Being a person who often goes for a walk, I have my share of chewing gum problems during which all of a sudden, I have a sticky sole of my shoe. Worse still, chances of getting your shoes wet or ruined may occur as you try to scrape off the chewing gum or rub it with some water. But what if, beyond freeing your teeth from chewing gum stuck on the shoes, you could avoid the wetness all together? This, perhaps, would reduce a huge burden from your shoulders.

Get ready to bid farewell to the nightmare of gum stuck on your shoes with a pair of our Vessi shoes! We suggest putting on a pair of these 100% waterproof marvels for a fail-proof answer to the gum-on-shoe dilemma. Not only will they keep your feet bone dry, but our Vessi shoes are also a perfect blend of style and comfort, with plenty of cushioning and support.

But that is not all; our unique Vessi shoes are designed in an environmentally friendly manner, which makes them suitable for anything from a walk to a jog. Whether it be the notorious city chewing gum that we have to avoid or just a simple shoes that we require for everyday wear and tear, Vessi has it all!

However, if you already have another pair of shoes that needs gum removal, then you would surely need some effective techniques on how to remove chewing gum from shoes. So now, whether you are trying to remove a wad of chewing gum that has just formed, or something that has been gummed onto the hair for quite a while now, we have got your back. Dive in!

How to Remove Gum from Shoes

Chewing gum is sticky by design, and this makes it difficult to remove it from a shoe once it gets on the surface. When you decide to remove gum stuck on your shoes, you can opt for several measures. However, depending on the kind of shoes which you design, a particular method may lead to more complications hence the need to use the correct method.

1. Freeze the Gum

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To use this technique, you just need to freeze the chewing gum for some time and then scrape it off from the shoes easily. It is so simple that a layman can do it himself and all that he will need is a freezer and a plastic bag. Once you have these common household items, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Put the whole shoe inside the plastic bag. You don’t need a new plastic bag, but the one that will be used should be clean. If you do not have a large plastic bag, the gum infested part should be on the bag and against the outside of the bag.

2. Ensure that you press the bag against the sticky gum part for some time, this is crucial since it shall determine the outcome.

3. Place your shoe that is covered with a bag in the freezer for about one to two hours. The cold temperature will assist in making the chewing gum to freeze by sticking to the plastic bag.

4. After some time has elapsed, take your shoe out of the freezer and carefully scrape off the frozen gum.

5. Ensure that you freeze the plastic bag for some time because the longer the duration, the easier it will be to actually remove gum off shoes.

2. Ice Cube

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Another simple way is using an ice cube: for that, you will need ice cubes, a plastic bag, and a putty knife.

1. Fill a plastic bag with some ice cubes.

2. Put your ice pack on the sticky gum while making sure that no ice from the bag falls on your shoe thus making it wet.

3. Knead the ice cubes on the sticky area until it hardens because chewing gum is easier to remove when frozen.

4. Once your gum becomes firm, you can use a blunt knife, a table spoon or a butter knife to peel it off your shoe.

3. WD-40

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Similar to the freezer method, WD-40 also employs a cocktail of solvents and lubricants to make things stuck to move. Nonetheless, WD-40 is not advisable for use on suede and other porous absorbent materials as this might remove gum from the shoes but the oil will definitely corrode the fabric.

Also, make sure you wash your shoes with warm water after you have removed chewing gum with WD-40 because the ingredients of this product may cause some adverse effects when in contact with plastic and rubber shoes.

Prior to using this method to remove chewing gum, you will require a paper towel and a spray bottle. Then, follow the following steps:

1. Spray the WD-40 directly on the chewing gum stuck on your sole and not on the whole shoe.

2. Allow it to sit for some minutes to help loosen the adhesive bond of the chewing gum.

3. After WD-40 covers the chewing gum, use a paper towel and wipe the hardened gum from your shoe's sole.

4. In the case that it is still attached at the bottom of the shoe, repeat the spray procedure and then wipe off any form of residue from the sprayer.

