How to Get Gum Out of Clothes: 7 Easy Methods That Work

The easiest way to get gum out of clothes is to freeze it, then scrape it off. Put the item in a plastic bag in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours, or hold an ice cube on the gum. Once the gum is hard, it pops off the fabric with a spoon or dull knife. Then treat any leftover mark with dish soap and wash the item as usual.

If the freezer does not get it all, there are several other safe methods using things you already have at home.

This guide shows you 7 methods that work, which ones to use on different fabrics, and the mistakes to avoid so you do not make the stain worse.

Before you start

• Do not pull the gum. Pulling stretches it and pushes it deeper into the fabric.
• Do not put the item in the dryer. Heat melts gum and spreads it.
• Check the care label. Some fabrics, like silk, wool, and anything marked Dry Clean Only, need extra care.
• Test first. Try any liquid on a hidden spot, like an inside seam, before using it on the stain.

Why does freezing work?

Chewing gum is made from a soft, rubbery base. When it is warm, it is stretchy and sticky, so it clings to fabric fibers. When it gets cold, it becomes hard and brittle. Instead of stretching, it cracks and breaks off in pieces. That is why cold is the first step for almost every gum problem, and why heat makes it worse.

7 ways to get gum out of clothes

1. The freezer method (best for most clothes)

This is the easiest and safest method for almost any fabric.

1. Fold the item so the gum is on the outside. This stops it from sticking to the bag.
2. Put the item in a plastic bag.
3. Put it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours, until the gum is hard.
4. Take it out and quickly scrape the gum off with a spoon, dull butter knife, or old credit card.
5. Work fast before the gum warms up and gets sticky again.

For small bits left behind, freeze it again and repeat.

2. The ice cube method (for big items)

If the item is too big for the freezer, like a coat or a comforter, use ice instead.

1. Put a few ice cubes in a small plastic bag.
2. Hold the bag on the gum for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is hard and brittle.
3. Scrape the gum off with a spoon or dull knife.

3. Dish soap or laundry detergent

After you scrape off the gum, a thin, sticky layer is often left behind. Soap breaks it up.

1. Put a few drops of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent on the spot.
2. Gently scrub with an old toothbrush for a minute or two.
3. Scrape away any loosened bits.
4. Rinse with warm water and wash as usual.

4. Cooking oil or peanut butter

Oil breaks down the sticky part of gum so it slides off. It works well on sturdy fabrics like denim and cotton.

1. Rub a small amount of cooking oil, like vegetable or olive oil, or a little peanut butter into the gum.
2. Wait 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Scrape the gum off with a spoon or dull knife.
4. Right away, treat the oily spot with dish soap, since oil can leave its own stain.
5. Wash the item as usual.

Avoid this method on silk, delicate fabrics, and light colors that stain easily.

5. Warm white vinegar

Vinegar can soften gum on sturdy fabrics.

1. Warm about half a cup of white vinegar in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. It should be warm, not boiling.
2. Dip an old toothbrush in the vinegar and scrub the gum in small circles.
3. Scrape away the loosened gum.
4. Wash the item as usual.

Test first, and avoid this on delicate fabrics.

6. Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol can dissolve the sticky bits left after scraping.

1. Test it on a hidden spot first.
2. Dab rubbing alcohol on the leftover gum with a cotton ball or cloth.
3. Let it sit for a minute or two.
4. Gently rub or scrape the gum away.
5. Wash as usual.

Avoid using it on acetate, triacetate, and some delicate fabrics.

7. Store-bought gum or adhesive removers

Products made to remove gum and sticky goo, like citrus-based removers, work well on tough spots. Follow the label directions, test first, and wash the item afterward to remove the product.

Which method should I use?

How to remove the stain left behind

Gum can leave a colored mark or a dark, oily spot, especially if you used oil or peanut butter.

1. Put a few drops of dish soap on the spot. Dish soap is made to cut grease.
2. Work it in gently with your fingers or a soft brush.
3. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Use a stain remover if a mark is still there.
6. Wash the item in the warmest water the care label allows.
7. Air dry it and check the spot. If the mark is still there, treat it again before using the dryer.

What if the gum went through the washer or dryer?

Sometimes you do not notice the gum until the clothes come out of the wash, or worse, the dryer.

For clothes:

1. Freeze the item so the gum gets hard again.
2. Scrape off as much as you can.
3. Treat what is left with dish soap or rubbing alcohol.
4. Wash again and air dry.

For the inside of the dryer drum:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Hold a bag of ice on the gum until it is hard, then scrape it off with a plastic scraper.
3. Wipe away the rest with a cloth and a little dish soap and warm water.
4. Dry the drum well.
5. Run a load of old towels to pick up any last bits before drying good clothes.

How to get gum off other things

The same ideas work on many surfaces:

• Carpet and rugs: Hold ice on the gum, scrape it off, then clean the spot with a little dish soap and water. Blot, do not rub.
• Car seats (fabric): Use ice, scrape, then clean with dish soap and water.
• Shoes: Put the shoe in the freezer in a bag, then scrape the gum off the sole with a stick or old knife.
• Hard surfaces: Freeze and scrape, then use oil or a goo remover for the leftover sticky bits.

For other sticky messes, like label glue, see our guide on removing sticker residue from any surface. Many of the same tricks work.

Quick tip: gum stuck in hair

Gum in hair is common with kids. You usually do not need scissors.

1. Rub a small amount of cooking oil, coconut oil, or peanut butter into the gum and the hair around it.
2. Wait a few minutes so the oil can loosen the gum.
3. Gently work the gum down and out of the hair with your fingers or a fine-tooth comb.
4. Wash the hair with shampoo to remove the oil.

An ice cube can also harden the gum so it is easier to pick out. Be gentle, and do not pull hard on the hair.

Mistakes to avoid

• Pulling or rubbing warm gum. It spreads and sinks deeper.
• Using the dryer too soon. Heat sets the gum and spreads it.
• Using hot water on the gum first. It makes the gum softer and stickier.
• Using sharp knives. They can cut or snag fabric.
• Skipping the test spot. Some liquids can fade or damage fabric.
• Giving up too soon. Stubborn gum can take two or three rounds of freezing and scraping. Be patient, and let the fabric warm up between tries.
• Leaving oil on the fabric. Treat oily spots with dish soap right away.

How to keep gum off your clothes

• Check pockets before you do laundry, especially kids' pants and jackets.
• Wrap used gum in paper before throwing it away.
• Look before you sit on benches, bus seats, and bleachers.
• Keep gum in its package in bags and pockets.

If laundry day also left you with a shirt that shrank in the wash, our guide on how to unshrink clothes can help you save it.

Does hot water help?

Only at the very end. Hot water makes gum softer and stickier, so it can spread. Always start with cold to harden the gum and remove the bulk. Once the gum is gone, you can wash the item in the warmest water its care label allows to remove any leftover residue.

Tips for parents

Kids are the most common source of gum on laundry. A few habits save a lot of trouble:

• Make pocket checks part of laundry day. Turn pants and jackets inside out before washing.
• Keep a small freezer bag in the laundry room so you can freeze gummy clothes right away.
• Teach kids to wrap gum in paper or a wrapper before throwing it away.
• Keep an old spoon and toothbrush near the washer for quick scraping and scrubbing.

The bottom line

To get gum out of clothes, freeze it first, then scrape it off with a spoon or dull knife. Use dish soap, a little oil, warm vinegar, or rubbing alcohol for sticky bits that are left, and always test on a hidden spot first. Treat any stain with dish soap, wash the item, and air dry it until you are sure the gum is gone. Never put gummy clothes in the dryer.