Things You'll Need
Ice cubes
Butter knife
Stain remover/pre-treating solution
Liquid detergent or fabric softener
Sponge
Steel wool
Clean, damp rag
Clean towels
It's a common scenario for any parent--you launder your child's clothes, only to discover a stick of gum was left in the pocket. With a few household items, you can easily clean the sticky mess from her clothes and your dryer.
Removing Gum from Clothing
Step 1
Place the ice cube directly on the gum until it freezes.
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Step 2
Gently scrape the gum off with the butter knife.
Step 3
Repeat as necessary to remove all the gum.
Step 4
Pre-treat the garment according to the instructions on your pre-treating product.
Step 5
Launder garment as you normally would.
Removing Gum From Dryer
Step 1
Run the dryer with old towels to heat and loosen the gum.
Step 2
Pour laundry detergent or fabric softener onto a sponge and scrub gum residue.
Step 3
Scrub any remaining gum or stains with steel wool.
Step 4
Wipe the dryer drum with a clean, damp rag.
Step 5
Dry a load of clean towels to thoroughly clean the drum.
Tip
Scrub the dryer in sections, manually turning drum as needed. A long-handled scrub brush may aid in hard-to-reach areas.
Warning
Use care when scraping gum from delicate fabrics or knits that may tear.
Use caution when cleaning any electrical item. Disconnect power cord if necessary.
Wear protective gloves when handling chemicals if you have sensitive skin.
Use proper standing and kneeling procedures to protect your back while scrubbing. Place your knees on a folded towel for comfort and support if needed.
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