We were experimenting with different methods of removing chewing gum this week. There is a lot of talk at the moment about this product adorning our pavements. There are some industrial products that can be bought (usually by councils) that either heat the gum up and get it off the pavement, or pressure wash them off with something called “dry steam”. They are both very effective, but we wouldn’t recommend using them on your clothes!
What to do with old gum isn’t a new problem. There has been gum stuck under tables since the ancient Greeks. They chewed mastiche, made from the resin of a tree. The Native Americans chewed spruce sap and beeswax and passed the ideas on to the settlers. Then in 1871 Thomas Adams came up with a machine to mass-produce the stuff and started using paraffin and then Latex. Companies such as Wrigley came around in 1914.
Some people say that the fascination with chewing comes from when you are young and being weaned by your mother. We’re here to remove the chewing gum though, not to give counselling to the chewers, so here are a few of the best suggestions:
Removing chewing gum.
Egg white: This is said to be one of the best methods of removing gum, even in hair. Put the white of the egg onto the gum and leave for a few minutes. The gum can then be worked out.
Freezing: Put clothes with the gum on them into the freezer; remove when solid and crack off.
Verdict: this only works if the gum is really hard, so you might have to put it back into the freezer a few times until it is all off.
Chocolate: Melt the chocolate and rub onto the gum, the chocolate apparently dissolves the stickiness and the gum can be brushed out.
We haven’t tried this one, but I don’t know many people who would be disciplined enough not to eat the chocolate before putting it on a gum stain.
Mayonnaise: We have tried this one in the past and it does make the gum very soft. It does leave a sticky residue though which will have to washed out with soap.
WD 40: Although not classed as Green, this product is useful for a multitude of things. Spray it on to the gum, leave a while and work the gum out. Again we wouldn’t recommend you use this on your hair.
Chewing gum uses: We have been racking our brains to think of useful tips for recycling chewing gum. Here are a few we came up with. (Of course the proper thing to do is to put it back into the wrapper and put the wrapper into the nearest bin, but we already know that don’t we).
Put the used gum into cracks around wooden window frames to seal the gaps.
Used gum can make a great temporary filling in teeth whilst waiting for an appointment, (make sure it’s sugar free!)
Use it as a substitute for Blu Tak.
And of course, if there’s a hole in your bucket…
What to do with old gum isn’t a new problem. There has been gum stuck under tables since the ancient Greeks. They chewed mastiche, made from the resin of a tree. The Native Americans chewed spruce sap and beeswax and passed the ideas on to the settlers. Then in 1871 Thomas Adams came up with a machine to mass-produce the stuff and started using paraffin and then Latex. Companies such as Wrigley came around in 1914.
Some people say that the fascination with chewing comes from when you are young and being weaned by your mother. We’re here to remove the chewing gum though, not to give counselling to the chewers, so here are a few of the best suggestions:
Removing chewing gum.
Egg white: This is said to be one of the best methods of removing gum, even in hair. Put the white of the egg onto the gum and leave for a few minutes. The gum can then be worked out.
Freezing: Put clothes with the gum on them into the freezer; remove when solid and crack off.
Verdict: this only works if the gum is really hard, so you might have to put it back into the freezer a few times until it is all off.
Chocolate: Melt the chocolate and rub onto the gum, the chocolate apparently dissolves the stickiness and the gum can be brushed out.
We haven’t tried this one, but I don’t know many people who would be disciplined enough not to eat the chocolate before putting it on a gum stain.
Mayonnaise: We have tried this one in the past and it does make the gum very soft. It does leave a sticky residue though which will have to washed out with soap.
WD 40: Although not classed as Green, this product is useful for a multitude of things. Spray it on to the gum, leave a while and work the gum out. Again we wouldn’t recommend you use this on your hair.
Chewing gum uses: We have been racking our brains to think of useful tips for recycling chewing gum. Here are a few we came up with. (Of course the proper thing to do is to put it back into the wrapper and put the wrapper into the nearest bin, but we already know that don’t we).
Put the used gum into cracks around wooden window frames to seal the gaps.
Used gum can make a great temporary filling in teeth whilst waiting for an appointment, (make sure it’s sugar free!)
Use it as a substitute for Blu Tak.
And of course, if there’s a hole in your bucket…
Household.
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