How to Get Gum Out of Clothes After Dryer?
So, you’ve just discovered that you accidentally got gum onto your clothes. And what’s worse is that you already tossed your clothes into the dryer. Your immediate thought may be to throw your clothes back into the dryer to remove the gum, but this is something you should avoid doing.
Instead, you should try any of the effective ways to remove gum that we’ve outlined for you below.
Use detergent
If you have any dish soap or detergent on hand, rub some into the stain and then wash as usual. The suds will break up the gum in your clothes so that it can be removed. You can use an eyedropper to ensure you accurately place the detergent on the gum so as not to ruin the rest of your garment. Once the gum is properly softened, you can use your fingernails or a soft toothbrush to gently scrape it off.
Use vinegar
Another way you can remove gum from your clothes is by using vinegar. No, not white vinegar — that would ruin your clothes. Use apple cider instead, and then carefully rub the fabric with a soft toothbrush to gently remove the gum.
The smell of the vinegar will dissipate after you wash your clothes. Just be sure not to spray any of it on other parts of your clothes that do not have gum on them. Vinegar does have the potential to affect the color of your clothes.
Freeze your clothes
Another interesting way you can get rid of gum on your clothes is by freezing them. Wrap your clothes in a clear bag, and you want the side with the gum facing up. Place the clothes in the freezer for at least 2 hours. Afterward, you’ll realize the gum has completely hardened. In fact, the gum should be hard enough for you to scrape it off with a knife.
Use alcohol
You can also use alcohol to remove gum from your clothes. You must test the alcohol on a small strand of your clothes. This will help you determine whether using alcohol will affect your garment or not. Alcohol may ruin your clothes or even change the color.
Soak the gum stain side of your clothes in rubbing alcohol for approximately 10 minutes, and then scrub off the gum with an old toothbrush. The alcohol works to quickly soften the gum, making it easy to remove.
Boil the Clothes
Fill a pot full of water, boil it and then submerge the part of the clothes covered in chewing gum. Since the water is too hot, you need to ensure that you’re wearing gloves. Hot water tends to shrink clothes, so you will need to have that in mind as you boil the water. Once the gum softens, you can use a soft brush or pumice stone to gently scrape off the gum.
As you can see, getting gum onto your clothes should not be a cause for worry. With the tips mentioned above, you can effectively remove gum from your clothes.