4. Peanut Butter

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Another example of a household item that can be used is the peanut butter together with the wire brush. The oil in the peanut butter will act to loosen the chewing gum and make it less hard so as to easily remove it from shoes.

1. Take about two tablespoons or more of peanut butter to apply a thick layer.

2. Smear peanut butter over the gum and allow it to be stuck on the surface for more than 10 minutes.

3. Clean the gum and peanut butter on your shoe using the wire brush.

4. Scrub along the sole's grooves and not against them to avoid damaging them.

5. Place your shoe below a water faucet with the sole side facing up and wash it carefully to scrub the creamy peanut butter from the sole.

5. Olive Oil

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Another approach on how to remove chewing gum from your shoe soles is to use olive oil since it is bad for other parts of the shoe. You will have to use olive oil found in the kitchen, a spoon with a narrow end, and a piece of paper towel.

Chewing gum creates its chewiness from such agents as plastic or rubbery compounds and oil and while blending these agents, excess oil will destroy the stickiness of the gum. This method is very similar to the peanut butter one and can be used instead of it if you do not have it. However, olive oil should not be used on suede and leather shoes since it will stain.

1. Apply olive oil to the stuck gum and wait a few minutes to help it become less sticky.

2. Use a paper towel or a clean rag to get gum off the shoes.

3. If chewing gum is still on your shoe, dip the pointy tool into olive oil. The dipping is necessary as it prevents your shoe from getting damaged.

4. Use the pointy tool to remove chewing gum until you completely remove it.

6. Hair Dryer

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If you do not wish to harden the gum, you can decide to soften the gum with heat using a hair dryer.

1. Direct your hair dryer to the stuck gum area and turn on the heat.

2. Use a butter knife or a spoon to check your chewing gum's consistency.

3. Once the gum softens and loses its sticky connection, scrape it off.

4. Finish off by wiping with a paper towel to get off any residue.

7. Stick and Sand

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For this method, you will require a stick and sand. It is good for the outgoers who wish to scrape off fresh gum. It helps to peel off the outer layer of the shoe which is worn out and can be done wherever there is dry sand namely sand found on the beaches, although the time used here might probably be more than the other methods.

While the sand is harmless, you have to be wary here because you could inadvertently rub the sand into the shoe fabric.

1. Take off your shoe and sprinkle some dry sand over the stuck chewing gum.

2. Use your stick to rub the sand deep into the gum to break it into small pieces.

3. Keep adding dry sand and rubbing the gum until you remove it.

4. Rub the gum quickly and continuously remove it to avoid it becoming dry, making it harder to get gum off the shoe.

8. Dissolve Chewing Gum

There are several things that you can apply to help you remove chewing gum stuck on a shoe. For instance, the lighter fluid plus a piece of cloth or rag. Lighter fluid is essentially the liquid which is found in the lighter, often referred to as naphtha. As it is a flammable liquid, always apply the product in a well-aired place and at least ten feet away from heat.

If that is not available then nail polish remover is much easier to get but before using it on the wound, try applying a small amount to the skin on your wrists to check for irritation. This is because nail polish remover is not pure and will have other ingredients that can stain or spoil your shoes.

1. Find a rag or a piece of cloth and dip it into the lighter fluid.

2. Rub the cloth in the stuck gum, and the chewing gum will start dissolving away.

Conclusion on How to Remove Gum from Shoes

As you can see from our article, there are actually many ways in which you can successfully remove gum from your shoes without much complication. Thus, using the methods that we described above, you will be able to free yourself from the gum on the bottom of your shoe and welcome cleanliness.

Whether you are a fan of conventional approaches to gum removal or wish to go for a more inventive way of removing gum off shoes, we trust we have delivered one or two hits for you. But if you have tried all that doesn’t work, just make sure to have our Vessi shoes handy, especially when you cannot escape the gum encrusted pavements.