How to Get Gum Out of Carpet? Home Remedies to Get Gum Out of Carpet

crteam • December 14, 2020 • Carpet Cleaning , Do It Yourself

Gum getting stuck on any surface except the one you intended is just annoying, especially gum getting stuck on fiber. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, accidents are quite common. We are talking about the small accidents at home like spilling coffee, water, ink and causing stains on carpet or upholstery. Of all things, getting gum spilled or stuck on carpet seems like a nightmare. The ugly, sticky bond between gum and carpet is surely hateable. It looks challenging to depart both from each other but actually extracting gum from carpet is no big deal.

We accept that the struggle is real but every problem has a solution and so does removing gum from carpet. Even if you have experienced few failed attempts at the past, just erase that from the mind and let’s explore fresh and time-tested gum removing methods.

Follow the DIY methods below and get that stubborn gum out of your carpet without frustration, without efforts:

How to get gum out of carpet?

Method 1 – Using ice

Ice is the best bet as it can fight most of the kinds of stains, including gum. Remember the longer you take to tackle the stain, the harder it will be to remove it. So, instantly when you spot the gum stain, start with the simple freeze the gum method.

Take a plastic bag or a zip lock bag and put a few handful cubes of ice in it
Now place the bag on the carpet where the gum stain is present
Let it stay there as long as the gum hardens
The harder the gum, the easier it will be to remove
Once the gum freezes, use a scraping tool to scrape and remove the gum
Still, after the gum is removed, you can notice the stain. So to remove the stain take a sponge and soak it in a clean fluid like a thinner or adhesive remover
Now gently rub the sponge against the stain
Take a clean towel or rag and cover the gum stain with it
Soak up all the residue liquid and make sure the surface is dry and no stains are left behind
You can also rinse the spot and remove the excess moisture by drying the carpet

After following the complete process smoothly, the carpet will appear as clean as nothing happened. Repeat the method, if necessary.

Method 2 – Using a hairdryer

After ice, the hairdryer is also actually handy, it’s easily available. If you are thinking, how this grooming machine can save your carpet from the gum then go through the method below.

Take the hairdryer and directly blow it on the gum stain on the carpet
Make sure the heat is not excessive or else along with gum even the carpet fiber can get melted. So watch out on the temperature
Once you observe the gum melting, scrape the gum with the help of the plastic bag.
The melted gum will easily stick to the plastic bag and you will notice the gum being removed
Continue the process, until the stain completely vanishes

Be watchful about the hairdryer heat as you don’t want to melt the carpet fiber. According to experts, this method is said to remove over 80 per cent of the stains. You can use a deep heating rub to remove the rest.

Method 3 – Using vinegar

There is no cleaning remedy that does not include vinegar as an effective solution. The non-toxic and harmless cleaning agent works magical on removing the gum that is embedded into your carpet. Here is what you need to do with vinegar.

Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid soap
Sprinkle it or apply it on the stain
Now use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the solution and see that it absorbs
Let the vinegar and liquid soap solution sit on the carpet for at least 15 to 20 minutes
Later take a clean cloth and soak it in clean water and blot the spot
Continue to blot until you notice no more solution exists on the carpet or all the residue is transferred to the cloth
Let it air dry. Further, dry the carpet fiber with the help of a vacuum

Method 4 – Using WD-40

Sticking gum or chewing gum, WD-40, a multi-use product is proven to be effective to remove those stubborn stains out of the carpet. Grab it and spray it. Along with this product, you will need a fingernail brush and degreaser or spray detergent.

Spray a generous amount of WD-40 on the gum stains
Let the spray settle on the stain for a few minutes. Less than an hour is enough as this product works quite quick
Now take fingernail brush and scrub it against the stain to remove it. Make sure to scrub it in a particular direction and motion, either left or right. Keep scrubbing until you see the gum disappearing
Continue to scrub and simultaneously spray WD-40 while brushing the carpet

Note – Do not scrub too hard as there are possibilities of your carpet getting damaged

Method 5 – Using citrus-based carpet cleaners

In some cases, you may need more than the ingredients that are easily available at home. For difficult and deep stains, carpet cleaners work as the best alternatives.

As per recommended by the product, follow the cleaning instructions
Spray the carpet cleaning solution directly on the gum stain present on the carpet
Let it sit in the stain for a few minutes
Now take a scraping tool to scrape and remove the remains of gum
That’s it, stains would have disappeared

Whatever scraping tool you are using whether it is a knife or a spatula, make sure it is blunt or else it can damage the carpet fiber.

Method 6 – Using dry cleaning solvent

Even dry cleaning solvents work wonders on removing stains from carpet and upholstery. However, before using it directly on the carpet, make sure to test it on some inconspicuous spot. This will help you to know if it is suitable for your carpet material or not.

At first you many succeed, repeat the process several times. But still, if these DIY methods don’t work, approach any professional carpet cleaning services for better results.