Is there a way to remove chewing gum apart from using ice?

swingaloo

Son has thrown his work trousers in the wash and left an open pack of chewing gum in the pocket. Of course it has melted, gone soggy and spread across the back of his trousers.

I left them to dry as trying to get it off when they were taken out of the washer just made it worse but because it has been in the wash it is not hard and so wont remove with ice and a knife.

Anyone know of a magic tip or solution to remove it please?

moneysaver1978

Never tried but apparently a spray of WD-40 works - the only issue is that it would leave behind an oily stain.

Just for fun, I asked ChatAI and this was their response:

Removing gum from clothes, especially after it has been in the washing machine, can be a bit tricky. Here's a method you can try:

1. Freeze the Gum:

   • Put the trousers in a plastic bag and seal it.
   • Place the bag in the freezer for a few hours until the gum is frozen solid.

2. Scrape off the Gum:

   • Take the trousers out of the freezer.
   • Use a butter knife, the edge of a credit card, or a similar tool to gently scrape off the frozen gum. Be careful not to damage the fabric.

3. Pre-treat with an Oil-based Substance:

   • Apply a small amount of an oil-based substance, such as peanut butter, mayonnaise, or cooking oil, to the remaining gum residue.
   • Let it sit for a few minutes to help break down the gum.

4. Gently Rub and Wash:

   • Gently rub the fabric between your fingers to work the oil into the gum.
   • Launder the trousers as usual. Use a stain remover or pre-treatment if necessary.

5. Check Before Drying:

   • Before drying the trousers, make sure the gum is completely gone. Heat from the dryer can set the gum stain if it's not fully removed.

6. Repeat if Necessary:

   • If there's still gum residue after the first attempt, you may need to repeat the process or try a different method.

Always check the care label on your clothing before using any substances, and test any cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn't damage the fabric.

swingaloo

Love it, thank you. I was reading along thinking 'Well, I have done step one'.
But I completely lost it at Step 6.

 He can go to work with a sticky bum!

moneysaver1978

swingaloo said:

Love it, thank you. I was reading along thinking 'Well, I have done step one'.
But I completely lost it at Step 6.

 He can go to work with a sticky bum!

Sticky situation!

Postik

One of my kids got a small piece of blutac on our carpet.  I managed to pick most of it out but there was a tiny weeny spot remaining that refused to pick off.  I sprayed the end of a cotton bud with WD40, put a spoon behind the fibre in question, and gently swiped the blutac off with the cotton bud.  I was amazed how effective it was.  I also heard cooking oil works but I did an experiment by putting cooking oil, WD40 and methylated spirits into 3 different pots, then rubbed 3 pieces of blutac in each substance, and the WD40 was the most effective by far at dissolving the blutac.

Now I digress, but onto chewing gum.  I certainly think WD40 is worth a try and might be effective as per the above.  As someone else mentioned you'll be left with an oily stain, but I imagine if you wash the trousers again straight afterwards with plenty of detergent it will remove the WD40 before it dries on.

Let us know how it works out!