How to Remove Melted Gum From Dryer & Clothes

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Things You'll Need

  • Ice cubes

  • Butter knife

  • Stain remover/pre-treating solution

  • Liquid detergent or fabric softener

  • Sponge

  • Steel wool

  • Clean, damp rag

  • Clean towels

It's a common scenario for any parent--you launder your child's clothes, only to discover a stick of gum was left in the pocket. With a few household items, you can easily clean the sticky mess from her clothes and your dryer.

Removing Gum from Clothing

Step 1

Place the ice cube directly on the gum until it freezes.

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Step 2

Gently scrape the gum off with the butter knife.

Step 3

Repeat as necessary to remove all the gum.

Step 4

Pre-treat the garment according to the instructions on your pre-treating product.

Step 5

Launder garment as you normally would.

Removing Gum From Dryer

Step 1

Run the dryer with old towels to heat and loosen the gum.

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Step 2

Pour laundry detergent or fabric softener onto a sponge and scrub gum residue.

Step 3

Scrub any remaining gum or stains with steel wool.

Step 4

Wipe the dryer drum with a clean, damp rag.

Step 5

Dry a load of clean towels to thoroughly clean the drum.

Tip

Scrub the dryer in sections, manually turning drum as needed. A long-handled scrub brush may aid in hard-to-reach areas.

Warning

Use care when scraping gum from delicate fabrics or knits that may tear.

Use caution when cleaning any electrical item. Disconnect power cord if necessary.

Wear protective gloves when handling chemicals if you have sensitive skin.

Use proper standing and kneeling procedures to protect your back while scrubbing. Place your knees on a folded towel for comfort and support if needed.

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