How to remove gum from hair, clothing, shoes, carpets and furniture

A man, although not from the suborder of ruminants, always loved to chew. It is known that even in ancient Greece, the resin of the mastic tree was chewed to freshen the breath and cleanse the oral cavity. In the 16th century, chewing tobacco replaced resin among Europeans. And the first semblance of modern chewing gum appeared in the middle of the 19th century.

Since then, chewing gum has firmly entered the daily life of people. According to data (and there is one!), The average American consumes 182 packs of bubble gum a year, British - 125, German - 102, Chinese - 20. Russians are not far behind - 84 packs of mint pads per 12 months per person.

One can argue to the point of hoarseness whether such consumption is justified from the point of view of dental health, but one thing is indisputable: gum brings a lot of problems if it sticks to clothes or shoes, or even more so gets tangled in the hair.

We have carried out a "spectral analysis" of methods for removing gum and are ready to present them to you in our review.

How to get rid of gum in your hair

Those who have children know: if the gum got into the hair, then the child's “creative” haircut is guaranteed. (The procedure, as a rule, is coupled with the screams and whims of the child.) But do not rush to take up the scissors, because there are other, less radical, methods.

Peanut butter and vegetable oils

If the gum is not too dry yet, you can remove it from your hair using peanut butter. To do this, you need to take a creamy paste without adding chunks of peanuts (that is, not crunchy). Then apply the paste with your fingers or using a toothbrush to the gum stuck to the hair. The latter will absorb the oil contained in the paste, become elastic and non-sticky - it can be easily combed out of the hair with a comb. Remove excess paste with a towel and wash your hair in the usual way.

Removing gum from hair with peanut butter

Vegetable oils work in a similar way: olive, sunflower and others. But the effect is even better: when the gum softens, it will quickly come off with your hands. See for yourself:

Silicone Hair Drops

Typically, girls use these drops to combat brittle and split ends. They are usually produced in the form of a spray. But few people know that they can be used to remove chewing gum from hair. To do this, you need to put drops on the gum and wait 1–2 minutes. Then comb the elastic from your hair and wash your hair.

Removing gum from hair with silicone spray

Vaseline and mayonnaise

Vaseline is in the medicine cabinet in almost any home. Therefore, this method can be attributed to the public. They need to lubricate the hair around the stuck gum, as well as the comb with which they plan to comb out the gum. It is believed that the gum will slip off the hair quickly.

Removing gum from hair with petroleum jelly or mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is also a commonly available remedy for chewing gum in your hair. The principle of application is the same.

Glue remover spray and WD-40

Glue remover spray is used to clean the glue base during nail extension. But it is no less effective in the fight against gum stuck in the hair. To do this, you need to spray on the gum with spray and rub it into it with your fingers. Then remove the gum from your hair with a paper towel and wash your hair.

Alternatively, you can use the WD-40. For information on how to do this, read the article on the unusual ways of using this drug.

Ice Cube

If in the case of vegetable oils the essence of the method is to soften the gum, then here the principle is the opposite: the gum is frozen so that it can easily be pulled out of the hair. To do this, you need to take an ice cube and apply it to the gum for 10-15 minutes. This time should be enough for the elastic to freeze; then it can be easily broken and removed from the hair in small pieces.

Baking soda

Another available remedy is baking soda. From it you need to prepare a paste: 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda for 1-2 teaspoons of water. This paste is applied to the "affected" area of the hair and wait until it dries. Then you should comb out the gum and wash your hair.

Toothpaste, dental elixir and hand cleaner

A pea of toothpaste should be applied to the gum and rubbed in until the gum begins to peel off the hair. Add paste as needed.

Among the hygiene products that are effective in combating chewing gum in the hair, there are also hand cleaner (it needs to be rubbed into the adhering toffee) and mouthwash (they need to rinse the hair after the cleaner). The chewing gum will fall off after about 5 minutes.

Alcohol

Soak a cotton pad with vodka or other strong alcohol and carefully treat the place where the gum stuck with it. After a minute, the elastic should begin to move away from the hair. After the procedure, wash your hair with shampoo.

How to get rid of gum on clothes

You walk in the park, sit on a bench … and get a "hello" from fellow citizens in the form of gum sticking to your jeans. As a rule, simple washing does not save you from this "infection" - you have to either take the thing to dry cleaning or throw it away. But you can get rid of chewing gum on clothes with improvised means.

Freezing

The freezing method works with chewing gum, which is glued to the clothes with a thick "pancake", and is not smeared on the fabric, not heavily eaten into it. Fold the item so that the elastic is on top, put it in a plastic bag (it is better if it is hermetically sealed) and send it all to the freezer for a couple of hours. Then remove the bag, unfold the clothing, and knock off the frozen gum with a knife or other sharp object.

