Acid method: Microwave a bowl of vinegar for 1 minute. Dip fabric in bowl of vinegar and scrub off gum with an old toothbrush.
Hot trick: Heat gum with a hair dryer and scrape with a plastic knife. Place a dollop of analgesic rub on residue and rub a zip-top bag over it (the methyl salicylate in the topical pain reliever sticks to plastic).
Cold approach: Lay ice cubes on the gum for 30 minutes. Move fabric to a flat surface and scrape off frozen gum with a knife.
A version of this article appeared in our September 2016 issue with the headline “How to remove gum from clothing,” p. 34. Illustrations by Sarah Rafter.
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FILED UNDER: Back to school DIY Hacks Quick fixes