Household Tips on Removing Gum

• Remove gum using home remedies. Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Although chewing gum is a treat enjoyed by many, it is frustrating when gum becomes stuck to hair, clothing items and carpet in your home. Instead of cutting your hair or throwing your shirt away, you can easily remove gum residue from household items with solutions at home.

Clothing

• Scrape the excess gum off the clothing item with a dull knife, and rub the area with ice until the residue rolls off into a ball. You can also place the garment into a sealable bag and put it in the freezer. Once the garment is frozen, scrape the gum residue from the garment with a dull knife.

Carpet

• Heat the gum residue on the carpet with a blow dryer for two minutes. Remove the gum from the carpet using a plastic sandwich bag, applying more heat as needed. This process should remove up to 80 percent of the gum. Spread 1/2 tbsp. of deep-heating rub evenly onto the remaining residue, heat the gum for 30 seconds with the blow dryer and immediately use the plastic sandwich bags in a circular motion to remove the rest of the gum residue. Apply a mild detergent and warm water solution to the spot with a cloth rag and allow the spot to air dry.

Hair

• Use a natural citrus-peel solvent to remove gum from hair. If a citrus-peel solvent is not available, mineral oil, cooking oil or peanut butter may be used. Add a small amount of the desired substance to the affected area and knead the gum with your fingers. This will soften and disperse the gum, at which point you may gradually pull the gum from the hair. Once the gum is completely removed, shampoo the hair to remove residue from the product used.