How to Get Gum Out of Comforters

Chewing gum stuck to your comforter is an unwelcome sight.

When chewing gum ends up anywhere other than in your mouth or the garbage can, it makes a mess. Gum stuck on your comforter is best caught before it gets transferred to your sheets or clothing. While removing gum is not a pleasant task, certain techniques and supplies make it a bit less disgusting. You must get the gum off the fabric fibers before washing your comforter to avoid having gum stuck inside your washing machine or on other clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Ice cubes
• Plastic resealable bag
• Plastic scraper
• Aerosol pretreatment spray
• Clean cloths
• Baby powder
• Dry cleaning solvent
• Drying rack

Instructions

1. 

   Hardening the gum with ice cubes makes cleanup less messy.

   Fill a resealable plastic bag with ice cubes. Close the plastic bag and lay it on the gum stuck to your comforter. Leave the ice bag in place for 30 to 60 minutes to harden the gum.

2. Remove the ice bag. Slide the corner of a plastic scraper under the edge of the hardened gum. Wriggle the scraper back and forth to slowly separate the hardened gum from the fabric. Discard the removed gum.

3. Spritz the comforter with aerosol petroleum-based pretreatment laundry spray at the site of the gum stain. Allow the pretreatment spray to soak into the gum residue for one minute.

4. Blot the comforter with a clean cloth to remove the pretreatment spray. Cover the stained fabric with baby powder to absorb the oily residue from the laundry pretreatment. Let the powder sit on the fabric for five minutes before brushing it off.

5. Dampen a clean cloth with dry cleaning solvent. Sponge the comforter fabric to remove any remaining color or sticky stain from the gum. Move to a clean portion of the cloth as the stain is lifted.

6. Aid the drying process by pressing a dry cloth into the comforter. Drape the comforter over a drying rack and allow it to air-dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub a pea-size amount of butter or margarine into the sticky gum residue to break down the stickiness. Cover the fabric with baby powder to absorb the oil from the butter or margarine.

• Substitute cornstarch or baking soda for the baby powder.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Stain Solutions — Chewing Gum
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Busters — Chewing Gum
• "Reader's Digest": 9 Ways to Remove Grease Stains
• University of Missouri Extension; Stain Removal for Washable Fabrics — Greasy, Non-Food Stains; Sharon Stevens; June 2009
• Ohio State University Extension; Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal Guide — Stains Needing Unique Treatment Methods; Janis Stone