Simple Ways to Remove Gum from Wood

Having to remove gum from any surface sounds like a nightmare however, wood really isn't the worst place that it could be stuck to. If you find yourself with a piece of gum stuck to your wood, here are a few ways to help you remove it.

Magazine Page

If the gum is fresh and it seems like it can be removed pretty easily then you will most likely want to turn to a paper towel for this task. A magazine page though is the better option. Use the magazine page to slide under the piece of gum and pry it off.

Use an Iron

If the gum has hardened and is impossible to pry off then you will want to try to soften it with an iron. You do want to take this step very carefully though because too much heat could end up damaging the wood and if the gum happens to be on your nice dining room wooden floors, then you will want to take extra precautions. You will want to begin with it on the lowest heat setting and then take a piece of craft paper and put it on top of the piece of gum. Then use the iron on top of the paper to loosen up the gum but make sure that you keep it moving constantly so you don't apply too much heat to one area. This heat should allow you to remove the gum and then you can clean the area with a rag and wood cleaner once it has been removed.

Soak in Water

You always have the option of soaking the gum with water. You can use a spray bottle with hot water in it to spray the gum. Then wait and continue to spray over time while you use something hard to pry or scrape it off. Do not use a knife to scrape off though as you may end up ruining the floor or wood under the gum. Another thing to keep in mind is that you do not want to soak or spray any chemicals or household cleaning products onto the gum if it is not specifically made for gum removal. Doing this may cause the gum to interact with the chemical spray and then damage the wood under it.

Ice

You can also use ice to help get gum off of wood. To do this you simply put a handful of ice into a plastic baggie and then add salt to the mixture and seal it. Wrap a thin towel around the bag and then place it on top of the gum. Every few minutes make sure that it is placed directly on it and check the gum. This will completely harden the gum and allow you to easily scrape or pry it off from the wood. Keep in mind that you will want to use a tool with a gentle end so that you do not harm the floor.

Each of these methods are just as effective and you can choose which is best for you based on what products you have available.