How to get gum out of carpet? Finding gum stuck in your carpet is not a pleasant experience. But don’t worry, you can get it out! In this article, I’ll describe various methods and tips for getting gum out of your carpet.
How can you get gum out of a carpet? The 6 easy ways to get gum out of your carpet are as follows:
- Ice
- WD-40 Degreaser/Cleaner
- Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, or Eucalyptus Oil
- Hair Spray
- Vinegar or Lemon Juice
- Carpet Cleaner
The easiest way to get gum out of a carpet is by using a good quality carpet cleaner; however, you can try the other methods to see if they do the trick.
Other than using a carpet cleaner, the other methods follow a similar process: 1. Use ice or a liquid to decrease the stickiness in the gum; 2. Gently scrape the gum out of the carpet; 3. Use a cleaning solution to clean the carpet.
Before using something to clean the carpet, it is important to first perform a ‘patch test’ to ensure that your cleaning solution doesn’t discolor or damage your carpet. To perform a patch test, follow the below six steps:
- Place a small amount of the cleaning solution into a clean cotton swab.
- Select an inconspicuous area of the carpet and dab a small area with the cotton swab containing the cleaning solution.
- Let the cleaning solution sit for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
- Observe any discoloration or staining of the area.
- If you observe any color changes in the area, discontinue the use of the cleaning solution.
- If there are no changes, the cleaning solution is safe to use on your carpet.
Read on to learn the 6 easy ways to get gum out of your carpet and make it look new again.
Also, take a look at a cleaner that makes getting the gum out a breeze – the BISSELL Proheat Essential Carpet Cleaner. This cleaner gives professional cleaning results and is very easy to use.
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How to Get Gum Out of Carpet – 6 Easy Ways
1. Ice
To get that sticky gum out of your carpet, you will have to reduce its stickiness first. One way of doing this is to apply ice directly to the gum, so it can harden and become less sticky. You can then scrape the gum from the carpet. After scraping, use a cleaning solution to get rid of all the remnants of the gum.
- Place enough ice cubes into a zip-lock bag or an ice pack.
- Put this ice bag over the gum, making sure that the gum freezes completely. Applying ice over the gum reduces its stickiness.
- Carefully scrape the gum from the carpet using a scraping tool, such as a blunt knife or spoon.
- Dissolve a small portion of detergent in some warm water (1 teaspoon to 500 ml ratio).
- Dab or blot any remnants of the gum using a clean white cloth, towel, or paper towel. You can scrub the surface of the carpet gently to get rid of any residues of the chewing gum.
- Blot with a clean paper towel or towel in order to dry the area.
2. WD-40 Degreaser/Cleaner
WD-40 is a lubricant cleaner and degreaser that’s usually used in the garage. However, it can also be used to remove gum and other sticky material from carpets. Just follow the steps below:
- Spray a sufficient amount of WD-40 over the area where the gum is stuck.
- Allow the WD-40 to sit in the carpet for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Scrape the gum off using a blunt knife, spoon, or a soft clean brush. Do this until you have entirely removed the gum.
- Remove gum remnants by using a liquid detergent mixed with warm water. Rub the area carefully until all the gum stain disappears.
- Rinse off with warm water by dabbing the area with a towel or paper towel dipped in warm water.
- Air dry by using a fan or by blotting dry with a thick towel or paper towel.
3. Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, or Eucalyptus Oil
Various types of oils can loosen the gum, allowing it to be scraped off. Follow the five steps below to get gum out of the carpet using oil:
- Saturate the gum stain with olive oil, vegetable oil, or eucalyptus oil.
- Allow the oil to sit in the carpet for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Scrape off with a blunt knife, spatula, or spoon until the gum comes off.
- Remove gum remnants and dirt using a solution of warm water and a liquid detergent.
- Air dry or blot dry with a thick towel or paper towel.
When if you use oil to remove the gum, use liquid detergent afterward to dissolve the oil and remove it from your carpet. If you don’t, it could attract bugs or lead to a foul odor over time.
4. Hair Spray
The unique formula in hair sprays will harden the gum and decrease its stickiness. As mentioned earlier, though, perform a patch test first. Some hair sprays could damage your carpet, so perform the patch test on a small, unnoticeable part of your carpet. If, after 5-10 minutes, there is no damage to your carpet, then you can use the hairspray to spray on the gum that is stuck in your carpet.
Spray the area using hair spray until the gum hardens. Scrape off the gum using a spoon or blunt knife.
5. Vinegar or Lemon Juice
After freezing and scraping off the gum, you can use vinegar in place of warm water. Add liquid detergent to a small volume of white vinegar to create a cleaning solution. Blot the area to remove any remaining gum on your carpet. Blot dry with towel or paper towel afterward.
