Dealing with the problem can be difficult, especially in cases where a lot of time has passed and the gum has already dried out. The solution to the problem will be home recipes and the use of special medications.
We will tell you in this article how and how to remove chewing gum from a carpet or rug at home.
Freezing method
With this method, the chewing gum hardens and can be picked off the pile. All you need is a plastic bag and ice.
So, how to remove chewing gum from carpet?
Place some ice cubes in a bag, tie it tightly to prevent melted water from leaking, and apply to the contaminated area. This method is successful only if the chewing gum does not get deep into the villi.
After the gum freezes both inside and outside, you need to use a blunt knife (for example, for butter) to very carefully pick it up and pull it towards you. If it breaks into small pieces, be sure to remove everything.
If after all the manipulations done the chewing gum remains on the carpet, then it is necessary to repeat the above steps.
At the end of the work, you will need to rinse the sticky areas. To do this, you need to lightly rub the places where the chewing gum is stuck with a napkin soaked in a soapy solution with the addition of two tablespoons of 9% vinegar. Use a dry towel to blot excess liquid from the pile and leave the carpet to dry.
Vinegar
The use of vinegar is appropriate when it comes to staining bright fabrics that are “afraid” of stain removers. True, the cleaning process is quite troublesome.
A glass of white distilled vinegar should be heated to a temperature of about 40°C. It is not safe to do this over an open fire; it is better to arrange a water bath. To do this, place a bowl of vinegar in a container of water and place it on the burner for 2 minutes.
You need to soak a white cotton or linen fabric (non-fading, without a pattern with bright dyes!) in warm vinegar for a minute and a half, and then put it on the problem area. After a few minutes, the acid will dissolve the chewing gum and it can be removed with a toothbrush, making circular movements. After this, all that remains is to wash the surface or wash the product.
How to Remove Chewing Gum from a Long Pile Carpet
In this case, simply cleaning with ice cubes will not work. If such a nuisance occurred in the winter season, then everything is much simpler - send the rug outside to freeze, and after a while simply remove the chewing gum as described above.
Well, what if it’s hot summer? There is also a solution: purchase an aerosol can with compressed air or liquid gas for a lighter. It needs to be sprayed onto the chewing gum stain. This makes for perfect frosting and makes it easy to remove crumbs.
Stationery tape
If chewing gum is discovered at the “moment of the crime,” that is, when it has just had time to stick, ordinary transparent tape will help. You need to cut off a small piece, press it firmly against the stain and pull it off sharply. This procedure will have to be repeated several times, changing the adhesive tape as it gets dirty. Usually after about ten minutes the chewing gum is completely removed. However, another problem arises - now you have to remove traces of glue. But this is much easier to do. Nail polish remover without acetone usually helps. In “especially advanced” cases, you can resort to acetone and stain remover. But then you will have to act extremely carefully - there is a risk of ruining the thing.
Stain removers and acetone should not be used on delicate fabrics. Caustic substances can damage thin fabric and dissolve dyes
Removing chewing gum using oils
But sometimes it happens that the stain is noticed too late and they have already trampled it deeply. What to do in this case? How to remove chewing gum from a carpet if it is very stuck?
If this happens, try using oils. Suitable for such purposes:
- Eucalyptus oil;
- peanuts;
- olive oil.
Before applying the liquid directly to the carpet, it is better to test the effect in a hidden place, as the color may become discolored. Drop some oil and wait a while; if the shade of the pile does not change, then start cleaning.
When applying an oil composition, do not pour it onto the carpet - this will make it more difficult to get rid of the greasy stain later. It is best to wet a cloth and apply it to the contaminated area. Leave the oil on the carpet for about twenty minutes to dissolve the gum.
After this time, scrape off the sticky stain with a knife. You need to work by pointing the knife in one direction only - otherwise you will simply smear the chewing gum throughout the pile.
After oil cleaning, greasy stains remain on the carpet. Wash them with soapy water and dry the carpet.
How to clean the coating with special products?
An alternative to home recipes is special products . They are effective and designed specifically to eliminate chewing gum. But cleaning will cost more.
You should use special products only after studying the instructions for them.
Dr. Beckmann Expert stain remover "Office and hobby"
Stain remover from Dr. Beckmann is designed for removing highly adhesive (providing good adhesion to the surface) contaminants.
Among them:
- paint marks,
- glue,
- manicure polish,
- chewing gum, etc.
The drug has a pronounced dissolving ability due to good penetration deep into the fibers.
It contains:
- up to 5% anionic tensides;
- up to 15% nonionic tensides.
The stain remover is used very simply:
- The product is applied to the stained area.
- Rubbed with a brush.
- Maintains up to 10 minutes.
- Washed using carpet shampoo.
Price – from 200 rubles per bottle.
SAPUR FREEZE
SAPUR FREEZE is designed to remove chewing gum. The drug is available in 0.5 liter aerosol cans. The principle of operation is freezing.
