Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Using a natural oil
• Method 2 of 5: Using an ice cube
• Method 3 of 5: Using a washing powder paste
• Method 4 of 5: Using a tumble drier
• Method 5 of 5: Using a commercially available product
• Necessities
• Tips
• Warnings

Forgetting to empty your pockets before putting your clothes in the washing machine or tumble dryer often causes problems, especially if you've left gum in your pockets. Not only will the gum leave a residue on your clothes, but it will also leave a sticky mess on the inside of your tumble dryer drum. If this happens, use common household items you probably already have under your sink or in your kitchen cupboard to remove the gum from your dryer to avoid buying a new dryer.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Using a natural oil

1. Spray cooking spray on the gum. Cooking spray works in a similar way to WD-40, lubricating spots and removing sticky substances. However, it is a natural alternative. If you don't have cooking spray at home, you can use a canola oil bottle. Put some rapeseed oil on a cloth and rub it over the gum.
2. Soak the gum in the oil. Spray or spread a generous amount of oil on the gum. Then let the oil sit so that the gum can absorb the oil. Soaking the gum in the oil will soften it and make it easier to remove the gum.
3. Wipe the area with the sticky gum with an old sock or cloth. If you are unable to wipe the gum, put in some effort and scrape the gum off with a nylon scraper. You can even use your fingernail if you don't mind.
4. Apply another baking spray to the gum. You do this to make sure you delete everything. Let the baking spray retract. Scrape off any gum residue and wipe the area with a cloth. Now you are done. The great thing about this method is that you don't have to worry about plastic and glass particles coming off the protective coating in your dryer. This method does not stink either.

Method 2 of 5: Using an ice cube

1. Rub the gum with an ice cube. Place an ice cube in a resealable plastic bag and rub it on the gum. You can also hold the ice cube in your hand if you prefer. Keep rubbing the gum with the ice until it hardens.
2. Scrape off the gum with a spatula or plastic knife. Only apply as much pressure as necessary, because scraping too hard can damage the surface of the dryer. This is also the reason why it is better to use a plastic knife than a metal one. A metal blade scrapes the protective layer off the drum.
3. Wipe the inside of the dryer with vinegar. Wet a cloth with a little water and add a little white vinegar. Rub it over the last pieces of gum to remove any residue. If there is still a large piece of gum that needs to be removed, repeat the first two steps of this method.

Method 3 of 5: Using a washing powder paste

1. Put a tablespoon of washing powder in a bowl. Use very little water to make a paste. Start with a teaspoon. Then mix the water with the washing powder. Add a quarter teaspoon of water at a time until you get a thick paste.
   • The exact amount of water to add depends on the type of washing powder.
   • This is a good method to use if an ice cube does not completely remove all chewing gum residue. However, you will need to let the gum warm to room temperature before you can try this method.
2. Scrub the gum off with the paste. Apply the paste to a clean cloth. Then rub the paste on the gum in the dryer. Keep scrubbing the gum with the paste until all of the gum is removed.
3. Wipe off the detergent residue. Simply wet a clean cloth and wipe the inside of the tumble dryer drum. Make sure to wipe the entire drum to remove all of the pasta. Of course you do not want the washing powder to dry up and clumps of powder to remain in the drum.
4. Run the dryer through a drying program. However, do not put clean clothes in the dryer. Wet some old cloths and put them in the dryer. Then start a drying program. This will help get rid of the last chewing gum residue so you don't get gum on your clothes.

Method 4 of 5: Using a tumble drier

1. Dampen some dryer sheets with water. Place the wet dryer sheets on the gum areas in your dryer. They should stick to the gum. If that doesn't happen, you will have to hold the wipes against the spots yourself.
2. Leave the dryer sheets on the areas for 10 to 15 minutes. If you hold the wipes, you will have to keep them in the spots for 15 minutes. By leaving the wipes on the spots, they can loosen the chewing gum. You should eventually see the pieces of gum stick to the dryer sheets. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to leave wipes on the areas for longer than 15 minutes.
3. Wipe the chewing gum off the drum. When the gum residue starts to loosen, use the tumble dryer cloths to wipe away the residue. If necessary, rub and scrub the gum with the tumble dryer cloths until all residue is removed. Then wipe the drum with a wet cloth.

Method 5 of 5: Using a commercially available product

1. Spray WD-40 on the gum. If you don't have WD-40, you can use a special chewing gum remover. Apply some of the product to a cloth and rub the sticky area with gum. Allow the chemicals to soak in so the gum can loosen and eat away.
   • This should be your last resort if the other methods don't work. You use chemicals that could end up on your clothes.
2. Rub the area with a cloth. You can continue to use the cloth you applied the gum remover with. Rub, wipe, and scrub the area until the gum comes off. If necessary, apply a little more WD-40 or gum remover and keep rubbing if the gum doesn't come off as easily as you'd like.
3. Wipe the inside of the tumble dryer. Wet a cloth and put detergent on it. Then wipe the dryer, making sure to wipe off any residue of WD-40 or gum remover. Air out the dryer before using it again.
4. Run the dryer through a drying program. To ensure that all residues of WD-40 or gum remover are removed, wet a few cloths, put them in a dryer and start a drying program. The next time you dry your clothes, you can be reasonably sure that no cleaner residue will get on your clothes.

Necessities

• Ice cubes
• Plastic knife or spatula
• Cloths
• Vinegar
• Washing powder
• WD-40 or gum remover
• Mild dish soap
• Dryer cloths

Tips

• Be thorough but careful when scraping the gum off the drum so that you don't damage the surface of the drum.
• After each method, run the tumble dryer through a drying cycle with wet old cloths to ensure all chewing gum and cleaner residues are removed and the dryer is clean for the next load of clothes.

Warnings

• If you use chemicals to clean the dryer, let the appliance air out before using it again to let any chemical residue dry out. Also wipe the drum and run the dryer through a drying cycle with wet cloths to remove all residue.