Easy Tricks to Get Chewing Gum Out of Clothes Without Ruining the Fabric
Finding a wad of chewing gum stuck to your favorite shirt can make you want to pull it off immediately. Don’t. The softer the gum is, the more easily it can spread into the fabric and turn a small problem into a much bigger stain.
The easiest approach is to harden the gum first, then gently lift it away. For most washable clothing, ice or the freezer is the safest place to start. The American Cleaning Institute also recommends using cold to harden sticky substances before scraping them from fabric.
Before You Start
Check the garment’s care label, especially if you’re dealing with silk, wool, velvet, leather, or another delicate material.
For washable clothing, avoid rubbing the gum or throwing the garment straight into the washer. Heat can make the problem worse, so remove as much gum as possible before washing or drying.
Method 1: Freeze the Gum With Ice
For most clothing, this is the method I’d try first. It’s simple, inexpensive, and doesn’t require putting a solvent directly on the fabric.
You’ll need:
- Ice cubes
- A resealable plastic bag
- A dull butter knife, spoon, or plastic card
How to do it:
- Put several ice cubes into a plastic bag.
- Hold the bag directly against the gum for several minutes.
- Wait until the gum feels hard and firm, rather than soft and stretchy.
- Gently lift the hardened gum with the edge of a plastic card or dull utensil.
- Work from the outside toward the center.
- Repeat the icing step if the gum starts becoming soft again.
The goal isn’t to scrape aggressively. You’re simply trying to make the gum brittle enough that it releases from the fibers.
Method 2: Put the Garment in the Freezer
If the clothing can safely be frozen, the freezer method is another easy option—especially when the gum covers a larger area.
Steps:
- Fold the garment so the gum is facing outward.
- Put the garment inside a clean plastic bag.
- Keep the gum from touching the inside of the bag if possible.
- Place the bag in the freezer until the gum is completely hardened.
- Remove the garment and immediately lift the gum with a dull edge.
- Repeat if small pieces remain.
Freezing makes the gum much easier to break and peel away without pulling aggressively on the fabric.
