Sticky, stretchy, and annoying are three words that describe gum when you are not the one chewing it. If not in the mouth, already chewed gum is not something you would want stuck anywhere from beneath your shoes to your child’s hair to your carpet.
For easy removal of gum on your carpet, depending on how long it has been there, you can use a pack of ice, pantry items, or store-bought chemicals.
It is advisable to tackle gum stains immediately and not wait for them to harden up and get further into the carpet’s fibres, causing more damage when removing them. I will explain in detail how each method works as the article progresses.
Composition Of Gum And Why It Sticks To Carpet
Gum is generally made from a gum base, sweeteners, softeners, plasticizers, fillers, colourants, preservatives, and antioxidants. Though some gum brands do not have all these listed ingredients, most do.
The gum base, plasticizers, and softeners are the three ingredients responsible for gum’s ability to stick to carpets. The gum base renders adhesive properties to gum, making it sticky and stretchy, which, by extension, dictates the texture of the gum. Once the gum is chewed, it somewhat becomes warm, another condition that makes it easy to stick to the carpet.
Damage Caused By Gum Stains
As with any stain, it is essential to tackle it immediately if it happens or you notice it. The longer you wait, the harder it may get to remove that stain. Gum stains are no exception; if not attended to promptly, they can potentially damage your carpet.
If you do not promptly attend to gum stains on your carpet, it will damage its fibres when you eventually decide to remove them. You may end up plucking some of the fibres out when removing the gum much later. Also, because much effort will be required, the spot may be slightly discoloured or faded.
Because of its adhesive properties, gum can easily attract dirt and debris. Therefore, leaving gum stains on your carpet without attending to them promptly will attract dirt and debris.
How To Remove Gum From Your Carpet
Things Needed For Gum Removal
Depending on the removal method I will discuss in the following sections, you may need one or more items.
- Ice pack
- Spoon/Blunt knife or scrapper
- Solvent (Rubbing alcohol or White Vinegar)
- Commercial gum remover
- Cloth or paper towels
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Soft-bristle brush
- Steamer
- Gloves
Method 1: How To Remove Gum From Carpet By Freezing The Gum
One of the ways to remove gum from a carpet is by first freezing it. This hardens the gum, making it easier to scrap it with minimal damage to the carpet fibres. Below are the steps to follow to do this.
- Rum an ice pack over the gum until the gum feels frozen
- After that, gently remove the gum from the carpet using a spoon, the blunt side of a knife, or a scrapper.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 as many times as necessary.
- Mix some mild soap with warm water and gently scrub the spot that previously had the gum using a soft-bristle brush.
- Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the area.
- Allow the carpet to air dry, or use a steamer or hair dryer on the lowest settings to help it dry.
The advantage of using this gum removal method is that it is less messy and doesn’t involve chemicals. Thus, you can be confident that the damage caused to your carpet, if any, will be minimal.
Method 2: Using Solvent To Remove Gum From Carpet
Another way to remove gum from the carpet is using solvents such as white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Essentially, these solvents break down the gum to make it easier to remove from the carpet. Here are simple steps when using solvents to remove gum from a carpet.
- Firstly, mix equal parts of warm water and white vinegar. Alternatively, warm up some white vinegar in the microwave. Rubbing alcohol can also be used here.
- Dab a cloth with the warm mixture, blot it onto the gum, and leave for a while.
- Then, use a scrapper to remove the gum.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 as many times as needed.
- Use a soft-bristle brush dabbed in warm, soapy water to gently remove any leftover gum residue.
- Blot the area with a dry cloth and allow it to air dry, or use a steamer or hair dryer on the lowest settings.
Note that to avoid damage to your carpet, it is imperative to test the solvent on an inconspicuous spot on your carpet. Depending on these results, you will know whether the solvent can be used on your carpet material or not.
Method 3: Using Commercial Gum Remover To Remove Gum From Carpet
Aside from the freezing and solvent methods, you can also use commercial gum removers to get gum out of your carpet. The great thing about these gum removers is that they come with instructions on how to use them. Also, most of them spell out which materials you can use. That way, you avoid any damage to your carpet if your carpet’s material is not listed.
Follow these steps for using commercial gum removers, ensure the room is well-ventilated and you have gloves on.
- Following the instructions of the manufacturer, apply some commercial gum remover on the gum on the carpet and leave for a while as stated on the product.
- Use a scrapper or blunt knife to remove the gum.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 as needed.
- Dab a soft-bristle brush in a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing soap and gently scrub off the area where the gum was removed.
- Blot with a dry cloth or paper towels and allow to air dry or use a steamer or hair dryer.
Post-Removal Care
You must clean the affected area after successfully removing gum from the carpet. In a bid to restore the aesthetic of the carpet, post-removal care is necessary. Using a mild dishwashing soap solution to gently scrub the area and blotting with a dry cloth is recommended.
You can further use a vacuum cleaner to fluff up the previously affected area. This post-removal care should leave your carpet looking as good as before.
Getting gum out of your carpet may lead to colour fading and damage to carpet fibres if not done right. That is why testing the gum remover on hidden spots on your carpets is important. That way, if those unseen areas get damaged or there is discolouration, you desist from using the product.
As much as the goal is to remove the gum from the carpet, the result must not be colour fading or damage to fibres.
Conclusion
If you have ever had gum stuck in your carpet, you can relate that it is frustrating and makes the carpet look tacky. There are, however, simple ways to help remove that gum. From using simple household items to commercial gum removers and with a few tools and materials, you can have that gum removed and restore the aesthetics of your carpet.