Chewing gum in your carpet is infuriating. It’s an eyesore, and it can ruin the carpet if it’s ground into the fibers. Fortunately, there are several ways to get this sticky substance out of your carpet. These tips are safe, effective, and they just might save your carpeting.
Hit the Ice Box
This tip is so safe to try that you can let older children do it themselves. Not only will you get the gum out, but your kids will also take responsibility for their gum chewing habits. Rub the ice on the gum to harden it. With a butter knife or another blunt tool (such as a credit card), gently chip at the hardening gum. You may need to get a fresh ice cube if the gum is particularly stubborn or if it has already been ground in. Be gentle with the knife to avoid tearing at or damaging the carpet fibers. Make sure you use the blunt side of the knife.
Depending on the gum that was involved, you may have some discoloration when it’s finally removed. You can spot clean this by scrubbing at the carpet with a damp rag and a little dish detergent. Once the discoloration lifts, rinse the area with clean water to remove any residual soap. You can also use a dry-cleaning solvent like Carbona to remove the discoloration. Always test in an inconspicuous area to ensure that the carpet will not be damaged by your ministration.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Did you ever get gum in your hair as a child? Was peanut butter used to get it out? The oils in peanut butter break down the sticky substances in gum, so it’s easier to remove it from hair and carpeting. Put a teaspoon of creamy peanut butter on a wet washcloth and rub it on the affected area. Pull at the gum with the washcloth to remove it from the carpeting. The downside of this treatment is that you will have some residual peanut butter in the carpet that must be removed. Rinse the washcloth or get a clean one to remove the peanut butter. A little dish soap on the wet washcloth will break up the oils and remove them from the carpet.
WD-40
The beauty of water-displacement spray is that it fully removes the gum so there is no gum residue left behind. All you have to do is spray a little on the offending area and rub it in with your fingers. The gum will loosen and you can lift it from the carpet. Unfortunately, the WD-40 may leave a stain on the carpet. Clean it and remove the discoloration with dish detergent and a little water.
Goo Gone
This compound makes use of citrus oils and technology to remove most sticky problems. You can take residue from stickers off your walls and use it to clean the carpets. It’s safe for most surfaces, and it generally does not leave any marks behind. It only takes a little, so one can of Goo Gone will last for a long time.
Natural Oils
This method should be saved as a last resort because the oils will leave a mark that has to be cleaned. Using olive, corn or vegetable oil, rub a little oil into the gum. Try to minimize how much goes on the carpet. Once the gum is gone, you can remove the oil stain with a little dish detergent.
Add these tips to your carpet-stain toolbox and you won’t have to panic the next time you find gum on your carpet. Annual carpet cleaning is recommended to keep your carpets looking great, and our agency can handle gum stains if you are concerned about trying to remove them yourself. When you make an appointment with High Quality Carpet, just let us know that you have some gum to be removed and we will come prepared to remove it for you.