How to Remove Gum From Carpet

How to Remove Gum From Carpet – Many people enjoy chewing gum as flavorful treat to exercise the jaw, eliminate boredom, and even help quit smoking. Unfortunately, gum sometimes ends up where it’s not supposed to be, like your carpet. If you discover a sticky situation hiding in your carpet, there are ways to remove the gum and prevent the stain from becoming a permanent fixture.

How to Remove Gum From Carpet

Of all the substances that can sully a carpet, gum is one that seems to cause the most grief. Put down those scissors—there are better ways to get chewing gum out of carpet than cutting it out! Below are three methods of gum removal. (For ultra-challenging situations—say, your kids have had a bubble gum–blowing contest and left the evidence underfoot—you may need to start with the ice cube method, then follow it up with the vinegar method.)

Photo: instructables.com via jessyratfink

Removing Gum via The Ice Cube Method

To prevent a sticky situation from getting even stickier, give lodged-in gum wads the cold shoulder—with ice cubes! This is why it pays to always keep ice on hand. Gather ice cubes from the freezer, and then complete the following steps:

• Place a couple of ice cubes in a plastic bag. Press the bag of ice onto the offending gum wad. Leave the ice on the gum for at least 1 minute. This will freeze and harden the gum, making it easier to lift off.
• Gently pick at and pull the frozen gum from the carpet using your fingers, a scraping tool, or a butter knife.
• Start lifting along the edges and move toward the center of the wad, taking care not to remove the carpet fibers along with the gum! (Master this technique, and in the future you can even apply it to upholstery messes and gummed-up clothes.)
• At this point, most of the gum should be out of sight and out of mind, but if stubborn residue remains, root it out with a few drops of a rub featuring methyl salicylate (such as the pain-relieving cream Bengay).
• Scrub away any discoloration or carpet stains left in the gum’s wake with a mild carpet-cleaning detergent.
• Rinse the area with warm water to send your gummy ordeal packing!

The WD-40 Method to Remove Chewing Gum

Another household workhorse, WD-40 is also effective for getting gum out of carpet and rugs. Chewing gum is hydrophobic, which means it can’t be dissolved by water. To break it up, dissolve it using another hydrophobic material, like WD-40. (The WD-40 technique should be a quicker fix than the ice technique, because you won’t have to wait around for the gum to harden.) Here’s what to do:Advertisement

• Spray a liberal amount of WD-40 on the chewing-gum stain. Point the spray straw as close as you can to the underside of the area, where the gum meets the carpet. You may need to use your fingers to work the WD-40 into the carpet fibers.
• Wait 5 or 10 minutes.
• Using a rag or small scrub brush, wipe or lightly scrub the gum in one direction.
• Add more WD-40 as needed to remove remaining gum from the carpet. Continue wiping in the same direction.

And Finally, The Vinegar Method

White vinegar has so many uses around the home that it’s no surprise it can also be used to get gum out of carpet. Here’s how to put natural, do-everything vinegar can get chewing gum from carpet:

• Warm ¼ cup of white vinegar in the microwave.
• Dab a clean white cloth or towel into the vinegar, and then dab it onto the gum.
• Use a putty knife, dull knife, or the side of a spoon to scrape away as much gum as you can.
• Use an old toothbrush to brush away the remaining gum. (The gum remnants will gunk up the toothbrush entirely, so you’ll want to toss it after using it for this task.)

How to remove gum from carpet in 6 steps

If you’ve struggled with removing gum from a carpet or rug in the past, clear those failed attempts from your mind. The following method works for various types of rugs including those made of hemp, jute, wool, other natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and blended fibers. Also, remember that the sooner you’re able to remove the gum, the easier the entire process is.

Ready to get started? Take a deep breath and complete the following frustration-free steps to remove gum from carpet without the stress.

Step 1: Prepare the area.

Obtain a thin piece of cardboard and cut a small hole in the shape of the gum. The back of a spiral notebook, for example, would work well. This piece of cardboard acts as a guard to protect the surrounding carpet while you remove the gum. Place the cardboard over the spot.

Step 2: Freeze the gum.

Place an ice cube inside of a plastic bag and rub it over the gum. The plastic bag keeps the melting ice from wetting everything. Continue to rub the ice over the gum until the gum becomes hard. The frozen gum is easier to remove since the process causes the molecules to contract and relax its bond to the carpet. Instead of ice, you could also use a commercial aerosol product like Zenex ZenaFreeze to spray on the gum.

Step 3: Scrape the gum.

Once the gum sufficiently hardens, use a dull knife, spatula, or silicone kitchen scraper to carefully remove the gum. If a few stubborn pieces or a stain stay behind, continue with the following steps.

Step 4: Clean remaining residue.

Use a sponge to carefully apply lacquer thinner, such as Klean-Strip Green, to the remaining pieces of gum. Follow any safety precautions on the label, as lacquer thinners are flammable and may emit noxious fumes. You might also try citrus-based adhesive removers like Goo Gone or De-Solv-It. Carefully blot or scrape the last bits of gum until they’re gone.

Step 5: Remove the stain.

Even after you remove all of the gum, there may be a stain left behind. To remove it, mix one part mineral oil with eight parts liquid dry-cleaning solvent, such as Forcefield. Apply a small amount to the stain and press down firmly with a sponge. You should also go ahead and remove the cardboard at this point, so you can blot the stain more easily. Don’t rub, as this could make the stain worse. Repeat the application and blot until the stain lifts from the carpet.

Step 6: Rinse and dry the area.

Finally, rinse the spot with a little bit of water and blot the excess moisture with a towel until it’s dry.

What you’ll need to get gum out of your carpet

• A small piece of cardboard and scissors: While this isn’t completely necessary, this extra item makes the clean-up process tidier overall.
• Ice or Zenex ZenaFreeze (or similar):
• A plastic bag: Make sure the bag doesn’t have any holes, otherwise it’ll defeat the purpose. Using a plastic bag keeps the ice from melting all over the place.
• A scraping device: Don’t use anything with a sharp edge, as this can damage your carpet or rug. One good option is a thumb scraper. The durable texture is ideal for breaking up hardened gum without destroying your carpet in the process.
• Lacquer thinner: This is essential for breaking up lingering remnants of gum. Klean-Strip Green does the job, plus it contains 20% biodegradable and sustainable content and contains no ozone-depleting chemicals. You’ll find it useful for many other tasks, such as removing paint and as a cleaning tool.
• Citrus-based cleaners: These cleaners are an alternative to lacquer thinners, but they may require a bit more elbow grease and time to soak and thoroughly remove the residue.
• Dry cleaning solvent: Forcefield works wonders on all kinds of upholstery, carpets included. You might test it first on an inconspicuous spot, as some users report it causes colors to run.
• Sponges and paper towels: Use either, or both, to blot and lift gum stains and small pieces from your carpet.

Conclusion

Some oils may discolor or bleach fabrics. Ensure that you aren’t going to make a bigger stain by applying a small amount of oil in a hidden location and inspect for any discoloration. Oil reduces the stickiness of gum which will allow it to release from the carpet fibers.