Chewing gum stuck to a car seat is a nuisance that can happen to anyone. However, don't be upset.
There are several simple ways to fix the problem. It is enough to choose the most suitable one depending on the conditions and upholstery material.
In this article we will tell you how to remove chewing gum from a car seat without damaging the upholstery.
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
How to remove chewing gum from hair, clothes, shoes, carpets and furniture
Man, although not from the ruminant suborder, has always loved to chew. It is known that even in Ancient Greece they chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen breath and cleanse the oral cavity. In the 16th century, Europeans replaced tar with chewing tobacco. And the first semblance of modern chewing gum appeared in the middle of the 19th century.
Since then, chewing gum has become a part of people's daily lives. According to the International Chewing Gum Association (and there is such a thing!), the average American consumes 182 packs of bubble gum per year, the British - 125, the German - 102, the Chinese - 20. Russians are not far behind - 84 packs of mints per person in 12 months .
One can argue until one becomes hoarse whether such consumption is justified from the point of view of dental health, but one thing is indisputable: chewing gum causes a lot of problems if it sticks to clothes or shoes, or even more so gets tangled in the hair.
We conducted a “spectral analysis” of methods for removing chewing gum and are ready to present them to you in our review.
How to get rid of gum in your hair
Those who have children know: if chewing gum gets into the hair, then the child is guaranteed a “creative” haircut. (The procedure, as a rule, involves screams and whims of the child.) But do not rush to take up the scissors, because there are other, less radical, methods.
Peanut butter and vegetable oils
If the chewing gum is not yet very dry, you can remove it from your hair using peanut butter. To do this, you need to take a creamy paste without adding pieces of peanuts (that is, not crunchy). Then apply the paste with your fingers or a toothbrush to the gum stuck to your hair. The latter will absorb the oil contained in the paste, become elastic and non-sticky - it can be easily combed out of the hair with a comb. Excess paste should be removed with a towel and washed your hair as usual.
Removing gum from hair using peanut butter
Vegetable oils work in a similar way: olive, sunflower and others. But the effect is even better: when the chewing gum softens, it can quickly be removed with your hands. See for yourself:
Silicone hair drops
Typically, girls use these drops to combat brittle and split ends of their hair. They are usually produced in the form of a spray. But few people know that they can be used to remove chewing gum from hair. To do this, apply the drops to the chewing gum and wait 1–2 minutes. Then comb the elastic out of your hair and wash your hair.
Removing gum from hair using silicone spray
Vaseline and mayonnaise
Vaseline is in the medicine cabinet in almost every home. Therefore, this method can be considered publicly available. They need to lubricate the hair around the stuck gum, as well as the comb you plan to use to comb out the gum. It is believed that chewing gum will quickly slide off the hair.
Removing gum from hair using Vaseline or mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is also a commonly available means of combating chewing gum in hair. The principle of application is the same.
Aerosol for removing glue and WD-40
Adhesive remover aerosol is used to clean the adhesive base when applying nail extensions. But it is no less effective in the fight against chewing gum stuck in the hair. To do this, you need to spray the gum with a spray and rub it into it with your fingers. Then remove the gum from your hair with a paper towel and wash your hair.
Alternatively, you can use WD-40. To learn how this is done, read the article on unusual ways to use this drug.
Ice Cube
If in the case of vegetable oils the essence of the method is to soften the gum, here the opposite principle is used: the gum is frozen so that it can be easily pulled out of the hair. To do this, take an ice cube and apply it to the gum for 10–15 minutes. This time should be enough for the gum to harden; then it can be easily broken and removed from the hair in small pieces.
Removing gum from hair using ice
Baking soda
Another available remedy is baking soda. You need to make a paste from it: 1-2 tablespoons of soda to 1-2 teaspoons of water. This paste is applied to the “affected” area of the hair and wait until it dries. Then you should comb out the gum and wash your hair.
Toothpaste, tooth elixir and hand cleaner
A pea of toothpaste should be applied to the gum and rubbed in until the gum begins to be removed from the hair. Add paste if necessary.
