Did you just sit on the bench and got a wad of bubblegum stuck on your new pair of jeans? This is, unfortunately, a very sticky situation. And as you rub the gum to scrape it off, it stretches and sticks to another part of your jeans or even onto your hands.

Chewing gum can be so much fun until you swallow it or get some stuck on your favorite shirt.

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Wondering how to get gum out of clothes? A few products that are available right in your home, such as vinegar, hairspray, and others, will remove this sticky thing from your clothes.

intro how to remove chewing gum from clothes
Learn easy hacks to get chewing gum off your clothes

The polymers, plasticizers, and resins in gum add elasticity and texture. These compounds are hydrophobic, so when you chew the gum, your saliva only dissolves the added sugars and flavors. But when they find an oily surface like your hair or shoes or fibers of your carpet and clothes, they stick to it and create a huge mess.

Read on to learn 7 ways to get gum out of clothes.

Method 1: Ice

before and after using ice to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using ice

If you’re faced with chewing gum stuck on your clothes, don’t be sad. Just get yourself some ice cubes. Yes! Ice cubes can be used to remove that sticky wad.

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All you need to do is put an ice cube on the gum until it gets hard. Since ice has a low temperature, it facilitates hardening of the chewing gum. Use a knife, spoon or fork to scrape it off and wash your garment with your regular detergent.

Step 1. Place an ice cube on the gum

place ice cube on the gum to remove chewing gum from clothes
Harden the gum using an ice cube
  • Put an ice cube on the chewing gum.
  • Hold it there for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure the gum gets hard.

Step 2. Scrape the gum off using a blunt knife

scrape off the hard gum to remove chewing gum from clothes
Scrape off the hardened gum using a dull knife
  • Use a blunt knife to remove the gum from the garment.
  • After that, wash it using your regular detergent.
final remove chewing gum from clothes with ice cube
The ice will easily pry off the gum from your clothing

Method 2: Hairspray

before and after using hairspray to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using hairspray

Just like how hairspray tames your unruly strands, it can also help you get gum out of clothes.

Hairspray contains alcohol and polymers that keep your hair strands together. These chemicals in hairspray will harden the gum, making it easy to get it off your clothes. Hairspray can also be used to remove oil and grease stains from clothes.

Things you’ll need:

Thing you'll need to to remove chewing gum from clothes using hair spray

  • Hairspray
  • Blunt knife

Step 1. Spray hairspray on the gum

spray hair spray on gum to remove chewing gum from clothes
Saturate the gum completely with hairspray
  • Spray hairspray on the gum.
  • Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes, so the gum gets hard.

Step 2. Scrape off the gum

scrape off the glue to remove chewing gum from clothes
Scrape off the hardened gum with a blunt knife
  • Scrape off the gum using a dull knife.
  • Then, wash the clothing with detergent.
final to remove chewing gum from clothes with hair spray
Use your regular hairspray to remove stuck gum from your clothes

Method 3: Rubbing Alcohol & Duct Tape

before and after using rubbing alcohol to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using rubbing alcohol and duct tape

If there’s chewing gum stuck on your pants, you don’t need to throw them away.

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Fortunately, rubbing alcohol can be your savior. You just need to apply a little bit of it on the chewing gum, and you’re halfway done.

While chewing gum is made of polymers that repel water, rubbing alcohol cuts through them to break down the gum. You can then use duct tape to pull the gum off your clothes.

Did you know you could also use duct tape to open a stuck jar lid?

Things you’ll need:

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things you'll need to remove chewing gum from clothes using rubbing alcohol

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Duct tape

Step 1. Apply rubbing alcohol on the gum

saturate the gum with rubbing alcohol to remove chewing gum from clothes
Soak the stuck gum with rubbing alcohol
  • Use a cotton ball to gently dab rubbing alcohol on the gum.

Step 2. Stick duct tape onto the gum

stick duct tape on the gum to remove chewing gum from clothes
Stick duct tape over the soaked gum
  • Stick a piece of duct tape on the gum.
  • Firmly dab the tape all over the surface of the gum.

Step 3. Pull off the tape to remove the gum

pull off the tape to remove chewing gum from clothes
Pry off the duct tape, and the gum will tag along
  • Pull the duct tape off, and the gum will come off with it.
  • Wash the clothing with mild detergent to remove any residual stain.
final to remove chewing gum from clothes using rubbing alcohol
Use rubbing alcohol to break through the polymers of the chewing gum

Method 4: WD-40

before and after using WD-40 to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using WD-40

Long ago, WD-40 was used in the military to clean up Atlas missile parts. But now it’s being used as a hack for a lot of things.

Yes! WD-40, you heard it right. You can apply it on the gum stuck on your clothes to get rid of it within minutes.

