Gum in carpet is a problem in many households. It could be that your kids chew gum and drop it on the floor – good luck with getting them to own up to that one! Or perhaps you’ve brought it in from outside on the sole of your shoe.

Now you’ve got a sticky mess, and need to know how to get rid of gum out of carpet. You might decide to dry the gum first, using the ‘freeze and whack’ method of removal. Or you might decide to warm it with a hairdryer and melt it away.

For old gum spots, I prefer a different method. Here’s how to get gum out of caret using solvents.

Which solvents can be used to clean gum from carpets?

A common solvent to use for cleaning carpet is nail polish remover. Other solvents that can be used include most that are also used to clean nylon paint brushes. Whichever solvent you use, always test on a small, inconspicuous piece of carpet before commencing gum removal.

How to get gum out of carpet with solvents step-by-step

Solvents literally dissolve the gum, removing their stickiness and allowing you to lift the gum. One of my favorite solvents is methyl salicylate.

Having tested the solvent on your carpet and happy that it won’t cause damage, use the following steps to lift the gum:

1. Apply a small amount of solvent on the gum spot.
2. Leave for five to ten minutes for the solvent to soak in and start dissolving the gum.
3. Scrape with a spoon or butter knife.
4. Rinse with warm water thoroughly to remove the solvent completely and avoid any unintended damage to the fibers.

Gum is one of the toughest substances to get out of carpet, but it’s not impossible. If you’re not sure of how to get gum out of carpet, or you’ve got a particularly stubborn stain or expensive carpet that needs cleaning, feel free to get in touch – carpets are one of our areas of expertise.

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