is fresh, you can try freezing it with some ice cubes to harden it and make it easier to pull away from the fabric. If the gum remains, try taking some Tide Free & Gentle, applying it to a soft-bristled toothbrush, then gently rub into the remaining gum to loosen it from the fibers. Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash the blanket as you normally would. If the stain persists, repeat the cleaning and laundering process until you’re satisfied, then dry the blanket and put it away.