Remove chewing gum from your car with 4 easy steps

Awful dirt and stain can seriously damage your car paint. That’s why there are different car care products to help you remove these unpleasant elements from your car; but what if it's a gum that got stuck to your car? Sure, you could always go to the trusty car wash shop and spend a few bucks.

However, if you’re looking to address the gum problem by yourself then you’ve come to the right place. Check out Philkotse.com's easy DIYs on how to remove gum from your car exterior below.

How to remove chewing gum from your car paint

Step #1. Prepare your car for the gum-removal operation

If the gum has already hardened on your car exterior, then we suggest you don’t rub, scrape or scrub it. You might be tempted to do so however, you may end up ruining the paint coat on your car instead. Here are our suggested ways to prepare your car for the next steps.

• Pull off as much of the gum as you possibly can without harming your car. The products that you will be using need to seep into the part of the gum that’s stuck to your car. So removing the gum that’s not stuck to your car exterior will make the products more effective.
• Drive your car into a shaded area to prevent exposure to too much heat. This can melt the gum and make it harder for you to remove it.

Don’t rub, scrape or scrub the hardened gum in the car's exterior

Step #2. Clean the area around the remaining gum

The spot around the remaining gum needs to be clean. You would need to remove any other dirt or debris that got stuck to your car because of the gum. Use the steps we prepared below to do this:

Take a bucket and fill it with hot water

Then, mix it with a few squirts of your trusted dishwashing soap brand. The ratio is that one squirt is equal to two cups of hot water. Take a clean cloth or a rag and dip it into the solution while being careful not to burn yourself.

Use this to wipe away any removable dirt on the gum residue on your car. Move in small, gentle strokes as pressing hard can damage the coat on your car.

Do not use any other material asides from a microfiber washcloth or a super soft rug. Scouring pads used sponges and other improvise materials may lead to more damage to your car than clean it. Abrasive materials may remove the gum completely but it may also remove layers of clear coat and paint off your vehicle’s exterior.

Repeat and repeat!

Repeat this until you successfully remove the gum off your car. Once you’re happy with the results, you can wipe the wet area with a clean, dry cloth.

Remove any other dirt or debris that got stuck to your car because of the gum

Use a protectant

Use a protectant so the next time gum sticks to the car’s body, it would be easier to remove. These are very handy and they are available in almost all auto-supply stores in your area. It will act as a thin layer of protection between your car’s clear coat and the external forces that can damage it.

If that doesn’t work or maybe you weren’t happy with the overall results, you can try this next procedure. This time we suggest you use a stronger compound that can remove the gum paste.

Step #3. Use body solvent

Use a clean and ample amount of cotton and roll in into a ball. Soak this in a small tray that has body solvent in it. Let the cotton ball sit in the tray for about a minute or two so it can absorb enough of the chemical.

Then give the cotton ball a little squeeze to relieve the cotton ball of too much solvent and put this right over the gum on your car. Leave it for a maximum of five minutes and then take a rag and also pour some solvent on it. Use the damp area of the rag and try to wipe off the gum along with the cotton ball you put over it.

Soak the cotton ball in a small tray that has body solvent in it

You might need to re-do this process if you aren’t seeing any progress. Body solvents are the type of chemical cleaners that are most advisable for painted surfaces.

The surface of most cars is usually a clear coat of paint designed to protect the paint layer that adds color to your ride.  This is why it works so well as a gum remover for exterior car surfaces.

Body solvent is very easy to acquire as they are made available to hardware stores everywhere. However, if you don’t have access to body solvent, you can instead use plain rubbing alcohol.

Isopropyl alcohol is the most advisable variety for this project since they are made from strong, potent products. You can also try ethyl alcohol if that’s all you have.

Use the damp area of the rag and try to wipe off the gum

>>> More helpful tips for car exterior maintenance on Philkotse.com:

• How to remove bird poop stains from car without ruining your car's paint
• Common things that can damage your car paint & How to keep it shiny at all times

Step #4. Get a product specifically made for removing gum

If you end up still feeling dissatisfied, then you may need to result to desperate measures. Industrial cleaners use a special product that is specially made for removing gum.

They are quite expensive and if there’s not much gum on your car, you would find it hard to buy a small amount of the remover if you’re trying to save money. Since it’s mostly used by industrial cleaners, you would have to buy it from where most similar products are sold.

You would be lucky if you can find them in the usual supermarket. If you know someone who works in a similar industry and could have some gum remover, you can also try asking from them so you can save money.

Industrial cleaners use a special product that is specially made for removing gum

Once you have your gum remover, spray it on the area of your car exterior. Let the solution sit for a while and you can easily peel off the gum from the car body with ease. If you can’t find industrial gum remover, use some WD-40 oil instead.

This isn’t only less expensive, it’s also easier to find and can come in different sizes so you can buy according to the amount you need. Asides from an effective gum remover, WD-40 oil is also great for removing bugs, tar, grime and other unsightly stains on your car.

>>> Click to learn more useful car tips and advice