How to Remove Chewing Gum From Pants

Something this small will make a huge mess.

It is irritating to come home and find gum stuck to your pants. Whether it came from a restaurant seat, ballpark bench or theater, removal seems tedious. There is a way to get rid of it that will not take hours, or require tossing out the pants. A little known trick will take out most of the gum and leave a small amount that some extra pretreatment and laundering will remove. There is no way to get around the disgusting factor. Removing gum from pants is possible in a couple of hours.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Ice
• Rag
• Dry cleaning solvent
• Laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Rub a piece of ice over the gum until it hardens and becomes brittle. Pull off as large of chunks of gum as possible and discard.

2. Wet a sponge with a small amount of dry cleaning solvent. This can be purchased at most retail chain stores.

3. Dab the solvent on any left over gum. It will break down the composition of the gum. Rinse the fabric well with clear water.

4. Wash the pants using regular laundry detergent. Use the hottest water that the fabric will safely tolerate.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the fabric is wash and wear before laundering. Test a small area of fabric to test for tolerance of dry cleaning solvent.

• Wear gloves when working with solvents.

References

• Texas A & M Extension: Removing Chewing Gum

Resources

• Iowa State University Extension: Clothing Care