How to Remove Bubble Gum Stains

Harden bubble gum before removing.

Smashed bubble gum on clothes or carpet is normal when you have children. Unfortunately, removing the sticky gum is not that easy. Gum wraps around threads in carpet and clothes when soft and wet, making it difficult to budge loose. Hardening the gum is the key to removing bubble gum stains.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bag
• Ice cubes or ice pack
• Butter knife
• Stain remover
• Damp rag
• Heavy duty liquid detergent

Instructions

1. Peel off as much of the bubble gum as possible without damaging carpet or fabric fibers.

2. Place the garment in a plastic bag and place in the freezer overnight. For a bubble gum stain on a carpet, place a plastic bag of ice cubes or a frozen ice pack onto the gum. Cold hardens the bubble gum making it easier to remove.

3. Scrape the hardened gum gently with a butter knife. Remove bubble gum pieces as they become loose.

4. Spray the gum stain with a stain remover and allow to sit on the garment for 15 minutes. For carpet gum stains, spray with a carpet stain remover and blot with a damp rag after 30 minutes, lifting the stain from the carpet.

5. Apply a heavy duty liquid detergent to the gum stain on clothes and rub in. Rinse the clothes with hot water.

6. Check for the gum stain and repeat with the stain remover and liquid detergent if the stain remains. After removing the stain, launder the clothes normally.

References

• Ohio State University: Quick and Easy Stain Removal