Discarded gum seems to get stuck everywhere, the seats of buses and trains, playgrounds, car parks and on every street. And then it sticks to you! So what are the best methods of removing chewing gum?

There are many commercial cleaning products on the market, but with chewing gum litter being such a big problem, there are also many home-spun methods which have the advantage of being cheaper, simpler, tried and tested. It can also be difficult to know what the chemical ingredients in commercial chewing gum removal products will do to your clothes.

Freezing is a great method for removing small spots of chewing gum from shoes, clothes, carpets, mats and even hair. If the item will fit, put it in the fridge or freezer for several hours, or even leave it overnight. Once frozen, the gum should become brittle and be easy to scrap and chip off.

Chewing gum on larger items of clothing, carpets and people can be frozen with ice cubes in a plastic bag.

Solvents such as white spirit and lighter fluid can be used to remove any remnants of gum that are left. Be sure to check that the solvent doesn’t harm the material by applying a small amount to a hidden area, such as a hem or an old piece of carpet.

A normal machine wash or dry-clean should finish the job for clothes and carpets can be shampooed.

This article has been provided by Gum Clear, specialist chewing gum removal contractors. Visit their site at http://www.gumclear.co.uk to find out how they remove chewing gum from hard surfaces.