Gum in Your Carpet?

It’s inevitable; especially if you have kids in the house. Of course, no one will admit to the dastardly deed but the task remains to get it out. Chances are if you’re reading this piece, that particular chore is yours to perform.

How difficult is it to get a nasty piece of gum out of your carpeting? Well, it’s not as tough as you may think. First, cordon off the area around the gum to avoid mashing it further into carpet fibers. Second, grab the peanut butter.

Peanut butter?! Yup, believe it or not, peanut butter makes an excellent solvent. Be sure to apply a good amount and wait a few minutes; you should be able to scrape the gum out of the carpet easily.

Of course, now you have peanut butter in your carpet. Fortunately, peanut butter is much easier to remove than gum. Simply allow it to harden and vacuum it up. If it should stain, apply a standard carpet stain remover and wipe clean. Vinegar is another excellent, eco-friendly option for stain removal as well.

If peanut butter or vinegar should fail to remove the gum, place an ice cube in a plastic bag and apply. This should result in effectively hardening the gum allowing for easier removal.

If ALL of these options should fail, try WD-40. Spray directly onto the gum and wait a few minutes. The gum should glide off easily. Additionally, oil soap can be an effective agent. Simply pour a small amount onto a clean cloth and gently massage the gum. This may take a bit more time but does work.

A word of caution: do not exert an overt amount of pressure or rub the carpet until it is worn. The fibers can be damaged in this manner ultimately destroying your carpet (which certainly defeats the original objective). This is why scouring pads or scrub brushes are not recommended.

So, next time you see a piece of gum in your carpet – don’t panic. Follow these easy instructions and you’ll be cleaning like a pro in no time!