How to remove chewing gum from clothing effectively

How to remove chewing gum from clothing effectively

Chewing gum stains can be very tough to remove from clothes. So to get rid of them effectively, they need pre-treatment. As it’s not always clear how you can even get started on cleaning up those pesky, sticky stains, we’ve put together the guide below to help you master the art of how to remove chewing gum from your jeans, shirts, and dresses in 1 go!

Read our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of chewing gum stains from clothing, or watch our instruction video below.

Article Content:

Ariel’s step-by-step guide on how to remove chewing gum stain from clothes

  • 1

    Freeze the gum

    To effectively remove chewing gum from clothes, you have to start with ice. When frozen, you can remove chewing gum easily, so stick your garment in the freezer or hold an ice cube onto it for 30 seconds or more.

    Freeze the gum

  • 2

    Remove the gum

    Once the gum is hard, just peel it off by hand or use a spoon and gently scrape it off.

    Remove the gum

  • 3

    Pre-treat the garment

    If you notice a mark left on your garment after peeling off the gum, you’ll need to pre-treat the chewing gum stained garment. Otherwise, you can skip to step 6. Fill a sink or bucket with warm water and add half a scoop of Ariel Washing Powder. Mix the solution by hand until the detergent is completely dissolved.

    Prepare a soaking solution

  • 4

    Soak the stained item

    Add your chewing gum stained garments to the solution and leave to soak for an hour. If the garments keep floating to the top, place a white towel on them to keep them fully immersed in the soaking solution.

    Soak

  • 5

    Preparing for wash

    Gently wring out the excess water.

    Preparing for wash

  • 6

    Dose

    Add detergent based on the instructions on your pack, or read our guide on how to dose washing powder and liquid detergent.

    Dose

  • 7

    Wash

    Load your garment into the washing machine with other, similar items and wash on your usual cycle, at the highest temperature shown on the care label.

    Wash

  • 8

    Unload

    Then, when the wash cycle is over, simply remove the items from the washing machine and you’re good to go.

    Unload

Watch our video guide on how to remove gum stains with front load washing machines!

Youtube video image

Ariel logo

FAQs on how to remove gum from clothes

If the above guide didn’t answer all your chewing gum-related questions, our FAQ section will most definitely will!

    1. Grab a clean cardboard and place it on your ironing board.
    2. Lay your chewing gum stained clothing item on the cardboard, with the gum facing down.
    3. Set your iron to medium heat and iron the critical area.
    4. Wait until the gum has softened, and gently peel your garment away from the cardboard.
    5. Wash your garment as usual.

  • You’ve noticed that pesky chewing gum staining your garment only after it has been through the dryer? Don’t worry, it’s not too late to get rid of it.

    1. Remove as much of the gum as you possibly can.

    2. Place the garment in the freezer for an hour or two or use ice cubes to harden the remaining chewing gum.

    3. Scrape whatever gum you can off with a dull knife or a spoon.

    4. Rinse the gum stained spot under warm water and get rid of any gum residue with a toothbrush.

    5. Wash the garment as usual with your choice of Ariel laundry detergent.

  • Apply a small amount of toothpaste on the chewing gum stained part of your garment, then spread and rub it until it the chewing gum breaks up. Remove leftover bits with a toothbrush, rinse under cold water, and launder on the hottest water temperature setting allowed by your garment’s fabric care label.

    1. Put a few ice cubes in two biodegradable bags and place them under and over the chewing gum stained part of your fabric.
    2. Once the gum has hardened, use a spoon to scrape it off.
    3. Remove any chewing gum residue with a toothbrush.
    4. Wash the garment on the usual settings.

Effective stain removal on many stains

While you’re out and about, there are a lot of tough stains you can encounter. A speck of rust on a bench may rub off on your new skirt, while mud and grass are always around to stain your favourites. You have nothing to fear from those stains, either, though. Ariel is here to remove many types of stubborn stains from your favourites right away, offering outstanding stain removal and a fresh scent while still being gentle on your clothes.

Related articles

Related products