You experience negative emotions when you notice a wad of chewing gum on your own clothes. This can happen to anyone. In a cafe, in public transport, on a bench in the park. People of all ages, especially young children, have the bad habit of gluing used gum. The situation looks catastrophic if chewing gum falls into the hands of children and subsequently remains on clothes and interior items. The upholstery is ruined, mom throws up her hands. Common situation? Our information will help you avoid turning gray and cope with the problem. Let's learn with us how to properly clean chewing gum from the sofa.
Common elimination methods
Essentially, we have the following effective algorithms:
- Freezing with carbon dioxide from a gas canister.
- Direct heating with hot air from a hairdryer or iron.
- Removing chewing gum with substances containing solvents, such as acetone.
- Using essential oils of plant origin.
- Using special-purpose household chemicals.
The methods are effective even against handgam (chewing gum for hands). Let's look at the issue more fundamentally in order to save energy and nerves.
Hot methods
Such methods work ideally for old stains, but may leave a slight sticky residue. Before using hot methods, you must study the material, since they are not suitable for all types of fabric.
Steam generator for removing gum
Hardened old rubber bands soften well under the influence of steam. Remove dirt from a carpet or sofa using a steam generator or a steam iron. To do this, the chewing gum is heated with steam and then removed mechanically.
Steam should not be used on woolen items or synthetic materials with unstable colors.
Steam removal
In the absence of a steam generator and for small fabric items, the following method is suitable:
- Boil water in any container (saucepan, kettle).
- Hold the sticky stain over the steam for a few minutes.
- When the gum softens, remove it with a brush.
- Repeat several times until the gum is completely removed.
- Wash out the stain.
Boiling water
This method requires caution! Suitable for materials resistant to high temperatures.
There are two options:
- Pour boiling water over the gum, then scrape it off mechanically.
- Soak the contaminated area in boiling water for 1 minute, and then, without removing it from the water, clean it with a knife or toothpick.
After the procedure, wash the product using detergent.
Iron
You should take a sheet of paper or cardboard and attach it to the chewing gum, as shown in the video
httpv://www.youtube.com/embed/yUoDSjEMYQo
Iron the stain on top of the paper or, if possible, on the wrong side of the product. After heating, the chewing gum will stick to the paper and be removed. And the remaining stain is removed with an aerosol or detergent.
Hairdryer
For woolen and delicate fabrics, a dry method of heating chewing gum is used - a hairdryer. The further procedure is similar.
Getting rid of chewing gum by freezing
Open any refrigerator and you will find ice cube trays. Fill the mold and place in the freezer until completely frozen. Once hardened, place the ice in a plastic bag to prevent moisture from getting on the sofa upholstery. Don't be afraid to use up chunks of ice; there must be enough of it, otherwise the sticky stuff won't harden. We immediately warn you that the process is not quick, but rather lengthy. Deep freezing will make it easy to scrape off the substance with a wooden spatula or a not too sharp object. It happens that after the removal procedure, a white spot remains, which can be easily removed by using nail polish or acetone.
Top 3 special compositions
There are quite a lot of products on the household chemicals market that are designed to remove chewing gum. These products are fast-acting and effective, allowing you to remove stuck lumps from various surfaces.
If a little prankster who loves chewing gum lives in the house, and problems with gum in unexpected places often arise, it makes sense to purchase the appropriate product.
Spartan Chewing Gum Remover
The drug is available in an aerosol can. Its action is to remove the gum by freezing. Weight – 84 grams. In addition to chewing gum, Gum Remover is suitable for removing wax and other sticky substances.
Application is very simple, since the product is completely ready for use. Gum Remover is sprayed onto the affected area and the frozen gum is scraped off with a scraper. Price – about 320 rubles.
SAPUR FREEZE
SAPUR FREEZE aerosol is designed to remove gum by freezing. The drug is applied by spraying onto the stain. The freezing process is very fast. Having become fragile, the elastic band is easily cleaned without leaving any stains behind. Price – 700 rubles per bottle.
Anti-chewing gum Lucky Bee
Lucky Bee is produced in Russia. Release form: gel. The drug is packaged in small convenient bottles of 30 ml. Anti-chewing gum is applied directly to the gum, allowing it to be removed not only from clothing, but also from other materials. Does not leave behind stains. Price – from 155 rubles.
Using a hair dryer or iron to remove chewing gum
The physical principle is qualitatively different from the information described above. We use physical heating processes. You should make sure in advance that you have napkins, paper towels, and an iron on hand.
We remember or write down the simplest algorithm of actions:
- You need to put a sheet of paper on the chewing gum.
- We run a heated iron over the sheet.
- We act carefully, without damaging the upholstery around the heating area.
- The rubber band will stick to the paper.
- Let's tear it off and enjoy the result. A soft toothbrush will help remove residual stains from your sofa upholstery.
Professional products
In addition to folk remedies, there are also professional ones. They are capable of not only chewing gum, but also glue from tape, posters, etc. These cleaning fluids remove even traces of tar stains.
In the vast majority of cases, the preparations do not emit a pungent odor and do not contain caustic solvents that are dangerous to humans. They can clean stains on fabrics, as well as wood, metal, stone (natural and artificial), glass and plastic. But if chewing gum sticks to rubber or latex, you should use gentle folk remedies. Professional “chemistry” harms rubber-based materials.
