How Do You Get Chewing Gum Out of Jeans? A DIY Guide

Having chewing gum stuck to your jeans can be very annoying, especially if it's your favorite pair. The good news is you don't have to throw away your best denim. Before you take that drastic measure, try these 14 different methods to have your jeans looking gum-free and feeling fly!

How to Get Gum Off Jeans: Quick Tips

Fill a small plastic bag with ice cubes and lay the bag over the piece of gum. Let it sit for 25 minutes, remove the bag, and scrape the gum off with a dull blade or scraper. You can also chill your jeans in the freezer for 1 hour or spray the gum with canned air to harden and remove it in minutes.

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Using Ice Cubes

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Lay ice cubes on top of the gum to harden it. Fill a small plastic sandwich bag with ice cubes, then lay the bag directly over the chewing gum. Leave it on for about 25 minutes. After you remove it, the gum should feel hard and stiff to the touch. Scrape it off with a dull knife blade (like a butter knife) or a plastic scraper (use a credit card in a pinch). Brush away any remaining pieces of gum with a hard-bristle toothbrush.^{[1]
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- Follow the grain of the fabric with your scraper. Work in short, gentle strokes so you don't accidentally tear the fibers.
- Curious which gum removal methods our readers like best? Find out on our "How to get gum out of my clothing" forum!

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Freezer

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Empty all your jean pockets, then fold the pants into a plastic bag. Make sure the gum is exposed and isn't touching another part of the fabric. Put the bag in the freezer and let it chill for at least an hour or until the gum is cold and hard. At that point, take the jeans out, scrape the gum off, and brush off any lingering residue with a toothbrush.^{[2]
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Canned Air

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Drape your jeans on a hanger or a clothes rack, leaving the gum exposed toward you. Next, spray the gum on your jeans with canned air to freeze it, so you can scrape it off. This method works in minutes!^{[3]
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Research source} Remember to keep the can upright while you spray. This way, it won't release any propellant, which can cause frostbite.^{[4]
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Clothing Iron

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Iron the jeans on cardboard to heat up and unstick the gum. Set a flat piece of cardboard on an ironing board and heat your clothing iron to the Medium setting. Lay the jeans gum-side down onto the cardboard. When the iron is preheated, run it gently over the back of your jeans in a circular motion. Lift the jeans off the cardboard every 10 seconds to see if the gum has softened. When it's soft, it should stick to the cardboard and peel off your jeans.^{[5]
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- Avoid putting the iron directly onto the gum! This might cause the gum to burn into the iron, making an even bigger mess for you to clean up.

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Steam

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Lay out the jeans so the gum is facing up and is easy to access. Then turn on your steam cleaner and point the steam directly at the gum. When it's soft enough, peel it off with a spoon or a spatula (or use your fingers).^{[6]
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Vinegar

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Saturate the gum with warm white vinegar to release its sticky bond. Pour distilled white vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave for at least 1 minute (or until it's steaming). Using a spoon or a turkey baster, transfer some of the hot vinegar to the gum on your jeans until the gum is completely saturated. Let the vinegar soak in for 2-3 minutes, then peel the gum off with your finger.^{[7]
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- According to dry cleaner and laundry specialist Ayad Mirjan, you can also use duct tape to pull the gum off your jeans after it's been soaked in vinegar.^{[8]
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Rubbing Alcohol

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Saturate a cotton ball in 70% rubbing alcohol, then dab it onto the gum on your jeans. Apply more alcohol as needed until the gum starts to peel up, then take it off with your fingers, a spoon, a plastic scraper, or a dull knife. Wash the jeans in a normal cycle in the washing machine with detergent to get rid of the alcohol smell.^{[9]
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Laundry Detergent

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Pour a tiny amount of gentle laundry detergent on a soft-bristle toothbrush. Scrub the gum with the toothbrush, making sure it's fully exposed to the detergent. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then pull or scrape off as many pieces as you can. Finally, wash the jeans in a normal cycle.^{[10]
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Peanut Butter

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Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the gum to release it. Apply a thin layer of creamy (not crunchy) peanut butter to the gum and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. At that point, the oils in the peanut butter should have released the gum's hold on the jeans, so all you have to do is scrape it up.^{[11]
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- Consider using a different method if your jeans are light-colored, as the peanut butter oils may leave a stain. Alternatively, apply a stain pre-treatment solution like Shout to the spot before you wash it.
- Don't have peanut butter on hand? Try mayonnaise!^{[12]
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Toothpaste

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Buy non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste and apply a small amount to the gum on your jeans. Leave it for at least 5 minutes to penetrate the gum, then come back with a soft-bristle toothbrush and scrub the gum residue until it starts to loosen up. Wash the jeans as normal.^{[13]
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Hardening It with Hairspray

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Point the hairspray can directly at the gum on your jeans and spray it until it's saturated. Wait for a few minutes for the hairspray to dry completely. The gum should now be hard and brittle enough for you to scrape off using whatever flat, blunt tool you have handy (even a credit card will work!). Then wash your jeans right away on a normal wash cycle.^{[14]
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Lemon Juice

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Squeeze the juice from a lemon directly onto the gum. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes, then pry the gum off with your fingers or a blunt scraping tool. Rinse the jeans to get rid of the lemon juice.^{[15]
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WD-40

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WD-40 is traditionally used for lubricating parts and hinges in automotive and construction projects. But it can also take up the gum on your jeans if it's being particularly stubborn. Spray just enough WD-40 onto the gum to coat it, then wait a couple of minutes. The oils in the product will break down the stickiness in the gum, enabling you to pick it off with your fingers or a pair of tweezers.

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Commerical Gum Remover

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If all else fails, purchase a solvent called a gum remover. This product will loosen the gum from your jeans and help you get it off quickly. Just be aware that Goo Gone, 3M, Simoniz, and other gum removers contain chemicals instead of natural ingredients. This means they have a stronger smell, which may be harder to get out of your jeans. Check the manufacturer's label to make sure it's safe for fabric, then follow the instructions listed there to remove the gum safely.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Yes. Chewing gum melts when it's washed and forms a residue that sticks to the washing machine drum. Thus begins an endless cycle of finding gum on your clothes every time you wash another load.^{[16]
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Research source} Some sources also say that gum can clog the washing machine's drain.
Yes, as long as you follow the instructions on the bottle carefully and wash the jeans after treating them.^{[17]
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Research source} Just be aware that Goo Gone contains chemicals that are toxic when inhaled or ingested.
Yes, it's always a good idea to spot test the cleaner you plan on using to remove the gum from your jeans. Put a small amount of cleaner on an inconspicuous part of your jeans where no one will see it (like a seam). If it leaves a stain or removes color, test a different method before applying it to the larger area surrounding the gum.

Join the Discussion...

How to get gum out of my clothing

WikiFawnSeeker757

I’m going to keep it short. My child loves gum. My child is not good at disposing of gum. I’ve got gum in my shirt and jeans for what feels like the fourth time this year. Is there a lifehack for getting gums out of fabric? And please don’t tell me “stop giving your child gum.” I’ve already gone this route and they just seem to keep getting their hands on it despite my best efforts.

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How do I get rid of gum out of fabric?

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Use peanut butter and rub it on the fabric.

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Remove all pieces of gum from your jeans before you put them in the washing machine. If the jeans are still stained with gum residue after you wash them, clean them again and remove the residue completely before you put them in the dryer.^{[18]
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Treat the gum-stained area of your jeans with stain remover before throwing it in the wash.

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Use tweezers instead of your fingers to take off the hardened chewing gum if you'd rather not touch it.

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