How to Get Gum Out of Clothes

Chewing gum is great if you’re looking to freshen your breath, but not so great if it’s stuck to your favorite pair of jeans. If you need to know how to get gum out of clothes pronto, we’ve got you covered with these 6 simple methods – most of which can be found right in your home!

Freeze It

This trick doesn’t involve any additional products, just a freezer!

Simply place your gum-stained garment in the freezer for at least an hour.

Once the gum is frozen, you’ll be able to easily scrape it off with the edge of a dinner knife.

Use Peanut Butter

Items in your pantry may have a few more uses than you thought! For this method:

Spread creamy peanut butter directly onto the gum

Let it sit on the clothes for a few minutes, allowing the oils to relieve some of the stickiness

Use the side of a dinner knife to chip away at the peanut butter and gum

NOTE: This method will leave behind an oil stain, but this can be easily remedied with a spray or roll-on stain remover and cold wash cycle.

Steam It

This trick can also be performed easily in your kitchen! But you can easily use a clothing steamer if you have one.

Heat up water in a tea kettle or stove top pot

As the water begins to steam, hold your gum-clad garment over the vapors.

Scrape the gum off with the dull edge of a knife after the gum has softened.

Hairspray or WD-40

If you have it on-hand, hairspray can work like a charm.

Simply spray it on the gum until it “freezes” and it should come right off.

If you don’t have hairspray, spraying it with WD-40 or a can of compressed air should work in a similar fashion.

Use Vinegar

This method may smell a bit like salad dressing, but it’s a sure-fire way to remove gum from your clothes. Not to mention, you can probably find it in your kitchen!

The steps are simple:

Heat up white distilled vinegar until warm (about 30 seconds in the microwave)

Dip a toothbrush or scrubbing brush into the warm vinegar and scrub away at the gum

Bonus – Combine the vinegar with a pinch of baking soda on top of the gum to help break down stickiness

Goo-Gone

Ever heard of Goo Gone? If you’re willing to purchase a product to remove gum from your clothes, this is worth a shot.

Note: This isn’t recommended for silk, leather, or suede.

Plus, this product has additional uses aside from removing gum (it will get rid of those pesky stickers, remove wax, crayon, slime, and plenty more).

The Bottom Line

Now that you know how to get gum out of clothes, your wardrobe should be back to normal in no time!

Gum may be sticky, but it’s no match for these easy methods, all of which can be performed from the comfort of your home with items you may very likely have sitting around!