Removing Gum with Ice Cubes
Place ice cubes in a bag and set it on the gum for several minutes. House cleaning professional Raymond Chiu says the “simplest way to remove gum…is to freeze or make the sticky substance as cold as possible.” Simply add a few ice cubes into a sealable plastic bag. Then, Chiu says to “place [the ice] directly on the gum for a few minutes until the gum hardens.” If the leather item is small enough, place it in a plastic bag and then put it in the freezer for about an hour. This also works to harden the gum. If you don’t have a plastic bag, rub the ice directly on the gum. Just make sure to wipe up any water as soon as it drips on the leather, as this can stain it.
Scape off the hardened gum with a butter knife or spoon. When the gum is hard, house cleaning professional Raymond Chiu recommends “gently scraping at the frozen gum…with a butter knife” or another hard, blunt tool, like a spoon or credit card. Simply keep chipping away at the gum until it’s all gone. You can also use your fingernail to scrape off the gum if you’re in a pinch. Be very careful when scraping the gum, as hard movements or sharp tools can potentially scratch the leather. If you accidentally scratch the leather, leather care technician Mallika Sharma says to “buff out the leather scratch…with a fine sandpaper.” Then, “use a filler cream” and “matching color dye/polish” to buff and blend the damaged area.
Wipe off any remaining gum with saddle soap. Apply a dollop of saddle soap to a damp, clean microfiber cloth. Then, rub the soap into any gum remnants on the leather. Use circular motions to work the soap into a lather and remove the gum. If you don’t have saddle soap on hand, simply mix a mild soap, such as dish soap, with warm water. If the gum is very stuck on, gently scrub it with a soft, dampened toothbrush. Simply work the toothbrush into the soap lather using circular motions.
Remove the soapy residue with a damp and then dry cloth. Wet a clean cloth with water, wring it out so it’s damp, and use it to wipe off the saddle soap on the leather. Then, wipe the leather with a clean dry cloth to dry it. If water is left too long on the leather, it can damage the fabric or dye.
Apply leather conditioner on the spot after it dries. Leather conditioner moisturizes the fabric to strengthen and protect it against damage. Just add a small bit of conditioner onto a microfiber cloth and rub it into the spot using circular motions. Then, let the conditioner dry and wipe the spot with a clean cloth. Spot test the conditioner on a small, hidden part of your item to ensure it doesn’t discolor the leather.
Getting Rid of Gum with Baking Soda
Mix a spoonful of baking soda with water to create a paste. Baking soda is a powerful but gentle cleaner that dissolves stubborn stains like gum. Just add a spoonful of baking soda into a bowl and slowly mix in water. Stop adding water when the mixture has a paste-like consistency.
Apply the baking soda paste on the gum and let it sit for 5 minutes. Spoon the baking soda paste directly on top of the gum. Then, allow it to soak into the gum and dissolve the sticky residue for at least 5 minutes. Apply the baking soda paste on an unnoticeable part of the leather before you place it on the gum. This shows you whether the baking soda discolors or stains the leather.
Wipe off the baking soda and gum with a damp cloth. Wet a microfiber cloth with water and squeeze out the excess moisture. Then, use it to remove the baking soda paste and dissolved gum. If any gum residue remains, gently scrub it with the paste on the cloth. Dry off the leather with a clean, dry cloth. Apply a leather conditioner after drying the leather to moisturize and protect the fabric.
Removing Gum with a Hair Dryer
Heat the gum with a hair dryer set to low or medium. Turn on your hair dryer to low or medium and aim the nozzle at the gum. Hold the hair dryer about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the spot and move it in circular motions until the gum is soft. Work in 20-second bursts to keep the hair dryer from damaging the leather. Do not use the highest heat setting, as it can damage or discolor the leather.
Scrape off the gum with a butter knife or plastic scraper. Use a blunt tool to gently scrape off the softened gum. For instance, use a butter knife, scraper, credit card, or plastic spatula. Do not use a sharp tool to scrape off the gum, as this can pierce or scratch the leather.
Reheat and wipe off any remaining gum with a clean cloth. Hold the hair dryer over any specs of gum on the leather. When the gum remnants are soft, rub them off with a dry, clean microfiber cloth. Simply use circular motion so the gum forms into little balls that wipe away easily.
Wipe the leather down with a leather cleaner and conditioner. Spray a clean microfiber cloth with leather cleaner and wipe down the spot to remove any leftover residue. Then, apply leather conditioner onto a clean cloth and rub it into the spot. This moisturizes and protects your leather. Apply the cleaner and conditioner to an inconspicuous part of your leather to make sure it doesn’t stain or discolor the leather.