Hygiene products that are effective in combating gum in hair also include hand cleaner (you need to rub it into the sticky gum) and mouth rinse (you need to rinse your hair after the cleaner). After about 5 minutes, the chewing gum will fall off.
Alcohol
Moisten a cotton pad with vodka or other strong alcohol and carefully use it to treat the area where the chewing gum is stuck. After a minute, the elastic band should begin to move away from the hair. After the procedure, wash your hair with shampoo.
How to get rid of chewing gum on clothes
You walk through the park, sit on a bench... and receive a “hello” from your fellow citizens in the form of chewing gum stuck to your jeans. As a rule, simple washing does not save you from this “infection” - you have to either take the item to the dry cleaner or throw it away. But you can get rid of chewing gum on clothes using improvised means.
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.
Solvent for rubber
The solvent will help you quickly get rid of annoying chewing gum without damaging the surface of the car. Of course, not all drivers have a “magic jar” of such a remedy in their cab or garage. But it can be purchased at a hardware store. The average cost of a product on the Russian market is 150-200 rubles.
Rubber solvent should be applied carefully, wearing protective gloves (not rubber). It is forbidden to do this with bare hands! The product may cause an allergic reaction and cause erosion of the top layer of skin (epidermis).
Freezing
If the sticky mass has already dried, the soiled item should be placed in the freezer for a couple of hours. The gum will freeze and can be scraped off with little or no effort. This method is suitable even for the thinnest fabrics that require careful handling.
But what should you do if chewing gum sticks to furniture upholstery, carpet, curtains, or just large items of clothing that won’t fit in the refrigerator? Ice cubes will help here. They need to be folded into a plastic bag and placed on the stain. When it freezes, all you have to do is remove it with a brush with stiff synthetic bristles.
Important!
Do not wrap ice in cloth. Melt water will seep through, and soaked chewing gum will leave stains that are difficult to remove.
If you don’t have the time and/or desire to wait for the chewing gum to turn into ice, you can use a freezing spray, which is sold in pharmacies. With him things will go much faster.
Freezing helps not only with tissues. This way you can remove chewing gum from plastic and wooden surfaces.
Removing gum using ice cubes
Removing gum with freezing spray
Oil composition
If the previous methods turned out to be ineffective, then vegetable oil can be used. Sunflower, orange, peanut, and olive oils may be suitable for removing contamination.
The contact area of the chewing gum should be treated locally, trying not to stain the entire seat. The stain treatment time is 2-3 minutes, just rub the stain with a cotton swab moistened with the selected oil.
After interacting with the oil, the chewing gum should become softer and easier to separate from the surface. Residues of contamination can be removed using any mechanical method - using a knife, scraper, or stiff brush.
After the work, you should wash off any remaining oil and dirt with a grease stain remover, blot the surface and let it dry.
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.
Heat
If freezing does not help remove traces of chewing gum, or the dirt has become embedded in the fibers of the seat, then you need to move on to the method of heating the surface. By increasing the temperature, the elasticity and ductility of the gum increases, making it possible to remove difficult-to-remove stains.
Hot water or a hair dryer is used as a heating element. Before use, you should familiarize yourself with the heat resistance of the seat upholstery material so as not to spoil the coating. The fabric may become deformed or lose color.
The operating time of hot water or a hairdryer is 5 minutes; after heating, you should scrape off the stain using any mechanical method, using a brush, sponge, or cloth.
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.
Tips and tricks
To remove chewing gum from the surface of the fabric and not spoil the item, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Be sure to read the recommendations of the applicable chemicals.
- Don't forget about safety precautions, because... some substances are toxic, flammable and explosive.
- Before removing its residue from the product, carefully read the information on the tag and check on an inconspicuous area of the material how the substance affects it.
- As a rule, after removing the chewing gum, a stain remains on the material. Remove it using dishwashing liquid or special stain removers.
- When cleaning things, do not use metal brushes or sandpaper.
You can always remove chewing gum from your pants, bed linen or carpet at home using various available means, even if it is smeared. It takes a little patience, effort and care. Below you can watch a video that clearly shows how to remove chewing gum from fabric at home.