As a rule, cleaning products are supplied in the form of aerosol cans, but ordinary plastic containers with liquid are also available. The average cost is 300-900 rubles. per package.
We call for vinegar, soap solution, solvent to fight chewing gum
To take advantage of the new option to combat sticky pollutants, you need to make sure that the sofa is not leather, but upholstered in fabric. Leather surfaces do not allow direct contact with acetone, solvent or vinegar; it will ruin the item. The polymers in chewing gum quickly break down under the influence of solvents and the stickiness of the gum decreases.
What the process looks like:
- We wet the fabric with the solution, use cotton cloth.
- Soak the gum. Regular nail polish remover or alcohol-containing liquid will do the job.
- We wait until the physical process takes place, approximately taking 8 minutes.
- We clean it, scraping strictly in one direction, with a wooden spatula.
- Remove residual stains with soap emulsion or liquid soap.
- We are proud of the work done.
We recommend that you first test the effect of the substance on a small, hidden area of upholstery fabric. There is nothing complicated, just follow the instructions carefully.
Hairspray and toothpaste
Oddly enough, this cosmetic product makes chewing gum harden. Toothpaste works almost the same way. The product is applied to the sticky mass, left for a while, and then the dirt is removed piece by piece. Hairspray is also good because it does not leave stains on fabrics.
What should you not do? There is an opinion that you can remove the gum with another, fresher one. So to speak, knock out a wedge with a wedge. Sometimes it works, but more often than not it only makes the problem worse.
Remove gum with vegetable oils
Let's take a closer look at what can be used from what is available on the farm.
It is permissible to moisten a small piece of cloth or cotton wool with the following types of oils:
- Peanut.
- Eucalyptus.
- Olive.
Manipulation algorithm:
- Press the cotton wool onto the elastic band.
- We are waiting, the process of interaction of the substance is estimated to take 10 minutes.
- We carefully scrape not with sweeping movements, but with short ones, so as not to contaminate the nearby area of the upholstery.
- We wash off any residual dirt with detergent for washing greasy dishes.
Similar to the advice described above, we check in advance the effect of the detergent in a small area hidden from view. You can observe a picture when oils affect upholstery fabric, leading to its discoloration.
How to cover up a burnt spot
First of all, you need to carefully trim the pile, making a smooth transition from the undamaged area so that it is not very noticeable. If the pile has been burned down to the base, then it is necessary to remove the residue and pour transparent glue onto the area. After the glue has set a little, the area can be restored with other fragments of pile, cut from inconspicuous places.
Modern detergents allow you to get rid of various stains on the carpet, the most important thing is to quickly remove as much dirt as possible. When cleaning carpet from sticky mixtures (chewing gum, slime, plasticine, varnish), solvent 646 works well. It easily dissolves most varnishes and paints.
As an analogue, you can use white spirit or, if you have the opportunity to get it, high-octane kerosene (aviation fuel). With their help, it is possible to remove even oil or fuel oil stains (car mats or upholstery). However, remember that solvents should not be used on synthetic carpet.
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Specialized household chemicals or spray to eliminate chewing gum
Take a walk through the supermarkets, pay attention to the household chemicals department, we are sure that on one of the shelves you will find a spray for cleaning soft furnishings from putties, mastics and chewing gums.
If you find it difficult to choose or search on the shelf, ask the seller for advice. Gentle, but expensive, which cannot be said about proven “grandmother’s” cheap remedies and methods. Additionally, we emphasize to housewives that before rushing into battle with a “sticky” enemy, always check the actions in inconspicuous areas so that you do not damage expensive home furnishings with inept, inexperienced actions. Having found that everything is in order, proceed to the procedure for removing chewing gum using a spray. The specialists of our cleaning company recommend professional cleaning of the sofa with the involvement of professionals. Agree, it will be painfully offensive when, relying on our own strength, we lose expensive, valuable pieces of furniture, costing many thousands of rubles.
Look at the packaging; it often contains user instructions. After 5 minutes, using a spatula, remove the gum stuck to your favorite upholstery of a comfortable sofa. Residues can be easily removed with a soft toothbrush. To achieve the final shine, we use detergent.
Craftsmen have discovered another method of quick removal. You will need a can of gas that is used to refill gas lighters. We direct a stream of gas at the chewing gum, it hardens, and we clean it off.
What can't be used?
You cannot remove chewing gum using:
- shower gel and shampoos;
- perfumery products;
- laundry soap;
- dishwashing detergents.
Substances prepared at home should be used with caution. Not all of them provide effective removal of chewing gum; some can damage the sofa upholstery or damage the filling.
Advice! It is safer to use industrial formulations that are designed taking into account the nature of the contaminants and the type of materials. There are no universal remedies.
Have you ever removed chewing gum from upholstery?
Not really
Not recommended for removal
The basic rules are aimed at preserving the seat upholstery material and preventing damage.
- Do not use a mechanical method to remove contamination without preliminary cooling and heating. Cold makes chewing gum less elastic; contaminants can be separated from the fabric without mechanical impact. Heating, on the contrary, increases elasticity, less effort is required, and the impact on the fabric is reduced.
- To remove chewing gum, do not use aggressive chemical compounds that destroy the structure of the tissue. They will most likely remove the stain, but along with part of the coating.
- Before freezing or heating, the gum stain should not be wetted with water; this may complicate the removal process.
Our article on coating a car with ceramics will help you figure out how to protect your car from the outside.
