How to Remove Chewing Gum from Carpet

Ever stepped on a piece of chewing gum and then, unaware, walked through your carpeted living room with your shoes on?

We’ve all been there.

After the who-on-earth-spits-gum-onto-sidewalks moment has passed, you start to wonder how to clean your carpet of the sticky and nasty substance.

So if you,

• Unknowingly transferred gum from the outside to your carpet at home;
• Want to know how to get chewing gum out of your carpet;
• Are looking for the best method to remove chewing gum from carpet or rug.

Then this article is for you!

Read on to learn how to get out of this sticky situation and get the ingrained gum, whether fresh or dried, out of your carpet.

How to get chewing gum out of carpet using ice cubes

This gum removal method is most effective in situations where the gum wad is rather fresh and not deep-rooted into the fibres. Follow these steps to treat the gum and remove it from your carpet:

1. Place a handful of ice cubes in a resealable plastic bag.
2. Lay the bag over the gum stain and leave it there for a while. This will harden the gum, making it easier to take out.
3. Use a butter knife or metal spatula to scrape the solid gum off the fibres. For stubborn areas, gently rub with an ice cube and then scrape what’s left of the gum.
4. Dip a rag into a solution of mild dishwashing detergent and vinegar, and gently rub the spot.
5. Blot the area dry using a clean white towel. Avoid walking on the area you’ve been working on until it is completely dry.

Using oils to remove chewing gum from carpet

Being a hydrophobic material, chewing gum can’t be dissolved by water. The stickiness comes from the fact that gum contains polymers. So, to get gum out of something, you will need another hydrophobic material, like some sort of oil.

Apply one of the listed below to reduce the stickiness of the chewing gum and get it out of your carpet or rug:

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Test the oil of your choice on a hard-to-notice area of the carpet before applying it on the gum wad. Some oils have bleaching properties which may lead to discolouration of the carpet.
2. Apply oil to the gum using a cloth or a rag. Don’t pour oil directly on the gum stain to avoid accidental spilling. Instead, dampen a cloth and saturate the gum wad repeatedly.
3. Scrape the gum using a spatula or a butter knife. Perform the scraping motions in the same direction each time to avoid damaging the carpet’s fibres.
4. Dab the area using a mixture of 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 1 litre of water to remove any residue.
5. Blot dry the carpet using a clean white cloth. Avoid walking on the carpet while it’s still wet.

Removing chewing gum from carpet with a hairdryer

Use this method with caution. The hot air coming from the hairdryer can melt the fibres if the carpet is made of wool or synthetic materials. To avoid damaging your rug, test on a small inconspicuous area of the carpet first.

1. Point the hairdryer towards the spot and apply heat to soften the gum.
2. Once the gum starts to melt, scrape it off using a plastic bag or a clean rag. The gum should stick to the bag or rag. Pay close attention to the fibres, if any melting occurs, don’t use this method.
3. Reapply heat if the gum starts to harden and then scrape again. Repeat if needed.
4. Dab the spot using a solution of water and dishwashing soap to remove any residue.
5. Blot dry the area using a clean white cloth or a rag.

How to get chewing gum out of carpet using solvents

Another way to remove bubble gum from your carpet is to use solvents. They can dissolve the gum polymers, thus making your job easier.

There are a few things you can try:

Here is how to remove gum from your textile floor covering with the help of solvents:

1. Using a clean cloth, apply the solvent of your choice to the gum stain.
2. Give enough time for the solvent to dissolve the gum. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Scrape off the gum using a butter knife or a spatula. Scrape in the same direction with each turn to avoid harming the fibres.
4. Saturate the area with a solution made from 1 teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent and 1 litre of lukewarm water.
5. Blot dry the spot using a clean white cloth. Repeat the last two steps if needed in order to remove any residue.
6. Let it fully dry before walking on the carpet again.

If your carpet appears stained after all the gum residue is removed, employ a grease removal method. Check our post on how to remove grease from carpet for a detailed explanation.

For more carpet cleaning and maintenance tips, read our article on how to clean carpets. There, you will find tips on anything from vacuuming and stain removal to deep cleaning.

Professional carpet cleaning

If you don’t have enough time or have concerns about damaging your carpets with some of the gum removal methods above, Fantastic Services is here to help.

The professional carpet technicians use hot water extraction, which is the most advanced carpet cleaning method on the market. The heat from the hot water extraction will soften the gum, and the residue will be sucked up during the extraction phase, ensuring your carpet is left clean and fresh.

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Now you know how to get gum out of carpets. Tell us how the gum got itself on your precious carpet? Did you manage to take it out and how? Let us know in the comments below.

Header image source: Shutterstock / Parilov