Gum Removal From the Dryer
If you accidentally wash your clothes with a pack of gum in the pockets, the washing cycle will tear apart the paper packaging, forcing the gum loose in your load of laundry. If you don't notice the gum when you place the laundry in the dryer, the gum will melt all over the dryer walls. Prevent this by always checking pockets before putting clothes in the washing machine and dryer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Heating Up
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When chewing gum heats up, it gets very soft. If it heats up a lot, it will harden even more when it cools off. This means that the gum will be hard and difficult to remove from the inside of your dryer. Remedy this by placing a few old towels into the dryer and turning it on high heat for several minutes until the gum has softened.
Scraping
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Once the gum has softened, you will be able to pull most of it from the surface of the dryer. You might not be able to remove all of the gum residue this way, but this is a fast way to remove the bulk of the gum. Scrape the dryer walls with the edge of a plastic spoon or a credit card. Do not use knives or metal tools to remove the gum, as it will scratch the heat-resistant paint.
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Powdered Laundry Detergent
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Because the scraping method will not likely remove all of the gum residue, you'll need to remove the residue with a solvent. When mixed into a paste, powdered detergent is a mild abrasive that will not damage the dryer but grind away the gum residue. To make it, add just enough water to the detergent to make a paste that is the same consistency as toothpaste. Work the paste into the gum residue until it is gone. Rinse the area and let it dry completely.
WD-40
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WD-40 is effective in removing many types of sticky substances from hard surfaces. If the powdered detergent was not effective in removing all of the gum residue, spray WD-40 directly on the gum residue and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing the residue off with a soft-bristle brush. Wipe the area with a water-dampened cloth to rinse it and let it dry completely.
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References
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