Remove Gum From Clothing With Some Deep Heat And A Plastic Bag

Video: If you accidentally sit on some gum, there’s still hope for your favourite jeans. With a little Deep Heat and a sandwich bag, you can break down the gum’s stickiness and pick it right off.

This video from the Consumer Reports YouTube channel shows you a clever way to save your clothes from gum, even if the gum has been smashed deep into the fabric. First, heat the gum with a hair dryer or heat gun, then use a plastic knife (so you don’t damage the fabric) to scrape off as much gum as you can. Then add a dab of Deep Heat and work it into the gummed-up spot, and use a polyethylene-based plastic bag (like a Ziploc sandwich bag) to pick off whatever is left. Consumer Reports uses Bengay, which is a little more difficult to find in Australia, but Deep Heat has the same active ingredient – methyl salicyclate. The methyl salicyclate in the Deep Heat will dissolve the gum base and help it stick to the plastic bag as you remove the last remnants.

Stain Secrets #2: How to Remove Gum [YouTube]