CHEWING GUM REMOVAL

CHEWING GUM ON SHOE BOTTOMS

Chewing gum removal is something most of us have had to tackle at one time or another. We may be walking along enjoying the day and we notice a bit of stickiness underfoot.  We stop, awkwardly lift the affected foot and inspect the bottom of our shoe. Yes, there it is. A glob of chewing gum! It has attached itself and has seemed to have taken up permanent residence underfoot.
 
Getting a bit of gum on the bottom of a shoe may be a common occurrence and yes, it is a little gross as well, considering it spent many minutes in someone’s bacteria-ridden mouth!  But the procedure for removal is easy. As you grab something to scrape it off and no doubt just go about your business, the friction of the shoe hitting the ground will eventually remove the residue.

DIY CHEWING GUM REMOVAL FROM CARPET and AREA RUGS

Chewing gum removal when the gum is warm or at room temperature, such as on a carpet or area rug, can be quite challenging. Without the special solvents professionals use, the chore could become a disaster. To do it yourself, you will need something cold to remove the gum.

Place an ice cube in a small, zip-lock bag. Rub the ice cube on the gum until it starts to harden. When it seems hard enough, break the gum off the fibers. Be careful not to force the issue, since you could physically damage the fibers.

Once you are successful in removing most of the gum, some kind of a solvent would be needed to deal with the residue. A very small amount of a dry solvent, such as rubbing alcohol, on a white cloth can help remove any residues.

DIY CHEWING GUM REMOVAL FROM CLOTHING

The procedure for chewing gum removal from clothing can be a little more aggressive. Put the affected item in a bag and put it in the freezer for several hours until it is completely frozen. Immediately after removing the item from the freezer, break off the gum.

Any remaining residue can be removed with typical laundry pre-treatment products before putting the item in the washing machine. Upon removal and before drying, make sure there is no remaining sticky residue. If there is, use a dry solvent on the spot and wash the garment again.

ABC CAN HELP

If the above procedures for carpet and area rugs do not completely remove the residue, please feel free to call our ABC office at 607-272-1566 for complete advice and to avoid any permanent damage.

Check out our video, DIY Spot Guide here.

You can also download our spotting guide pdf  here.

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