Yearly, more than 100,000 tons of chewing gum are eaten, and coincidentally none of them ends up in the trash. Chewing gum can get lodged in the most inconvenient of places and is not cleaned up easily. Chewing gum is challenging enough to remove off a concrete surface or the bottom of your shoes, but discarding gum from a woolen rug or carpet fibers can be a hassle. It may seem tempting to pull up the chewing gum immediately, don’t, because this can easily ruin delicate carpet fibers.
When it comes to removing gum, the optimal approach depends on how long it’s been penetrating the carpet’s fibers. To ensure that you do not destroy your carpet, it is recommended to seek the assistance of a professional carpet cleaning service and ask for their same day carpet cleaning services to get that gum off your carpet.
COMMONLY KNOWN METHODS TO REMOVE CHEWING GUM FROM YOUR CARPET:
- The Iced method: This method will be the most effective when you are faced with the task of removing gum from your carpet. Using an ice cube to freeze the gum off. Applying ice will not actually remove the gum, but after about 20 minutes of applying ice to the affected area it will cause the gum to harden, which then makes it easier to use an object with a sharp edge to scrape gum off the carpet fibers but there is a possibility that you might pull out some threads from the carpet. There is also the possibility of gum remaining on the carpet where it penetrated deeply.
- The Hair Dryer method: A simple approach to remove gum from the fibers of your carpet is indeed your hairdryer. Using heat on the affected area is to soften the gum. You will also need the assistance of a cleaning rag, the soften gum should stick to the cloth and release the carpet fibers as you lift it away from the carpet. This is time-consuming as you have to be careful so that you don’t harm your carpet fibers and be prepared to reheat the affected area until the gum is completely removed, but be careful as too much heat from the hairdryer can burn the fibers.
- The Oil Method: Oil can reduce the stickiness of the gum, this method is very useful, but the problematic part of this method is removing the oil from the carpet later. You can apply cooking oil on a clean rag and apply it to the gum. This is also a repetitive task as you have to use the oil over and over again until the gum becomes loose. You can then take a knife to the carpet to scrape at the gum, be mindful to wipe the blade of the knife every time you remove small portions of the gum from the carpet. To remove the oil stain, you can clean the area with a solution of dish soap and water. Wipe at the area with a clean rug and the desired resolution, blot dry with a towel, and avoid the carpet until the area is dried.
- Carpet Cleaner Solution: If the gum spot is an older one, it is recommended to use a gel-based solvent or a cheap carpet cleaning . Starting with the water as it works on the gum, scrape it gently with a plastic spoon or spatula.
When following any of the above steps, be sure to always rinse away the remaining solvents or chemicals with baking soda dissolved in water. This will make sure that the acidic products are neutralized, and any smell will be removed as well.
CONTACT PROFESSIONALS FOR SAME DAY CLEANING SERVICES / CARPET CARE:
However, many carpets tend to be delicate and won’t be able to withstand the scrubbing, solvents that are listed in the methods as described above. If you have any doubts about any of the processes listed above, do not hesitate to call our Professional Carpet Cleaning. City Carpet Cleaning Hobart offer same-day carpet cleaning services, which includes carpet chewing gum removal. Professional carpet cleaners will have the necessary tools and types of equipment suited to safely and effectively remove any chewing gum stains without damaging the fibers of your carpet. Also check out our blog keep your carpets looking new: diy carpet cleaning.
