Gum in Sweater

Updated on January 07, 2009
C.L. asks from Chehalis, WA
17 answers

How do I get gum out of a sweater that is 50% polyester and 50% cotton? My niece's favorite sweater and she is devastated!

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

try freezing it and picking it off. If that doesn't work, you can use something like peanut-butter, but then you will have to work to get the oil stain out.

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V.Z.

answers from Portland on

Hi, you could try freezing the gum in the freezer. When it is frozen take it out and hit it with a hammer or something hard, it should break apart and come out fairly easy. Hope it works for you. V.

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S.B.

answers from Portland on

Try ice. If you freeze the gum in the sweater and then pick the frozen gum out gently, it usually comes out with little fuss and without ruining the clothing item.

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J.W.

answers from Seattle on

1) Put the sweater in the freezer or rub an ice cube on it and chip the gum off.

2) Goo off.

3) Orange Glo.

4) Rubbing alcohol.

5) Try peanut butter, it works on hair, but the oil maybe a bigger problem.

Best of luck!!

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J.V.

answers from Portland on

OK, my mom owner of a yarn store is offering these two options....

place the entire sweater in the freezer for several hours. Remove the sweater and immediately start to break apart/peel at the gum. If it starts to get gooey again, put it back in the freezer again for several more hours. It will eventually all break off

OR

Use some peanut butter. The oil in the peanut butter breaks down the gum. Then just use some dishwashing liguid to get the peanut butter out and launder in cold water. Check to see if the peanut butter is gone. If not try dishwashing liguid again and don't put the sweater in the dryer (that makes things worse).

PS Ice Cubes can sometimes make it worse because it gets the gum wet too.

Good luck!
J. Van Riper
Director of Operations
Portland CityMommy

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C.H.

answers from Medford on

Hi....I went to www.gumoffsweaters.com and got over 50,000 responses. If it won't work there just Google (gum off sweaters).

Good Luck
C. M Hamlin

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C.T.

answers from Seattle on

Do you know anyone who shops from Melaleuca? If so, borrow some solumel. It's a natural solvent based on essential oil of melaleuca. They're whole cleaning philosphy is one of solvency not chemical reaction. It will dissolve the gum in about one minute and you'll be able to launder as label allows. If you're near West Seattle I'll give you some.

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E.B.

answers from Seattle on

Put ice cube on it and as it loosens and clumps, gather it all together bit by bit :)

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S.P.

answers from Seattle on

Hi C.:

my tip: put the sweater in the freezer until the gum is frozen hard. You should be able to peel it off fairly easy, and scratch the remainders out with your finger nail.

Good luck!

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N.D.

answers from Portland on

put in the freezer then chip off what you can. use peanut butter or oil to get the rest of the goo off. if there's still an oil stain after washing (don't dry!), you can use a drop of dishsoap to get that out. putting baby powder on a dry oil stain can help get it out too.

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S.L.

answers from Portland on

a ice cube on the spot hold it on for awhile to harden the goo then slowly pick it off be patient as you do it some take a while if older but it works the best then clean as you want
even in hair its the best stuff simple ice cubes S. Vanc.

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K.R.

answers from Portland on

I had luck with a product called Dissolvit. It smells like oranges, and it seems like it removes any sticky, greasy stuff! I go tmine at BiMart, but I would guess other places carry it too. Good luck!

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K.S.

answers from Yakima on

I've had a lot of success using olive oil to remove gum from hair and other cloths, but, the polyester may absorb the oil and leave a grease stain.

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K.V.

answers from Portland on

i would do peanut butter to get the gum out. (it's faster than ice.) then launder and if there is a "grease stain" use lighter fluid to get that out. you can find lighter fluid at the grocery store but you have to ask for it. the fluid works on ALL oil stains and doesn't require a bunch of work. it's saved many shirts in my house!

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L.M.

answers from Seattle on

I've had good luck with Spray and Wash getting gum out of hair, but I'm not sure it's good with wool. You've gotten some great advice. Good luck!

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A.C.

answers from Seattle on

Hi C.,
I have found the best way to rid gum from something like a sweater is to first freeze it with an ice cube (not until it's sopping) just frozen and then immediately tap it with the back of the blade of a table knife (not sharp). Repeat this action over and over picking the broken gum out each time. I am afraid that Goo Gone will smear the gum into the fibers. I use Goo Gone a lot and it's great but, usually on harder surfaces. Gets rid of leftover tape residue great. Good luck. Be patient. All of a sudden you'll be done;o).

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K.S.

answers from Portland on

hi C.!

i have been in your same postition with the gooey gum in clothes. i got a product called "Goo Gone". i know its hard to find these days but when i worked at Fred Meyer in 2007 they still sold it. check there and GOOD LUCK!!!!

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