How to Remove a Gum Stain From Clothing

Remove gum stains from clothes by freezing the gum first.

Gum stains on clothes are bound to happen when you have kids. Many children love to chew gum, and sometimes it ends up on their clothing. When gum is soft, it grabs and clings to threads in fabrics, making it virtually impossible to remove until it becomes hardened. By freezing the gum, it becomes brittle, making it easier to remove and clean the stain.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bag
• Freezer
• Butter knife
• Dry cleaning fluid
• Clean cloth
• Laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Place clothing in a plastic bag and set into the freezer overnight. The plastic bag keeps the fabric from sticking to the sides of the freezer. The freezer hardens the gum, making it easier to remove.

2. Remove the clothing from the bag and set on a hard surface. Stretch the fabric area where the gum is located, and peel off as much as you can with your fingernail.

3. Scrape the remainder of the gum with a butter knife. Be careful not to loosen or damage any threads on the fabric.

4. Pour dry cleaning fluid on a clean cloth and dab it onto the gum stain. The dry cleaning fluid lifts any remaining gum residue and stain from the fabric. Continue dabbing until all the gum stain is removed.

5. Wash the clothing with regular laundry detergent and according to the care instructions on the item.

Tips & Warnings

• Find dry cleaning solution in the laundry aisle at your grocery, or ask your local dry cleaner if he sells any of the solution.

References

• StainExpert: Chewing Gum---The Biggest Enemy
• 1stChoiceCufflinks: How to Remove Chewing Gum Stains From Clothes