How to Remove Chewing Gum From Fabric Upholstery

When a child smears a wad of chewing gum onto your couch, or you find a piece of gum mashed into your car upholstery, you can try scrubbing it away, but you might just be pushing it deeper into the pile of the fabric. Scrubbing with a rag will not remove it and can actually make the task of removing chewing gum from the fabric upholstery harder. Instead of rubbing it, freeze it so that you can easily peel it off once it becomes inflexible and less sticky.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rag
• 2 ice cubes
• Plastic bag
• Butter knife
• Fabric cleaner

1. Wipe off the fabric upholstery using a rag around the chewing gum to remove any other debris or dirt.

2. Wrap two ice cubes in a plastic bag and place them directly onto the chewing gum. Leave them there for at least 30 minutes. The longer you leave the ice on the gum, the stiffer it will get and easier it will be to pry it away from the fabric.

3. Remove the ice cubes when the chewing gum is so frozen that it doesn't bend when you grip one of the edges. Gently insert a butter knife underneath the chewing gum and wiggle it slightly to loosen the gum from the fabric upholstery.

4. Peel away the wad of chewing gum.

5. Look for a greasy spot where the gum was stuck to the fabric. Some types of chewing gum will leave a greasy residue on the fabric that will need to be cleaned.

6. Spray any greasy residue left behind with a fabric cleaner, applying pressure to soak up the excess moisture and remove all traces of the gum.

References

• How To: Remove Chewing Gum From Furniture