Imagine a typical situation: morning, rush, important meeting. You leave the house in your favorite pair of shoes, and suddenly you feel an unpleasant stickiness under the sole. Gum! Whether it’s expensive patent leather shoes, comfortable sneakers or reliable work shoes, the situation is always annoying. But do not hurry to panic! We know how to remove gum from shoes quickly and without a trace!
Simple and effective methods to remove gum from shoes
Freezing
Chewing gum loses its stickiness at low temperatures. It becomes hard and can be easily detached from shoes. It is enough:
- Put the shoes in a plastic bag, preferably at the same time, so that the gum does not touch the walls.
- Put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Oh, yeah, yeah. Exactly in the freezer!
- Once completely frozen, simply pry the rubber band off with a knife or plastic scraper and it will come off completely without leaving any trace!
If your shoes are too big for the freezer, you can put an ice pack on the stain for 10-20 minutes. The main thing is not to try to pull the gum off before the time, otherwise it will smear and the situation will only get worse.
Heat and oil
When you don’t have a freezer on hand, but you have a hair dryer with turbo mode or oil, you can use a different method. Let’s take a look at how to do it properly:
- Hair dryer. Direct warm air on the gum and wait until it becomes soft and begins to spread. After that, gently scrape it off with a cardboard or wooden stick.
- Vegetable oil or glycerin-based cream. These substances quickly and effectively destroy the sticky structure of gum. Apply a little oil on the dirt and leave it for 5-10 minutes. Then remove the residue with a dry paper towel and rinse the area liberally with soapy water.
Both of these cleaning methods are most effective on rubberized and leather shoes. However, it is best not to use on fabric shoe surfaces.
Alcohol or vinegar
If the gum has left behind an unpleasant trace in the form of a grease stain, treatment with alcohol or vinegar will help. For this purpose it will be enough:
- Wipe the dirty spot with a cotton disk, or a small soft cloth, which are soaked in alcohol or vinegar.
- Leave it for 5-10 minutes, then wipe off the gum residue with a brush or a soft cloth for cleaning shoes.
This method is especially effective for light-colored shoes, as it helps avoid dark grease stains.
Duct tape or scotch tape
In some cases, small gum residues are difficult to remove mechanically. In this case, you can use ordinary duct tape, which you can always find at home:
- Press a piece of tape against the dirty surface.
- Pull it off with a sharp movement – sticky particles will remain on the tape.
- If necessary, repeat the procedure until completely cleaned.
This method is excellent for textile shoes.
Prevention: How can I protect my shoes?
As we all know, it is easier to prevent a problem than to solve it. To keep gum and other contaminants out of trouble, you should choose shoes with protective coatings.
Manufacturers of safety shoes such as TALAN develop models with dirt-repellent properties. Pwork shoes in UAEhave to meet high standards of safety and comfort, so materials that prevent dirt and gum from sticking are used in the manufacturing process.
At talansafetyshoes.com, you can find shoes made from materials that are resistant to dirt. For this purpose, the manufacturer uses in its models:
- Anti-slip and oil and grease resistant soles that can be easily cleaned from gum and other sticky substances in any of the ways listed above.
- Smooth hydrophobic coatings that don’t allow dirt to linger on the surface.
- Durable materials that do not lose their appearance after brushing.
By choosing quality protective shoes, you can minimize the risk of such unpleasant situations.
What to do if gum has gotten deep into the tread pattern?
It’s one thing to remove gum from a smooth sole, but it’s another if it’s gotten into the embossed tread and then still covered with dust. Here you will need additional measures to clean it:
- Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the residue all the way through.
- Try treating the soiled area with toothpaste to help break down the sticky properties.
- If the gum is very embedded, use a wooden skewer (toothpick) to gently scrape it out of the grooves.
Don’t let gum on your shoes throw you off balance!
Gum on shoes is unpleasant, but not disastrous. There are many ways to quickly get rid of it without damaging the material. The main thing is to act correctly: freeze, soften or dissolve the sticky mass. And, of course, it is better to choose in advance shoes for work and everyday wear with protective coatings, like TALAN. Now you know how to deal with this problem without unnecessary nerves and spoiled mood!