Directions for use: spray the product onto the chewing gum. Once frozen, the gum can be peeled off. After treatment, there are no stains or other traces left on the carpet.
Price – about 700 rubles per bottle.
Anti-chewing gum Lucky Bee
Antichewing gum produced in the Russian Federation is available in the form of a gel with a volume of 30 ml. The product is designed to remove gum from various surfaces, including carpets. Does not leave stains after use. The average price is from 155 rubles.
Application of chemical solutions
How to remove chewing gum from a car carpet? This is usually an easier process because the upholstery's pile is short. This means that the chewing gum does not stick so much.
Take any alcohol with a mineral composition (for example, you can use White Spirit). It will easily dissolve the polymers in the chewing gum that make it sticky. Use a clean cloth to treat the stain.
Leave to dissolve for 20 minutes, and then begin cleaning with a blunt object, remembering that the movements should only go in one direction!
Rinse the carpet with water.
A wonderful cleaner to use at home is vinegar. It acts in the same way as alcohol.
Exposure to boiling water
Another method of thermal exposure is heating with hot water. The soiled item should be placed in boiling water and kept there for about a minute. When the chewing gum becomes soft and pliable, it can be removed like a film.
Of course, this method is not suitable for thin fabrics that are prone to shrinkage, or for large items. Theoretically, a blanket or curtain can be spilled with hot water from the shower, but the likelihood of success will be much less than in the case of boiling water.
Removing chewing gum using a hair dryer
Oddly enough, this method is also quite effective. In this case, you will need to use:
- hairdryer;
- plastic gloves;
- soft cloth.
This method is the exact opposite of the freezing method. How to remove chewing gum from carpet with a hairdryer? Let's figure it out. The hot air stream heats the chewing gum. Do not overdo it, otherwise you may damage the carpet pile.
Having softened the elastic, put gloves on your hands and try to remove it with very careful movements. Once the bulk has been removed, you can move on to another cleaning method.
conclusions
So, you can remove chewing gum from the carpet yourself. It is best to start working immediately, when the chewing gum has not yet penetrated deep into the pile. In this case, you can get by with ice, that is, just freeze the lump and remove it. But old stains are more difficult to remove.
If you are unable to choose a product that does not change color or destroy the fluff of the coating, then it is better to contact a dry cleaner or cleaning company. There are professional cleaning products that are not commercially available, but are available from specialists.
Some useful tips
- The freezing method is effective only if there is a fresh chewing gum stain; otherwise, use oils or solvents.
- Do not rub the carpet when cleaning. You can destroy the fibers or rub the gum into the depths of the pile.
- Remember to check each chemical composition in inconspicuous places on the carpet or upholstery to avoid even bigger problems.
Ironing
Fast, effective and therefore very popular method. The soiled item is turned inside out and placed on a sheet of cardboard, felt or natural fabric folded several times. And then apply a heated iron (in the “Wool” mode) to the problem area and hold it there for some time.
At the same time, it is important not to press the iron tightly and not to move it back and forth, otherwise the elastic band will only melt, aggravating the situation. The heated mass should remain on the underlying canvas. True, a greasy stain will remain on the cleaned item, but it is easy to wash it off with laundry soap or dishwashing detergent.
Mechanical removal, solvents, special means to combat traces of chewing gum
If you believe the saying that a wedge is knocked out with a wedge, you can try to tear off the elastic with... an elastic band. To do this, you need to soften the piece of gum in your hands, press it against the stuck gum and tear it off with force. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated. You can use tape for the same purpose.
Gasoline, alcohol or vegetable oil are used as a solvent. You need to wet the contaminated area with one of these substances, then carefully clean off the stain. This method has a significant drawback: chemicals can damage the structure of the pile and spoil the color, so if you are not sure that the experiment will be successful, it is better to abandon it.
Of course, you can buy a special chewing gum remover in the store. Most popular:
- "PROFIMAX Double Cleaner";
- "Domo"
- "MEGAM S".
They have received good reviews from customers. You need to use them according to the instructions: soak the stain for 5 minutes, then remove the stain with a knife, using its blunt side so as not to “shave” the rug.
Features of cleaning taking into account the material
When choosing one of the popular methods of removing gum, you need to take into account the features of the coating itself:
- color;
- pile length;
- composition of the material.
Carpets with long piles should not be cleaned using heat, as their very texture and appearance may be lost. Subsequent recovery can be very difficult and sometimes impossible. The solution is freezing.
Synthetics
Solvents are prohibited for cleaning artificial turf . Their impact can have unpredictable consequences, including the formation of a hole in the carpet.
Jute
For dense jute-type carpeting, almost all of the methods listed can be used. In this case, the cleaning process can be mechanically even more intense, since the carpet material is quite dense.
Wool
A natural wool carpet can be cleaned in any way. In addition, it is possible to use essential oil .
This type of oil has the peculiarity of not leaving behind a greasy stain when it evaporates from the surface.
The disadvantage of this method is the fairly high price of oil. It must be natural and contain no additives.