Cleaning off Gum with Peanut Butter
Scrape off the gum with a butter knife or plastic scraper. Use any hard, blunt, and thin-edged tool to get off as much gum on the leather as possible. For instance, use a plastic scraper, butter knife, spoon, old credit card, or even your fingernail.
Spread natural peanut butter on the gum and let it sit for 15 minutes. The oils in natural peanut butter help break down the gum while the butter consistency easily coats the spot. Just swipe a dollop of peanut butter directly on the gum. Then, leave it be for at least 15 minutes to give it time to dissolve the gum. Add a dab of peanut butter on an inconspicuous on your leather to see if it stains or discolors the leather before applying it all over. Mix the peanut butter if the oil is separated from the mixture. Alternatively, use an oil like vegetable, canola, or olive oil in place of peanut butter. These oils also dissolve gum. Just pour a bit of oil on the gum and let it sit.
Wipe away the peanut butter and gum with a dry cloth. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to wipe up the peanut butter and dissolved gum. If any gum remains on the leather, keep gently scrubbing at it with the peanut butter on the cloth until it comes off. If there is still a lot of gum left on the leather, apply more peanut butter and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Clean off the peanut butter and any gum residue with saddle soap. Add a bit of saddle soap onto a damp microfiber cloth. Then, work the soap into the leather using circular motions to remove any leftover peanut butter and gum. Simply wipe up the soapy residue with a damp cloth and then dry the area with a dry, clean cloth. When the leather is dry, apply some leather conditioner.
Using Tape to Remove Gum
Press a strip of tape firmly into the gum. Tear off a piece of duct tape, masking tape, or packing tape and place it directly on the gum. Then, use your fingers to smooth and press the tape into the gum.
Pull off the tape to lift off the gum. Grab the edge of the tape and slowly pull it off of the leather to ensure the gum comes off with it. Just keep pulling on the tape until it and the gum are completely removed from the leather. If there are still pieces of gum on the leather, apply a new piece of tape, press it into the gum, and remove it. Just keep adding new pieces of tape until the gum is fully gone.
Apply leather conditioner onto the leather. Add a small bit of leather conditioner onto a clean microfiber towel and rub it into the previously stained spot. Then, wipe up any residue with a dry cloth. This restores moisture to the leather and helps protect it against future damage.
Removing Gum with Dish Soap
Scrape away the gum with a plastic scraper or butter knife. Use a hard, dull object like a plastic scraper, spatula, butter knife, or credit card to remove as much gum on the leather as you can. Gently pick away at the gum to ensure you don’t damage the leather.
Mix mild dish soap with lukewarm water. Mild dish soap is gentle enough to wash leather but tough enough to lift up gum stains. Simply fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add a squirt of dish soap. Then, stir the water and soap together so it forms into a sudsy mixture. Alternatively, use saddle soap in place of mild dish soap.
Scrub away the gum with the soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Cleaning expert Susan Stocker says to simply “dampen a microfiber cloth with the [soapy] solution” and then “wipe down the leather.” Continue to gently rub and scrub at the gum until all of the remnants are gone. Test the soap on a hidden part of the leather to ensure it doesn’t discolor or stain it before using it to wash away the gum.
Wipe off the soapy residue and apply a leather conditioner. Dampen a clean cloth and use it to clean off any suds on the leather. Then, use a dry, clean cloth to dry the area. To moisturize and protect the leather, add a bit of leather conditioner onto a fresh cloth and rub it into the fabric.
Getting Rid of Gum with WD-40
Spray WD-40 on the gum. WD-40 is a degreasing agent that lifts off sticky residue on leather, like gum. Simply get out a can of WD-40 and spray it directly onto the gum. Test the WD-40 on an inconspicuous part of the leather to make sure it doesn’t stain or discolor the fabric. Alternatively, use another solvent that dissolves gum and sticky substances, such as acetone, rubbing alcohol, or Trisol. Just apply the solvent onto a clean cloth and then rub it into the gum.
Wipe off the WD-40 and gum with a dry microfiber cloth. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to rub the WD-40 into the gum. Just keep scrubbing at the gum until it is completely removed from the leather.
Apply a leather conditioner onto the leather. Add some leather conditioner onto a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe it into the leather using circular motions. Let the conditioner dry, then remove any residue with a fresh, dry cloth.
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