How to Get Chewing Gum Off Leather

Remove chewing gum from leather properly to keep the material in good condition.

Finding chewing gum on your expensive leather can make you feel irritated. Pulling the chewing gum off the leather can cause an even bigger mess because the gum will stick to the leather and stretch. If the chewing gum is not removed properly, it can make the leather look unattractive. Instead of using a commercial product to remove the chewing gum, you can remove it yourself with items that you have around your home.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic sealed bag
• Ice cubes
• Plastic paint scraper
• 2 tbsp. mild dishwashing detergent
• 1 qt. warm water
• Container
• Washcloth
• Towel
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Fill a plastic sealed bag with ice cubes.

2. Place the ice cubes directly onto the chewing gum.

3. Allow the chewing gum to harden completely.

4. Scrape the chewing gum off the leather with a plastic paint scraper.

5. Combine 2 tbsp. of a mild dishwashing detergent with 1 qt. of warm water in a container. Dampen a washcloth with the solution.

6. Wipe the area to remove any lingering gum from the leather.

7. Rinse the area with clean water and a new damp washcloth to remove the soap residue.

8. Dry the leather with a towel. Apply a leather conditioner to keep the leather in good condition. Follow the directions on the conditioner to avoid accidental damage to the leather.

References

• Ink Stains: Chewing Gum Removal
• Stain Expert: Chewing Gum: The Biggest Enemy
• Keene University: Green Cleaning
• Michigan State University: Homemade Cleaners
• Tip King: Remove Chewing Gum