How to Get Gum Out of Carpet

Gum can easily make its way onto your carpet, whether it’s from a misstep outdoors or from someone accidentally dropping it inside. While it might seem tempting to pull the gum out by hand, doing so can damage your carpet fibers. 

Fortunately, we know a handful of effective ways to remove gum without causing harm to your carpet. Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to test your chosen technique in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it won’t harm your particular carpet’s fibers or coloring.

5 Ways to Remove Gum From Carpet

All of these methods for removing gum from carpet can be completed using simple household items and ingredients. 

1. Ice Cubes

To prevent a sticky situation from getting even stickier, give lodged-in wads of gum the cold shoulder with ice cubes. Gather ice cubes from the freezer, and then follow the following steps:

1. Place a handful of ice cubes in a Ziploc bag and press the ice onto the gum wad. Leave it in place until the gum freezes and hardens.
2. Gently pick at and pull the frozen gum from the carpet using your fingers, a scraping tool, or a butter knife.
3. Start lifting along the edges and move toward the center of the wad, taking care not to remove the carpet fibers along with the gum! (Master this technique, and in the future you can even apply it to upholstery messes and gummed-up clothes.)
4. To deal with any stubborn leftover residue, you can root it out with a few drops of methyl salicylate (such as the pain-relieving cream Bengay).
5. Scrub away any discoloration or carpet stains left in the gum’s wake with a mild carpet-cleaning detergent.
6. Rinse the area with warm water.

If this method doesn’t work quite as well as you’d like, try dabbing a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth or cotton ball, then gently blot the gum residue. The alcohol will help break down the gum’s stickiness.

2. Hair Dryer

A hair dryer can be an effective way to soften gum, making it easier to remove without damaging your carpet. Here’s how to do it:

1. Set the hair dryer to a low or medium heat setting. You don’t want to overheat the carpet fibers.
2. Hold the dryer a few inches above the gum. Aim the warm air directly at the gum for about 30 seconds to soften it.
3. Once it’s softened, use a dull knife or spoon to carefully lift the gum from the carpet. Avoid pulling too hard to prevent damaging the fibers.
4. After the gum is removed, clean the area with warm soapy water to remove any remaining stickiness.

This method works best for smaller gum spots and is pretty low risk in terms of damaging the carpet.

3. WD-40 

Another household workhorse, WD-40 is also effective for dealing with gum in carpet and rugs. Chewing gum is hydrophobic, which means it can’t be dissolved by water. To break it up, dissolve it using another hydrophobic material, like WD-40. (The WD-40 technique should be a quicker fix than the ice technique, because you won’t have to wait around for the gum to harden.) Here’s what to do:

1. Spray a liberal amount of WD-40 on the chewing-gum stain. Point the spray straw as close as you can to the underside of the area, where the gum meets the carpet. You may need to use your fingers to work the WD-40 into the carpet fibers.
2. Wait 5 or 10 minutes.
3. Using a rag or small scrub brush, wipe or lightly scrub the gum in one direction.
4. Add more WD-40 as needed to remove remaining gum from the carpet. Continue wiping in the same direction.

4. Vinegar

White vinegar has so many uses around the home that it’s no surprise it can also be used to get gum out of carpet. Here’s how natural, do-everything vinegar can get chewing gum from carpet:

1. Warm ¼ cup of white vinegar in the microwave.
2. Dab a clean white cloth or towel into the vinegar, and then dab it onto the gum.
3. Use a putty knife, dull knife, or the side of a spoon to scrape away as much gum as you can.
4. Use an old toothbrush to brush away the remaining gum. (The gum remnants will gunk up the toothbrush entirely, so you’ll want to toss it after using it for this task.)

5. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is another surprisingly effective way to loosen gum from your carpet. The oils in the peanut butter help break down the gum’s sticky texture, making it easier to lift. However, be prepared for a bit of cleanup afterward. Here’s how to do it:

1. Apply a small amount of peanut butter. Use a spoon or knife to gently spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the gum. Be careful not to push it deeper into the carpet fibers.
2. Allow the peanut butter to sit on the gum for a few minutes to soften it.
3. Use a dull knife or spoon to lift the gum from the carpet. The peanut butter should have loosened it, making it easier to remove.
4. After removing the gum, you’ll need to clean the area well. Use a dish soap and water mixture to remove the oily residue left by the peanut butter. Follow up with a clean, damp cloth to remove any remaining soap.

While this method can be effective, it does require a thorough cleaning afterward to ensure the peanut butter doesn’t leave an oily stain.

Tips for Keeping Your Carpet Clean

How to get old black gum out of carpet

Freeze it off. Place a couple of ice cubes in a plastic bag, and leave the ice on the gum until the gum is hard and brittle. Scrape off frozen gum residue with a putty knife or butter knife.  

How to get gum out of a wool carpet

The freezing tip mentioned above will also work on removing gum stuck in wool carpets. Simply freeze the gum and scrape it off with a sharp edge, without having to worry about whether a solvent will damage the wool.

How to get chewy sweets out of carpet

Begin by blotting the candy with a rag dipped in cold water, which should loosen the sticky bond. Scrape away any large bits of candy, and then apply a stain remover or carpet cleaning solution. Wait a few minutes, then carefully blot the stain remover. If the stain persists, blot it with a clean cloth dipped in white vinegar.

How to get hard stuff out of carpet

It depends on what the hard stuff is. If you know the substance is candle wax, you can either try the ice technique, or use a warm iron. To remove candle wax with an iron, lay a damp white cloth over the stain. Then, with an iron set to low heat, iron the cloth until it absorbs the wax. Repeat as needed, covering the wax with a clean area of the cloth each time.

 

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