How to Remove Chewing Gum from Jeans

Co-authored by Ayad Mirjan

Last Updated: September 15, 2022 Approved

Having chewing gum stuck to your jeans can be very annoying, especially if it's your favorite pair. You don't have to throw away your best denim. There is always hope in removing the gum. Never sacrifice good denim! There are ways to make your jeans look as good as they did before.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Freezing the Gum Off

1
Understand the freezing process. Freezing will harden the gum and the affected area. This process will make the gum stiff, brittle and easier to remove.
2
Use ice to harden the gum. It is not necessary to leave your jeans in the freezer overnight. An ice cube will harden and moisten the gum.
- Put some cubes of ice in a plastic bag.
- Put the bag of ice on the gum.
- Leave it on the denim for about 25 minutes.^{[1]
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3
Put your jeans in the freezer. Freezing the entirety of your jeans can improve your chances of removing the gum. When the surrounding area of the gum is stiff and frozen, you'll have an easier time scrapping off the gum.^{[2]
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- Empty all the pockets.
- Fold the jeans into a plastic bag. Don't fold the side with the gum with another piece of fabric.
- Put the bag in the freezer and leave it there for about an hour or longer.
4
Scrape off the gum. Use a dull blade or a kitchen knife to scrape off the hardened gum. When scraping, go with the natural grain of the jeans. Be very gentle and try not to stretch the material too much.^{[3]
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5
Remove the scraps. Grab a toothbrush with hard bristles, but don't use your everyday toothbrush. Brush away the remaining pieces of gum.
6
Wash your jeans as you normally would. Throw the jeans in with your next load of laundry. Only do this if the gum is fully removed. Pieces of gum could stick to other clothes, if you haven't fully removed it.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Vinegar

1
Warm the vinegar. Fill a bowl with white distilled vinegar. You shouldn't need more than 1 1/2 - 2 cups of vinegar. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for about 45 seconds. If you don't have access to a microwave, heat on a stove in a small saucepan.^{[5]
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- Don't overheat the vinegar on the stove. Only heat for about two minutes.
2
Soak a small cloth in the vinegar. Use a standard cleaning cloth. Don't use a dirty cloth, and don't use a cloth that you're worried about getting stained. Let it soak for about a minute.
3
Soak the gum. Rub the cloth on the gum. Saturate the gum with your vinegar soaked cloth. Leave the cloth on the stain for a few minutes. The vinegar will dissolve the gum and cause it to ball up.
4
Scrape off the gum. Use a toothbrush with hard bristles and carefully brush the chewing gum off. Again, don't use your everyday toothbrush!
5
Wash your jeans as you normally would. Throw the jeans in with your next load of laundry. Only do this if the gum is fully removed. Pieces of gum could stick to other clothes, if you haven't fully removed it.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing a Stain

1
Soak the jeans in hot water. Boil water and pour into a large container. Make sure the container can handle hot water and won't melt. Wait for the water to cool down before touching with your hands. Let the jeans soak in the water for about thirty minutes.
2
Remove any debris. If there are any scraps of gum or it's color, remove it before washing. Use a toothbrush with hard bristles, and scrape off anything leftover.^{[7]
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3
Pretreat the stain. Even if all the gum is removed, the dye from the gum can sometimes cause a stain on the jeans. Use a laundry pre-wash stain remover to ensure a thorough clean.^{[8]
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4
Wash the jeans with hot water. If you have other clothes in your laundry load, pay attention to their washing requirements. Some clothes can be damaged by using hot water.
5
Take the jeans to a dry cleaner. Depending on how high you value your denim, you might consider letting the pros take care of it. Drop them off to your local dry cleaner and explain what happened. It'll probably take them a day or two, depending on how busy they are.^{[9]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I get rid of gum out of fabric?

Community Answer

Use peanut butter and rub it on the fabric.

Warnings

Do not scrape the gum while it is still soft. There is the risk of the gum sinking deeper into the denim fibers and it will be harder to remove.

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