Of all the substances which can get stuck in your carpet, gum is possibly the most frustrating and stubborn. It adheres deeply to fibers and only gets worse with scrubbing, making ordinary carpet cleaning techniques useless. Thankfully, there are still a few ways to get gum out, either on your own or with a professional’s help.

Freezing

The main problem with gum is that it’s sticky and malleable, so trying to remove it often mashes it into carpet fibers. To get around this problem, place an ice pack, a bag of ice cubes, or a bag of frozen veggies on top of the gum and leave it for half an hour. Once the gum is frozen, it will be hard and brittle, allowing you to break it out of the carpet. You can also use a dull knife to carefully pry it out. These techniques also work for upholstery cleaning.

Heating

Heating has the opposite effect; it makes the gum even softer and allows you to blot it away from the carpet. Start by putting a paper towel, paper bag, or a cloth you don’t want over the area. Then, heat it with an iron or a hair dryer. The gum will begin to stick to the paper or cloth, and you can start to pull it out of the carpet. You’ll have to repeat the process several times, being careful not to overheat the carpet itself, as you can melt the fibers.

Removing Residue

Both freezing and heating will still leave traces of gum behind, so you’ll need to use carpet cleaning products to break down the residue. The simplest approach is to use a few drops of soap and rinse and blot the area to remove residue. Another possibility is a commercial goo-removing solvent or spray, usually sold at department stores.

Professional Help

If you can’t get all of the gum out of your carpet or are worried about potential damage to the fibers, professional rug cleaners will help. Their experience, professional equipment, and carefully chosen products allow them to remove gum thoroughly and efficiently—without causing damage.

For help removing gum and other stubborn substances, call Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning of Nebraska. Based in Lincoln, this veteran-owned company has served Lancaster County for over 36 years, providing both rug and carpet cleaning. To schedule an appointment, call (402) 489-4800 or visit them online.