How to Get Gum Out of Your Stainless Dryer

When gum transfers from clothing to the inside of a stainless steel dryer, the heat will melt the gum, causing it to stick to the interior of the dryer. If you simply leave the gum as is, it will soften the next time you run the dryer and leave sticky stains and residue on the clothing. When dealing with gum inside the dryer, remove it as soon as possible. The longer it sits on the stainless steel, the more likely staining and problems will occur.

Things You'll Need

• Old towels
• Powdered laundry detergent
• Container
• Spoon
• Cloths

Instructions

1. Place a few old towels in the dryer. Use towels that you don't mind staining.

2. Turn the dryer to a warm temperature setting, and let it run for a few minutes until the gum becomes soft.

3. Pour 1 tbsp. of powdered laundry detergent in a small container. Add water to the detergent, 1 tsp. at a time. Stir after each teaspoon you add until you achieve a thick paste.

4. Apply a dollop of the thick paste to a clean cloth. Scrub the gum off the stainless steel dryer. Add a dollop of the paste to a second clean cloth, and scrub the entire inside of the dryer.

5. Dampen several cloths in water, and place them inside the dryer. Run the dryer on medium heat for a complete drying cycle to remove any lingering gum.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent gum and other candy from creating a mess in the dryer by always emptying pockets before laundering clothing.

References

• "Good Housekeeping"; Removing Melted Chewing Gum From a Dryer; Heloise
• International Chewing Gum Association: Frequently Asked Questions