My husband is a big fan of nature walks. I, however, don’t share his passion, but sometimes I do accompany him. Yesterday I decided to go with him and five minutes after we set off into the mountains, I started complaining that I was tired and looked for a bench to sit on. I was so exhausted that I didn’t notice the danger lurking there. I took a selfie for social media, checked my email, and had a quick chat with my best friend. My husband started getting annoyed and told me that the break was over (as if I were at camp). Anyway, we got up and—oh, miracle!—I had a giant pink gum stuck to the back of my favorite pink leggings. My husband joked that at least the gum and the leggings were the same color. While he was laughing, I panicked and rushed home, searching online for a solution to this problem. If you're in a similar situation, don’t worry—just read on.
1. Freezing. This is a classic method when you want to get rid of smeared and sticky gum on clothes. The goal is to make it brittle and hard, which makes removal easier. What did I do? First, I carefully folded my leggings, making sure the gum was on the outside of the garment. I read online that I should place the clothing in a plastic bag, but I didn’t have one, so I had to leave the pants next to the chicken meat... bad neighbors. Anyway, I waited about three hours to be sure everything was properly frozen and took the leggings out of the freezer. At that moment, my husband passed by and joked, asking if we were having leggings for dinner. Of course, I was furious at him even though it wasn’t his fault, so I didn’t reply and continued with my mission to save my pants. I took my ID card out of my wallet, because that’s what it said online, and carefully started scraping the gum. The result was amazing! In just two minutes, I removed the entire pink stain from the fabric. However, I advise you to use a debit card because if you press too hard, it might break. Then I put the leggings in the washing machine and they came out looking brand new. Even though this method is very effective, not all fabrics react well to frozen gum. Velvet and wool, for example, have a texture that allows gum to penetrate deeply and removal attempts may leave traces. But if we’re talking about denim or cotton, there should be no problem. Now I’ll share some other methods that I personally haven’t tried and hopefully never will.
2. Ironing. I was afraid to try this method because I imagined the problem getting worse. But many people say this is the most effective way to handle the situation. How does it work? First, make sure the fabric of your clothing can withstand high temperatures. Prepare an absorbent material to place over the affected area. You can use thick paper or cardboard. Don’t use steam and place the iron directly on the paper. Hold it for a few seconds and turn the iron off. The gum is expected to stick to the cardboard. However, I think this method is a double-edged sword. I’d love to hear about your experiences. This method is not suitable for silk or satin.
3. Removing gum with oil. This method is not the most traditional and may seem a bit risky to most people, but it makes sense. Every woman knows that after using waxing strips, there may be some sticky residue left on the skin. When you apply oil, the discomfort disappears. That’s because oil breaks down sticky textures. It’s the same with gum. Apply a little coconut oil or vegetable oil to the affected area. Rub gently over the gum and wait a few minutes. You’ll quickly notice how the gum starts to change its texture—this is the moment to carefully scrape it off the clothing. Wash the garment immediately afterward, because no one wants an oily stain on their clothes.
4. Vinegar. Besides being great for salad dressing, vinegar is also effective at fighting sticky gum on clothes. Just pour a small amount of heated vinegar on the problematic area and gently scrub the gum with a brush. Wash immediately afterward! Even though these tips are very useful for many people, I hope you all stay careful and don’t let it get to this unpleasant situation. Good luck!