Ironing

It is necessary to heat the iron to medium temperature and iron the thing spoiled with gum with it. However, there are two important points. Firstly, it is not worth ironing the gum directly, but the clothes on the back. Secondly, the gum will melt, and so as not to spoil the ironing board, put a piece of cardboard on it - the gum will stick to it.

Steaming

This is a simple method that does not require any consumables. Boil the kettle and hold the stained area of clothing over its spout, which is emitting steam. After a few minutes, the gum will become soft, brush it off the tissue with a toothbrush. Then wash the item.

Alternatively, use a bowl of very hot water (if the item can be washed at high temperatures), put clothes in there and remove the gum with an unnecessary toothbrush.

Vinegar, alcohol and household chemicals

Pour table vinegar into a bowl and microwave for 1 minute (it should warm up well, but not boil). Use a toothbrush to apply hot vinegar to the gum. Work quickly while the vinegar is still hot. A few vigorous movements, and the elastic will move away from the fabric. It is best not to apply this method to delicate fabrics.

You can also use rubbing alcohol, but remember that fabrics may fade and colors may fade. Therefore, this method is best used to remove chewing gum from plain clothing. Apply rubbing alcohol to a sponge and soak the area where the gum has adhered. Wait 1–2 minutes, then pick out the gum with a knife or spatula.

From household chemicals, effective are spray for removing labels (apply for 2 minutes and brush off the gum with a toothbrush), liquid detergent (pour on the damaged area of clothing, rub it well into the gum and remove it with a spatula) and hair spray (sprinkle the gum, it will harden, after which it can be knocked off with something sharp).

Removing gum from clothes using household chemicals

Oils and peanut butter

The principle of using peanut butter is the same as for hair. When the gum has softened, it can be removed with a knife.

Removing gum from clothing with peanut butter

When it comes to oils, orange and eucalyptus oils work best on fabrics. It is best to soak the gum area with oil with a cotton swab and then brush off the gum with a toothbrush. After that, the clothes must be washed.

Duct tape

If the gum is not firmly embedded in the fabric, you can use duct tape to remove it. Cut a piece of duct tape or duct tape just enough to cover the entire gum. Press the tape firmly against the gum, and then pull it off with a sharp motion. If it is not possible to remove all of the chewing gum at one time, repeat the procedure.

How to get rid of gum on shoes

Getting into trouble (literally) in the form of gum on the pavement is as easy as shelling pears, and getting your shoes off of it is sometimes difficult. But there are several proven methods.

Gasoline for lighters and acetone

Specialized gasoline for refueling lighters, as well as an acetone-containing nail polish remover, are good at removing gum from the soles of shoes. To do this, you need to wet an unnecessary rag with gasoline or acetone and rub the gum thoroughly until the liquid corrodes it and the gum disappears. Attention! These fluids are highly flammable - take precautions.

Sand

If you stepped on "fresh" chewing gum and it has not yet had time to numb, then get dry sand and a small stick. Place sand on the gum and scrub with a stick. The chewing gum will begin to roll in lumps and come off the sole. Add sand as needed.

Freezer and ice

Freezing shoes works just as well as freezing hair and clothes. However, there are two options. The first is to put the shoes in a bag and put them in the freezer for a couple of hours. After that, the gum can be knocked off the sole with a sharp object. The second option is to attach ice cubes.

In addition, you can also use WD-40 and peanut butter to remove gum from your shoes.

How to get rid of gum on carpet and furniture

For carpets and furniture, it is difficult to find a universal means of dealing with gum adhering to them, it all depends on the material. For example, chewing gum is often cut from long-piled carpets (if it is not deeply entangled). Smooth carpets are cleaned with ice and also by steaming (use a hairdryer instead of a kettle).

True, in the latter case, fat traces often remain on the carpets. These, in turn, are disposed of with dishwashing detergent, carpet cleaning products, or lemon juice. You should be careful and before cleaning the carpet with this or that means, check on the edge if it will spoil the color and quality of the product.

The same methods and principles work for upholstered furniture. For hard surfaces, such as a polished table or cabinet, vegetable oil and ice methods work best. Essential oils are most effective on glass surfaces.

The Chewing Gum Wall, One of the Most Unhygienic Landmarks in the World (Seattle, USA)

Bonus! 5 steps to get rid of gum on an LCD monitor

Unplug your TV or computer monitor from the power.
Mix equal proportions of distilled white vinegar and water.
Dampen a cotton cloth with this solution. The fabric should be damp, but not wet.
Blot the gum gently with this cloth. Avoid touching or pressing on the screen surface.
Try to remove the gum with your fingers. If it does not give way, repeat steps 3 and 4. After the chewing gum falls off the screen, wipe it with a special tissue and plug it in.