Plus, if gum gets stuck in your hair, you can spray a bit of WD-40 on it and comb the gum out.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to remove chewing gum from clothes using WD-40

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  • WD-40
  • Paper towel

Step 1. Spray WD-40 on the gum

spray WD-40 on the gum to remove chewing gum from clothes
Sparingly spray WD-40 on the stuck gum
  • Just spray a little WD-40 onto the chewing gum.
  • Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, so the gum gets hard.

Step 2. Rub off the gum using a paper towel

rub off the gum with paper towel to remove chewing gum from clothes
Rub off the hardened gum with a paper towel
  • Use a paper towel to rub the gum off the clothing once it’s hard.
final to remove chewing gum from clothes using WD-40
WD-40 will get the gum off your clothes in minutes

Method 5: Hot Iron

before and after using hot iron to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using a hot iron

The best way to get gum out of clothes is to freeze it. But what if you don’t have anything to use to freeze it?

Heat can also help you get rid of that sticky gum. Using a hot iron, you can melt the polymers that make chewing gum sticky and quickly scrape it off your clothes. Be careful that you don’t scorch your clothes with the iron.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to remove chewing gum from clothes with hot iron

  • Iron
  • Blunt knife
  • Paper towel

Step 1. Place a paper towel on the gum and heat it with an iron

put paper towel over gum and iron it to remove chewing gum from clothes
Cover the gum with a paper towel and press a hot iron
  • Put a paper towel over the gum on the clothing.
  • Adjust your iron to medium heat.
  • Place it on the paper towel covering the gum until you can tell the gum is melted.

Step 2. Use a blunt knife to scrape off the gum

scrape it off to remove chewing gum from clothes
Remove the paper towel and scrape off the remaining gum
  • Pull off the paper towel.
  • Scrape off the gum using a blunt knife.
final to remove chewing gum from clothes with hot iron
In a pinch, melting the gum with the hot iron will remove it sufficiently

Method 6: Vinegar

before and after using vinegar to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using white vinegar

Vinegar is another household staple that you can use to get gum out of clothes. It will soften the chewing gum and loosen the bond gum creates with fabric. Then, you can easily scrape it off using a blunt knife or spoon. You can use the leftover vinegar for other cleaning purposes around your home.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to remove chewing gum from clothes with vinegar

  • Vinegar
  • Paper towels
  • Blunt knife

Step 1. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle

fill up a spray bottle with white vinegar to remove chewing gum from clothes
Fill up a small spray bottle with white vinegar
  • Transfer some vinegar to a spray bottle.

Step 2. Put a paper towel under the gum and spray some vinegar on it

soak the gum with vinegar to remove chewing gum from clothes
Saturate the stuck gum with the vinegar
  • Place a paper towel under the gum.
  • Spray a small amount of vinegar on the gum.
  • Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3. Scrape the gum off using a blunt knife

scrape the gum off to remove chewing gum from clothes
Scrape off the loose gum with a dull knife
  • Use a blunt knife to scrape the gum off the clothing.
  • After that, wash your garment using a detergent.
final to remove chewing gum from clothes with vinegar
Your household vinegar can easily remove gum from your clothes

Method 7: Lemon Juice

before and after using lemon juice to remove chewing gum from clothes
Before and after using lemon juice

Lemon juice is a powerful ingredient in a lot of home remedies, and this time it has paved its way into life hacks as well.

Lemon contains citric acid, which when applied to the chewing gum, loosens the polymeric bond. Then, scraping or pushing the gum against the clothing will remove it.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to remove chewing gum from clothes with lemon juice

  • Lemon juice
  • Blunt knife

Step 1. Dip the gum stuck on your clothing in lemon juice

soak the gum in lemon juice to remove chewing gum from clothes
Soak the stuck gum in lemon juice until it hardens
  • Put in the portion of the clothing with the gum in a bowl of lemon juice.
  • Let the gum get hard naturally.

Step 2. Scrape off the gum

scrape it off with knifeto remove chewing gum from clothes
Scrape off the gum with a dull knife
  • Place a paper towel under the stuck gum to soak up the remaining juice.
  • Use a blunt knife to scrape off the gum.
  • Wash the item of clothing to remove any residual stain.
finalto remove chewing gum from clothes with lemon juice
Lemon juice also works well to remove stuck gum from clothes

Tips

  • If you don’t want to sit around holding an ice cube on the gum, you can put the garment in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer. The gum will get hard, and you can scrape it off using a blunt knife.
  • Another way to get gum out of clothes is to dip it in boiling water. Use a toothbrush or knife to scrape off the gum.
  • Orange oil can also be used to remove gum from clothes. Just put some oil on the gum and scrape it off with a blunt knife.
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