You sit on your sofa or chair and put your hand somewhere on it, and something sticky attaches to your hand. Someone has been naughty enough to stick gum to your precious furniture upholstery. So, how do yo5u go about removing gum from upholstery? Well, no need to pull out your hair. We will help you know all the right methods to effectively remove this gum in no time.
Keep reading if you want to know how to remove gum from upholstery. We will also give you some tips on preserving the overall quality of your furniture and keeping it looking fresh.
Why is It So Difficult To Remove Gum From Upholstery?
The manufacturers of chewing gum deliberately made it sticky. But this stickiness is the enemy of soft surfaces, especially upholstery fabrics. When gum sticks to a surface for a long time, it gets hard and attaches itself more to the fabrics.
Methods To Remove Gum From Upholstery
Removing gum from upholstery requires patience, the use of the right tools, and knowledge of the proper methods. These are some of our proven methods.
Freezing Technique
This is amongst the most popular methods for removing gum from your custom made furniture upholstery. Cold temperatures make the gum hard and make it easy to break apart from the fabric. The step-by-step process for this method is as follows.
- Start by gathering supplies such as an ice pack or ice cubes, a blunt knife or spoon, and a vacuum cleaner.
- Apply ice wrapped in a plastic bag directly to the gum on your upholstery for about 15 minutes. The cold will cause the gum to harden, making it easy to remove.
- With the gum now hard, take a blunt knife or a spoon and gently scrape the gum from the fabric. Do not press too hard, or the upholstery will be damaged.
- Once the gum is scraped, vacuum the upholstery to remove any bits and pieces of it.
- Use a spot cleaning method with water and a soap solution to remove any gum residue completely, then let it air dry.
Use The Heat
Freezing causes the gum to harden, whereas heat softens it. This method is effective if the gum is still fresh. Applying heat causes the gum to become softer, which you can then blot up with a clean piece of cloth or paper towel.
- Gather stuff like a hairdryer, a paper towel, dish soap, water, and a sponge.
- Use the hairdryer on a low heat setting to heat the attached gum. Do not overheat it, or the upholstery will be damaged.
- With the gum now soft enough, use a paper towel or a clean cloth to blot it. Blot it upwards to lift off the gum until much of the gum gets removed.
- Now, make a dish soap and water solution and use the blotting technique to remove the remaining gum residue. Afterward, dry the upholstery with a clean cloth or naturally under the running fan.
Using Vinegar For Gum Stains
In some cases, heating or freezing doesn’t completely remove the gum residue. This residue can be effectively removed with the use of white vinegar. Vinegar is known as a natural adhesive remover that breaks down the stickiness of the gum, making it easy to remove.
- Collect the items like white vinegar, a clean cloth, and a blunt knife or a spoon.
- Start by heating some white vinegar in a microwave for only 1 minute.
- Soak a sponge or clean cloth in warm vinegar and start dabbing the gum. The gum will be soaked in vinegar, so let it sit for a few minutes. Vinegar will cause the gum to loosen its grip.
- Use a blunt knife or a spoon to scrape off the softened gum carefully, taking care not to damage the fabric fibers.
- Once the gum is removed, use a clean cloth soaked in water to remove the vinegar residue and let it air dry.
Using The Peanut Butter Trick
This might sound like a strange method for removing gum from upholstery, but it works very well. The oils in the peanut butter break the gum’s stickiness, making it easier to remove.
- Gather the supplies for this method, such as peanut butter, a clean cloth, a blunt knife or spoon, water, and dish soap.
- Paste some peanut butter directly onto the gum and let it rest for 10 minutes while the oils work.
- Once the peanut butter has softened the gum, use a knife or a spoon to scrape it off the upholstery. Do it gently to avoid damaging the fibers of the underlying fabric.
- Combine dish soap with water to create a bubbly solution. Dip a clean cloth in this solution and remove the leftover oily and gum residue.
- Let it air dry under the fan.
Using Commercial Gum Cleaners/Removers
There are also many commercial-grade gum removers made specifically for upholstery fabric. Simply follow the instructions given on the cleaner’s bottle, which usually involves spraying the product on the gum. Once the gum is soft and pliable, use a piece of cloth or a blunt knife to remove it.
Tips Before Using Any Method Of Removing Gum
Always do a small area test before using any of the above methods. Check to see how your upholstery will respond to the cleaner.
Do not apply much force to scrape or scrub the gum from the upholstery fabric. Doing so can cause the fibers to become frayed and torn.
It is best to treat the gum stuck on the upholstery as soon as possible. Fresh gum is easily removable compared to old, hardened gum.
Final Say
Gum on upholstery is a nightmare, but if you know how to remove gum from upholstery, it’s not a big issue. Check the above methods we explained, all of which are effective in gum removal. Just remember not to rush any method; be patient, and the upholstery will be gum-free with little effort.
