May 14, 2026, 10:57 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Once gum lands on clothing, it tends to work its way deep into the fabric fibers. That’s really annoying. But you don’t have to throw away your favorite jeans right away, because there are helpful tips on how to get gum out of clothing.
A careless moment and it happens: You sit on a piece of gum inconveniently stuck to a park bench. It’s frustrating, and your favorite piece of clothing is ruined. Or maybe not! Because myHOMEBOOK reveals helpful tips on how to remove gum, even if it has already “eaten” its way deep into the fibers.
1. Remove gum, but don’t rub
No matter how much you love the garment with gum stuck to it, it’s best to avoid panicking and definitely not start picking at the sticky remnants, possibly rubbing them even deeper into the fabric. The deeper the mass penetrates the fabric, the harder it is to remove it without a trace later. Even if it’s difficult, it’s better not to rub the gum immediately but to proceed systematically. Patience will pay off!
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2. Into the freezer to remove gum
It’s best to quickly put the affected garment in a clean bag and then into the freezer! Once the gum is frozen, it can usually be easily peeled or scraped off. For clothing too large for the freezer, ice spray can serve the freezing function.
3. Fat and vinegar help
If neither ice spray nor a freezer is available, the gum should be made soluble with a fatty substance. This can be a skin cream, but butter or margarine works just as well. A dry towel can then be used to easily remove the loosened mass.
This technique works most reliably when the gum has left only a few traces. Alternatively, you can soak the affected area in household vinegar for about 15 minutes. However, thorough cleaning is necessary after using these household remedies: The garment should be washed as soon as possible to completely eliminate any resulting odors.