There are three steps for those who want to know how to get gum out of blanket. Perhaps it’s your child with their favorite blanket who approached you about the stuck gum. But don’t worry, you don’t immediately have to resort to throwing your little one’s blanket or cutting it off.
We will also talk about some common yet effective home remedies safe for gum removal on fabrics. So without further ado, let’s get that gum out.
How To Get Gum Out Of Blanket At Home
1. Freeze or ice the blanket
The overall composition of gum makes it hard to remove from fabric items like blankets. Therefore, the easiest way to unstuck the majority of gum is to freeze your blanket. If you don’t have enough space for the freezer or the blanket material can’t be exposed to freezing conditions, you can also rub the gum with ice until it firms up.
Freezing the blanket or rubbing it with ice will harden the gum to make it easier to remove. You’re also less likely to get gum residues on your fingers if the gum has stiffened.
2. Scrape off the gum residue
Once the gum has hardened, remove it from the blanket using your fingers. Then, scrape whatever remains on the blanket with a spatula. Be mindful of scratching the material because some blankets can shed.
You might be left with a very thin layer of gum that you can’t remove, so the best way to get rid of it is by blotting it with a sponge soaked in a solvent. Do note that some blanket materials are sensitive to solvents, so you might be better skipping this part and proceed to step 3 instead.
3. Spot treat and dry the blanket
The final step is to clean the blanket and ensure no gum is left on the fibers. The area where you removed the gum will have a stain, and you can spot-treat it with some soapy water and a sponge. Then, use another cloth to remove the soapy residue before washing the entire blanket according to its tag.
Be sure that you have eliminated the stain before washing the fabric because it might set further in the material if you don’t. This is especially common when washing blankets in the machine immediately. Finally, dry the blanket outside before using it again.
How Do You Get Gum Off A Fleece Blanket?
Fleece blankets are becoming popular in DIY projects because they’re easy to make and give one of the coziest feelings when used. But what can you do if gum accidentally got stuck on this material?
- Freeze the blanket or rub the gum with ice to harden it
- Apply some vinegar on the hardened gum and scrape off the remnants on the fleece. You can also use lemon juice or WD-40 in place of the vinegar
- Wash the blanket according to its care indications
How Do You Get Chewing Gum Off Fabric?
The easiest way to remove chewing gum from fabric items is to freeze it first. This way, you can take out most of it and then scrape the residue. However, be mindful of the different gum removal home remedies because certain fabric types might be incompatible with what you want to use.
Test a small part of the fabric first before applying these remedies. We should also mention some other items commonly used for removing gum but are not included in the list below. They are solvents, mineral spirits, and WD-40 spray.
1. Vinegar or lemon juice
Vinegar or lemon juice can make it easier to remove gum from the fabric. Some people even heat these liquids before soaking the hardened gum with them. They should help lift the gum embedded into the fabric when you brush it off the next hour or day.
2. Oils
Another item that you can find in your kitchen for gum removal on fabric is oils. They include your trusty cooking oil, mayonnaise, and even peanut butter. You don’t need to soak the gum with these kitchen items, but you have to be careful with staining since they are oils.
3. Hairspray
The last thing that you can easily find in your home to remove gum off a fabric is hairspray. It will harden the gum to lessen the residue when you scrape off the chewing gum. However, be careful in using hairspray since some fabrics might get stained by it.
How Does Toothpaste Remove Chewing Gum From Clothes?
Besides ice cube, acids, or hairspray, you can also smear toothpaste onto a gum stuck on clothes to remove it. It works against the gum’s stickiness, so you can remove the latter with a blunt tool without leaving much residue.
Toothpaste works by breaking down the gum’s stickiness and also harden it when exposed to air. Just remember to flatten the gum a bit when you smear toothpaste onto it.
Conclusion
Chewing gum can be a headache when it’s stuck on a fabric piece. Fortunately, you have just learned how to get gum out of blanket using items you can find at home. First, harden the gum with an ice cube and then scrape it off.
Spot-treat the stain and proceed to clean your blanket. You can also use vinegar, lemon juice, hairspray, or even toothpaste. Just remember to test a small portion of the blanket first.