Did you accidentally drop chewing gum on your carpet while laughing? Or did your toddler decide that your beautiful carpet is an excellent place to throw the chewing gum? So, you must wonder how to get chewing gum out of the carpet. 

Don’t fret! We have all the solutions you need in today’s article. Keep on reading to save your precious carpet with practical tips from our Fulham carpet cleaners.

5 Ways to Get Chewing Gum Out of Carpet

There are many ways to get chewing gum out of the carpet. Let’s discuss each method in detail.

Freezing the Gum

The most common way to remove chewing gum from a carpet is by freezing the gum. That’s because removing the gum when frozen will be much easier, as molecules will shrink and come together when cold. So, that should loosen up the stickiness of the gum.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • Ice cubes
  • A plastic bag
  • A spatula or a dull knife

The Steps

Since putting your carpet in the freezer is impossible, how about you bring some ice to your carpet?

The best way to remove the gum is by working along the edges and moving toward the gum’s centre. Take your time, don’t use too much force, and follow these steps:

  • Grab a bunch of ice cubes and put them in a plastic bag
  • Place the plastic bag on the gum and leave it for at least two minutes or until the gum becomes cold and hard
  • Gently pull the frozen gum from the carpet using your fingers, spatula, or a dull knife
  • Be careful not to damage the carpet
  • If any remains are hard to scrub, you can use a mild carpet detergent 
  • Finally, rinse the area with some water and dry it with a towel

Learn more about How to Get Make up off Carpet

Using WD-40

WD-40 is penetrating oil. It is a moisture displacer, lubricant, rust preventative, and penetrant. WD-40 has endless uses; you can benefit from those to save your carpet.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • A bottle of WD-40
  • Fingernail brush
  • Warm water
  • Mild detergent

The Steps

  • Spray WD-40 directly on the gum and let it set for around five minutes
  • Using the fingernail brush, keep scrubbing in the same direction to remove the gum
  • You can apply WD-40 again while scrubbing
  • Repeat the process until the gum is completely off
  • Clean the gum remains with the detergent
  • Rinse the area with warm water and let it dry

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Using Oil

The idea behind this method is that oil reduces the gum’s stickiness, making it easier to get rid of. However, you’ll also need to remove the oil and clean the carpet after removing the gum, which can be annoying.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • Cooking oil, such as olive oil or sunflower oil
  • A scraping tool
  • Detergent
  • Water
  • A sponge
  • A piece of cloth
  • A towel

The Steps

  • Put a small amount of oil on a piece of cloth and apply it to the gum
  • Repeat the process until the gum is saturated with oil
  • Gently use a dull knife or a spatula to remove the gum by scrapping in the same direction
  • Repeat the process until the gum is completely removed
  • To clean the oil remains, pour the detergent or dish soap and water on the oily spot
  • Using the sponge or a clean cloth, scrub the carpet until all the oil and gum remains are gone
  • Use a towel to dry the carpet as much as you can so that the moisture doesn’t lead to mould growth 
  • Consider using a fan to speed up the drying process
  • Keep foot traffic away from the carpet until it’s completely dried out

Learn more about How Often Should Carpets Be Replaced

Using a Hair Dryer

The idea behind the hair dryer method is that the produced heat softens the chewing gum. That makes it much easier to get rid of. However, the only problem with this method is that you can damage the carpet fibres with heat if you’re not careful.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • Hair dryer
  • Plastic bag or cleaning rag

The Steps

The process is simple. However, it requires extreme caution because applying too much heat to the rug might burn or melt the fibres. So, keep the temperature low, don’t focus the hair dryer on one spot for too long, and don’t use the hair dryer for an extended period.

The following steps will guide you through the process

  • Apply heat from the hair dryer onto the chewing gum until it softens
  • Blot the softened gum with a plastic bag or a cleaning rag
  • After the gum sticks to the bag, slowly lift it away from the carpet
  • If the gum cools down and hardens, you can reapply heat and repeat the process

Check out our guide if you ask the question How Do I Get Nail Polish out of a Carpet

Using Vinegar

Vinegar works like magic. You can use it for cleaning around your household, and it also works well to remove chewing gum stuck in the carpet.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • White vinegar
  • A piece of clean cloth
  • Soft-bristled brush or a toothbrush

The Steps

Vinegar is a perfect cleaner. However, if your carpet is made of delicate materials, you should dilute the vinegar with water. A 1:3 or 1:4 vinegar-to-water ratio is suitable for most carpets.

  • Apply a moderate amount of white vinegar to the gum
  • Work the vinegar into the stain using the brush or the toothbrush and let it sit for around 30 minutes
  • Blot away the vinegar with a clean cloth and let the area dry out

Check out our guide on How to Get Burn Marks out of Carpet

Conclusion

So, how to get chewing gum out of the carpet? There are many home carpet cleaning methods you can use. The most popular way is using ice cubes to freeze the gum, making removing it easier. Additionally, you can use WD-40, vinegar, oil, or a hair dryer for the same purpose. It would help if you were careful not to damage your carpet while trying to shake the gum off.

Happy scrubbing, everyone!