Oils
This method is great for cases where chewing gum is stuck in your hair. Olive, sunflower or peanut oil is applied to the frozen mass. After a few minutes it becomes soft and can be removed without problems. All that remains is to wash your hair with shampoo. Theoretically, fabrics can be cleaned in the same way, but the oil should only be applied to the chewing gum itself. If you miss the mark, the fabric will have to be washed.
An alternative may be mayonnaise, as it contains oils. It is rubbed into the chewing gum like a cream until it softens completely.
Preparing to remove gum
The first thing you need to do is carefully clean the area next to the chewing gum from dust and dirt. To do this, use soap and water. Take a soft dish sponge or lint-free cloth, lightly wet the gum and wipe it next to it.
Make sure that the chewing gum does not begin to melt while working. It is recommended to drive the car to a garage or other dark place. Exposure to sunlight may cause the gum to melt, causing it to smudge. In this case, you will have to suffer even longer with removing the Velcro.
If the elastic has been attached for a long time, it will not be possible to remove it this way. But the chewing gum that has just been glued may gradually come off. The main thing is not to smudge it! Once the gum starts to stick, it will be much more difficult to remove. In this case, use the next option.
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.
Ice Cube
Freezing chewing gum is a universal way to remove an object not only from a car, but also from the surface of any material, including hair on the head (relevant for parents of schoolchildren). To do this, use a regular cocktail cube.
Apply it to the gum until it hardens. In this state, it is easy to remove the rubber from the car: just pry it off with a wooden or plastic stick.
Demanding parents: situations where this can only make parenting worse
'Happy Reunion': Lopez and Rodriguez spotted kissing in the Dominican Republic
Mars hides large amounts of water beneath its surface
For this case, some people use a credit card:
- a bank card is always at hand;
- It is extremely difficult to scratch a car with a credit card.
Once hardened, the chewing gum will no longer stick to the plastic, so you can use it without fear.
In winter, there are practically no problems with chewing gum: in the cold, the rubber hardens on its own. All that remains is to carefully scrape it off without damaging the paint.
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.
Special industrial compounds
In case of persistent or large-scale contamination, special compounds come to the rescue to help deal with the stain. Before purchasing, you should evaluate the size of the contamination and the type of coating.
When performing all operations, you should take into account the manufacturer’s recommendations and follow the instructions. To prevent damage to the coating, it is necessary to test the effect of the composition on a hidden area of the fabric.
Safety is key
Chewing gum on the body of a car is unpleasant. But don’t rush to remove it, forgetting about hygiene and health safety.
It is not recommended to use chemicals without gloves and other protection. Solvents, cleaners and other products are harmful to human skin. Upon contact with them, people with sensitive epidermis may experience an allergic reaction. If this happens, you should immediately stop contact with the hazardous substance and wash your hands thoroughly.
Found a violation? Report content
Universal remedy against chewing gum
In online stores you can find a universal anti-chewing gum product in the form of a spray or gel-like substance. Spray or apply a little cleaner with a cotton pad, wait 10-15 minutes, then remove with a lint-free cloth.
It is recommended to wear gloves before each use. The product often contains rubber solvent, which is harmful to the skin of your hands. The packaging may contain different buyer's instructions. The manufacturer's instructions should always be followed. The average price of goods on the market is 320-520 rubles.
“I was such a fool at the first interview”: a portrait of Leontyev in his statements
Russia plans to create its own analogue of YouTube
Scientists want to “bottle” the smell of happiness: it will help in the field of psychiatry
Can of compressed air
Finding a remedy is easy. Almost every household goods supermarket sells a can of compressed air. To remove chewing gum, you should take a volume of 300-400 ml, which is enough for 10-20 uses. In some stores, the product is also called a pneumatic or contactless cleaner.
The principle of its operation is as follows: a stream of air compressed under high pressure cleans the surface of dirt and dust. If the chewing gum has recently stuck, you can “blow it out” using a spray can. Otherwise, a pneumatic cleaner will help to “freeze” the gum, which will then be easier to remove from the surface of the car.
To use the can, you need to point it directly at the chewing gum at a distance of 10-15 cm for 20-30 seconds if the gum is fresh, and for 1 minute for hardened gum.
