Gum in my carpet! HELP!

What do I do?  Do I need a professional carpet cleaner in the Cleveland area?  When you find that someone has dropped a piece of gum and it is locked in your carpet fibers, don’t panic, and don’t reach for the scissors. It can be removed with a little effort and not killing the kids for dropping it on the carpet.

How to remove the gum from the carpet.

First, if you can get an aerosol gum freeze product at the store follow the directions on the can. If that is not available, get some ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag, and press them on the gum on the carpet until it becomes brittle. When it is hard and brittle, you can pull or break it off and then vacuum. If any small bits remain you can be cut them out of the carpet, but be careful not to remove too many of the fibers. If more than small bits remain, continue with the rest of these instructions.

carpet

What to do I need to do to remove the gum in the carpet?

If gum remains in the carpet, blot with an acceptable non-flammable dry cleaning solvent such as Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc. on a white towel. Always exercise caution when using dry cleaning solvents. Test first in an inconspicuous area on the carpet; If a change occurs, select another solution. Never pour directly on the carpet or you could destroy the glue holding the primary and secondary backing together. Remember to always work from the edges to the center of any spot to prevent it from spreading. DO NOT RUB! Always blot so that you do not damage the fibers of the carpet. Be patient and allow the product to remain on the gum for a few minutes to do its work.

How to remove the residue left in the carpet.

Many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil. Thoroughly rinse the area several times with lukewarm tap water. A mist type sprayer is recommended to prevent over wetting the carpet. Blot with paper towels and pat dry after each rinse. Several rinses are often necessary to thoroughly remove residues. Never use any of the solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended on the product. And blot up any moisture as much as you can.

If we can answer any of your questions, call us at 440-845-7474 and we would be happy to assist you.