6. Carpet Cleaner
The most effective and efficient method of cleaning your carpets is to use a carpet cleaner. A good quality carpet cleaner will loosen the gum and pull it out of your carpet in the quickest time.
These cleaners can be used in a variety of household cleaning chores, so you can use them for more than just getting gum out of the carpet. Below are three popular carpet cleaners on Amazon that can make easy work of the gum or other debris in your carpet.
Why Would Someone Carpet a Kitchen?
Recommended Carpet Cleaners
1. Tineco CARPET ONE Smart Carpet Cleaner Machine
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The Tineco CARPET ONE Smart Carpet Cleaner Machine offers high-power suction with no dirty water residue, utilizing a powerful 1300 W motor that delivers 130 AW of effective suction power.
Equipped with HeatedWash Technology, the machine maintains a precise water temperature of 104 °F, enhancing stain removal and refreshing carpets after each wash.
Additionally, the Dry-Only mode, utilizing a 167°F wind, facilitates quick carpet drying, and a Dryness Meter on the display screen provides real-time information on the carpet’s dryness status.
The smart sensing technology, including the iLoop smart dust sensor, automatically adjusts suction power and water flow based on the carpet’s cleanliness for a more efficient cleaning process.
The machine goes beyond carpets, featuring a spot cleaner with an additional hose and stain-remover tool, allowing users to clean upholstery, stairs, car interiors, and other hard-to-reach areas, including stubborn stains, with ease.
2. BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot and Stain Carpet Cleaner
You can easily carry around the BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot and Stain Carpet Cleaner while cleaning your house.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This portable equipment makes use of heatwave technology to get rid of tough stains and stuck grime on your carpet.
It can clean hard-to-reach areas and eliminate deeply embedded dirt, stains, grime, and even gum out of your carpet. It’s also convenient to use due to its self-cleaning mechanism.
3. Hoover Carpet Cleaner, Red Spotless Deluxe
The Hoover Carpet Cleaner, Red Spotless Deluxe, cleans not only your carpet but also stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach places in your house. Its superb suctioning ability extracts stains and dirt effectively.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Its cleaning tools, when used with Hoover Expert Detergents, can get rid of all types of debris, such as gum and pet stains, out of your carpet. This reliable cleaner provides a multipurpose tool that has an incredible antimicrobial property. It ensures that your carpet is not only clean but also free from harmful microbes.
See the below video for more tips on getting gum out of your carpet:
Other Tips for Getting Gum Out of Your Carpet
While freezing is a great way to get gum out of carpet, heat can also be used. A hairdryer could do the trick. Turn on the hairdryer and directly point it to the gum stain until it starts to turn soft. You can then remove it using oils, dishwashing detergent, and warm water. You have to be very careful if using a hairdryer as it could damage your carpet.
A better way of using heat to remove the gum is to use a carpet cleaner. Carpet cleaners use powerful suctions and heat technology to dissolve the gum. You will have your carpet back as good as brand new in no time at all. Another option is to change it and buy a new one.
If you are going to mix liquid detergent and water, don’t pour too much liquid detergent to avoid creating plenty of suds, which could reduce the visibility of the area. It could also increase the risk of wetting other clean areas of the carpet. Thus, it’s essential to follow the correct ratio.
You can use any of the cleaning solutions I mentioned earlier, whichever is effective for your type of carpet. These products can be combined with each other or mixed with warm water. Remember to always perform a patch test on a small part of the carpet to ensure your cleaning solution won’t damage or stain it.
Remember to remove all the grease with a mixture of warm water and a liquid detergent. Leaving the grease longer could attract many bugs and could damage your carpet.
Conclusion – How to Get Gum Out of Carpet
So, to revisit our initial question, how to get gum out of carpet? Six easy ways for getting gum out of a carpet are as follows:
- Ice
- WD-40 Degreaser/Cleaner
- Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, or Eucalyptus Oil
- Hair Spray
- Vinegar or Lemon Juice
- Carpet Cleaner
For the easiest method, you can use the three carpet cleaners presented in the list above. Whatever method you choose, remember to perform the patch test on your carpet to make sure your carpet won’t be damaged.
Other than a carpet cleaner, I like the ice method. Harden the gum by placing a bag of ice directly on the gum stain. The ice will harden the gum and make it easier to remove. You can then use a scraping tool, such as a blunt knife or spoon, to scrape the gum from the carpet.
To get rid of any remaining gum remnants, you can blot or dab the area with warm water containing a liquid detergent or cleaning solution. Make sure to get rid of all the gum because the longer it stays in your carpet, the tougher it is to remove.
After removal, make sure to dry the carpet to prevent new dirt or stain from clinging to its fibers. At first, getting rid of the gum from your carpet may have seemed like a daunting task, but with the above methods and tips, you will find success.
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