Many people love chewing gum because it is a delicious way to train the jaw, beat boredom, and even quit smoking. Unfortunately, sometimes the rubber ends up falling where it shouldn't, for example on the carpet. If you notice that there is this kind of hidden sticky stain, there are several ways to get rid of it and avoid irreversible damage.

Freeze the Gum

Freeze the chewing gum with an ice pack 

Place several cubes in a sealable plastic bag and place them on the area to be treated. Alternatively, you can quickly freeze the gum by spraying compressed air at close range or by placing a piece of dry ice on it.

• This is the most successful technique when the rubber has just landed on the carpet and has not yet entered deep into the fibers.

• Before continuing with the next steps, check that the gum is frozen and solid, not just cold.

Use a butter knife or metal spatula to scrape off the frozen gum 

Gently lift it from the carpet fibers by scratching them. Let the gum crack and crumble by trying to remove as much of it as possible. Rub an ice cube on stubborn residues and repeat the procedure as many times as necessary.

Clean the area to eliminate the last traces​

Wet a rag in a soapy solution in which you diluted a small amount of white vinegar and use it to gently scrub the area where the gum was stuck. Pat the carpet dry with a thick towel and do not step on it until it is completely dry.

Remove the Rubber with Oils

Before using any oil on the carpet, do a test on a hidden corner

Some products can discolor or whiten fabrics. Make sure you don't create a much worse stain by testing a small amount of oil on an inconspicuous surface and watching for any discoloration. The oil reduces the adhesive power of the chewing gum and allows it to detach from the carpet fibers. Try one of the following:

• Eucalyptus oil;

• Olive oil;

• Peanut butter;

• Caution: After removing the chewing gum, you will need to carefully clean the carpet. If you have some trouble cleaning the carpet you can call professional carpet cleaning services to clean the carpet.

Apply the oil to the gum using a cloth

Do not pour it directly on the stain; if you put it on a clean rag first, you can better control the area you rub it on. Soak the gum with oil by applying it several times with the cloth.

Gently scrape the gum with a butter knife

Try to slowly lift it off the carpet by scratching it with a blunt blade, always following the same direction. Clean the sticky residue from the knife after each step to avoid transferring it back to the fibers. If you move in multiple directions, you risk damaging the carpet and ruining the floor.

Wash the field with dish detergent and liquid

Once all the chewing gum is removed, there may be some oil residue. Mix a tablespoon of degreasing dish soap in a quart of water and use the mixture to scrub the carpet with a wet cloth.

Use Other Solvents

Apply a dry cleaning solvent, a citrus-based degreaser, or white spirit

These substances can dissolve the polymers of chewing gum, making it less sticky and making it easier to remove. Use a rag to apply them directly to the area to be treated. Muscle pain relief ointments contain methyl salicylate, which can be used as a solvent.

• Always test a small amount of the product on a hidden corner of the carpet to make sure it doesn't create a stain.

Give the solvent time to soak into the chewing gum

Wait 5-10 minutes, depending on how hard the material is, before trying to remove the sticky residue. In the meantime, the solvents act on the polymers of the rubber, breaking up their structure and facilitating their removal from the carpet fibers.

Scrape the gum with a butter knife

Always perform the movement in the same direction to avoid damaging the fabric.

Dab the surface with a solution consisting of a teaspoon of neutral detergent and a liter of warm water

Finish the cleaning process by removing any solvent residue with soapy water. Pat the surface dry with a cloth and enjoy your clean carpet.

Advices

• Use the freezing technique to remove large chunks of fresh chewing gum, instead choose oils and solvents to treat old stains that have set in the fibers.

• If your attempts do not lead to the desired results, you can always call a professional for a wet wash, which is usually always effective.

• Lemon juice can remove any sticky residue once the gum is removed.

Warnings

• Do not rub never the carpet while you clean; otherwise, you damage and flatten the fibers, in addition to the risk of pushing the stain deeply, making it indelible.

• Always test oils and solvents in a hidden corner of the carpet to make sure they don't create a major problem.