How To Remove Chewing Gum From Clothes

Got chewing gum stuck to your clothes? Don’t fret – there are a few simple ways to remove it without damaging your fabric. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from cost-effective at-home DIY methods to the professional solutions used by experts to ensure a perfect, residue-free finish.

While home remedies are a common first step, they can be time-consuming and often leave behind oily residues or odors. For a guaranteed, professional finish, we recommend leading with a specialised removal solution.

Use Specialised Chewing Gum Removers

At UK Cleaning Supplies, we offer the following professional solutions for removing chewing gum from fabric and surfaces:

• Aerosol Gum Freezers: These sprays instantly freeze the gum. This makes the gum hard and brittle, so you can simply snap it off the fabric in seconds
• Specialists Gum Solvents: These liquids are designed to dissolve the “sticky” gum bond. They are best for gum that has been smeared or flattened deep into the fibres of your clothes.
• Heavy-Duty Floor Scrapers: These tools are used to physically remove gum from tougher surfaces like carpets, entrance mats, or hard floors without damaging the ground beneath.

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D-Bond Chewing Gum Remover

£3.55

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Detak Chewing Gum Remover

£3.75

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Prochem Solvall Spotter 5 litres

£79.74

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Floor Scraper Handle & Blade

£10.38

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Floor Scraper Replacement Blade

£1.96

TIP: Save Money when Bulk Buying:

If your business (such as a school, cinema, or hospitality venue) deals with frequent chewing gum issues, you can save more by buying in bulk. Sign up for a Trade Account today for exclusive volume discounts and credit terms on all janitorial supplies.

If you’re unable to access professional supplies immediately, you can try removing chewing gum with common household items and techniques.

*Note: These methods may require more patience and multiple attempts. 

One of the most effective and common ways to get chewing gum out of fabric is through freezing.

How to do it: 

• Try applying ice to one – or both sides – of your garment to get it to freeze into a solid state.
• Alternatively, pacing the item in the freezer can also work, but be sure to wrap it in a plastic bag first to avoid any messes.
• Once the gum is frozen, you can begin to scrape it off with a blunt object, such as a butter knife.
• Work slowly and carefully so as not to damage the fabric underneath.

Freezing not getting anything off? Do a complete 180° and opt to heat the gum instead. Rather than hardening it, this approach should loosen its grip on your clothes and make it easier to pull off.

How to do it: 

• Use a hairdryer set to high heat
• Hold it about six inches away from the gummed-up area and blast away until the gum becomes soft enough to remove.
• Carefully pull or scrape it away

Wear gloves to protect your hands, as gum can become very hot

While ironing could technically be considered a form of heating, we’re giving it its own category because the results can vary so much. We recommend only trying this method on tougher, more durable fabrics like denim or canvas as there’s a risk you could damage more delicate items.

How to do it:

• Place a piece of clean cardboard on a flat surface or ironing board.
• Place the gum-covered garment gum-side-down on top and set your iron to medium heat. *This is an important thing to remember – too hot and you risk melting the gum into an even bigger mess, but too low and it won’t be hot enough to loosen its grip on your clothes.
• Once the iron is heated, place it on top of the cardboard for 30 seconds to a minute. You should see the gum begin to transfer to the cardboard – if not, try increasing the heat a bit or giving it more time.
• Carefully peel away the fabric and see if the gum came off with it. If not, you can repeat the process as necessary until it’s completely gone.

When all else fails, there are a few common household items that can also do the trick for getting chewing gum out of clothes. Always test these on a hidden area first.

• WD-40: Spray on the affected area, let it sit for a few minutes, and rub with a paper towel or cloth. Be aware that WD-40 is oil-based and may leave a stain that requires deep cleaning to remove.
• Nail Polish Remover: Dab onto the gum with a cotton ball until saturated. This can dissolve the gum but may also bleach or damage the dye in your clothes.
• Vinegar: Soak the area in warm vinegar to penetrate the gum. While safer than chemicals, it often requires significant scrubbing and leaves a strong odour.

Chewing gum can be a pain to get out of clothes, but with a little patience and the right method, it doesn’t have to be.

Start with freezing or heating methods, then move on to household products or specialist cleaners if needed.

And if all else fails? A trip to your local dry cleaner can save the day.