Chewing gum is popular around the world, with people chewing it for pleasure — or in some cases to help stop smoking. However, most people are less amused when chewing gum from the mouth does not end up in the bin, but gets stuck on clothing or in the carpet. Our guide shows how to remove chewing gum/
Why chewing gum sticks
Chewing gum stains are best removed with a suitable home remedy.
Chewing gum is a real phenomenon. The tough article is a composition of chewing matter, sugar, flavors and other additives. Unfortunately, manufacturers are not obliged to explain the chewing gum ingredients in more detail.
Consumer centres and other bodies speak of chewing gum as chewing matter containing, among other things, plastic polymers.
It is clear that chewing gum is soft in combination with moisture, but dries out in the air and becomes hard. So if chewing gum sticks somewhere, it can hardly be detached from the connection. This is particularly unpleasant when chewing gum sticks to the trousers or in the carpet.
- Chewing gum adheres well to all surfaces.
- The chewing compound adapts to all structures.
- This makes it difficult to remove chewing gum.
In the mouth, on the other hand, the chewing compound remains soft and supple and does not adhere to the teeth. The saliva produced during chewing prevents the chewing gum from sticking.
Remove chewing gum: Find the right method
Good to knowWhether chewing gum scares are harmful to the environment cannot be answered in general terms. There is also chewing gum from Chicle, a natural raw material that is biodegradable.
Removing chewing gum from textiles is not easy. But there are some home remedies that you can use to remove chewing gum without leaving chewing gum stains or chewing gum residue in the garment.
There are also tricks on the subject of removing chewing gum from carpeting. Read our guide here on how best to remove chewing gum and gum stains.
Removing chewing gum from clothing with cold
There are several ways to effectively remove chewing gum from garments such as trousers, blouses or sensitive fabrics such as wool. One method is to let the chewing gum freeze until it has become hard.Then you can easily release the chewing compound from the textiles.
The best way to do this is to use a trick: take a freezer bag and pack the trousers or top in it. Then put everything in the freezer for an hour. Once the chewing gum is completely firm, you can easily peel it off the fabric.
Alternatively, you can use an ice cube to remove the chewing gum. To do this, simply press the ice cube to the place where the chewing gum is located.
Although an ice cube is wet, the cold also causes the chewing mass to become firm.After a few minutes, carefully test whether you can peel the chewing gum off your pants or blouse.
Using heat to remove chewing gum and gum stains
For chewing gum in the carpet, for example, dissolve with vinegar, nail polish remover, spirit or an ice cube.
In addition to the refrigeration method or freezing, there is another home remedy, how to quickly remove chewing gum. Simply treat the fabric with an iron.
Proceed as follows: Place the garment on an ironing board and spread out a large piece of baking paper over it.
The baking paper prevents you from putting the iron directly on the chewing gum. In addition, baking paper is particularly heat-resistant, so you can iron it easily.
Now iron with the hot iron a few times over the place where the chewing gum is in the garment.
The heat dissolves the chewing matter from the fabric and sticks to the baking paper. You can then leave this cold and then dispose of it via household waste.
Home remedies to remove chewing gum and gum stains
Here are more tips on how to easily remove chewing gum and gum stains with a home remedy. This also works for some textiles that you cannot wash in the washing machine, such as chewing gum in the carpet.
| Nail polish remover. Add a few drops of nail polish remover to the chewing compound. Allow the liquid to act for a short time. Carefully scrape the chewing gum out of the fabric. | |
| Vinegar Wet the chewing gum complete with vinegar.Wait a while before loosening the chewing gum.Remove the chewing material from the carpet or fabric. | |
| Alcohol Wet a clean cotton cloth with spirit.Pat the spirit onto the chewing gum or gum stain.Rub over the stain until it is completely gone. |
Acetone and vinegar or spirits function like a solvent. First, test this type of stain remover in an unobtrusive spot on your garment or on the carpet.
Chewing gum cannot be removed from every fabric
Chewing gum can be easily removed from a robust fabric such as jeans.
Of course, all textiles behave differently.While you can use several methods to remove chewing gum in jeans, you should be careful with sensitive substances.
For particularly fine garments made of wool or silk, you can also destroy the fabric or fibres if you deal with the fabrics roughly.
Therefore, always test in an inconspicuous place whether the respective stain remover or the individual home remedy is really suitable for removing chewing gum.
How to remove chewing gum from hair or fur
If you have chewing gum in your hair, it is best to use a very oily cream or even foods such as butter or cooking oil to eliminate the sticky mass again.
To do this, cream the hair and pull the cream out of the hair with a layer of kitchen paper.Repeat until the chewing gum is completely removed. You do the same with the butter and the oil.
This method is also suitable for chewing gum in animal hair or fur, as it is particularly gentle and gentle. The greasy cream, butter or oil can also be washed out without leaving any residue at the end with hair shampoo or detergent.
