Gum in my shirt, how do i get it out?

LQQKASTAR · 03-08-2006, 07:20 PM

I left one of those oeices of gum that coated in a "sugar" shell in my work pocket, it is a cotton pollyester blend polo shirt, in a deep moroon color.

anyway it went thrue the wash and the dryer, then kinda melted out of the pocket onto the front of the shirt and into the inside. any help would be apreaciated, but keep in mind its a dark maroon color. thanks in advance fellow ifishers.

Jack

ryleysmom · 03-08-2006, 07:22 PM

Oxyclean, swear by it
make sure you use HOT water, not boiling but hot.

diamondfish · 03-08-2006, 07:26 PM

Ice, rub it on the gum spot, and it will cool the gum so it falls off.

kc1 · 03-08-2006, 07:29 PM

I'd just forget about it and get some new gum.. It's probably lost most of it's flavor by now anyway.

floristluvs2fish · 03-08-2006, 08:23 PM

FIrst do not laugh..this works..put your shirt in a zip lock baggie until its frozen...really do not laugh ..then when its frozen pull it out and try to get as much as you can off with out using a dull knife...but this works..I have had four kids..I promise...good luck

OceanBlue · 03-08-2006, 11:24 PM

Jack, it's toast. Get new gum AND a new shirt. If the gum went through the fibers from the inside, which is what you're describing, it's done.

You can try reversing the process, but you'll likely have to rent a Delorean and, well... I think M. J. Fox might be a little tied up these days

Replacing the shirt is probably cheaper.

cutbank · 03-09-2006, 04:30 AM

Good luck. had a simular problem with a dress shirt. First time I wore it hadn't been washed yet. It was grey. It got oil stained from something I ate. It came out of the wash with some really noticeable stains. I put it in a zip lock bag and saturated it with cooking oil. Then washed it again. It came out a shade darker but no noticeable stain. In essence I stained the whole shirt to match. It might be cheaper to get another shirt than buy that much gum.

cutbank · 03-09-2006, 04:50 AM

Better yet, have the ifish logo embroidered over it!

Sweet Melissa · 03-09-2006, 07:09 AM

I had some gum melt on a nylon windbreaker many years ago. I took it to my grandma, and she rubbed it with a little water and a soap called Fels-Naptha. It's an old-fashioned laundry bar soap, and it really worked. Took out the oil stain, and all. Couldn't believe it. It's really inexpensive, and the last time I looked, Fred Meyer still carried it.

EasternWAalumni · 03-09-2006, 08:30 AM

How much does grandma charge? Is it by the stain or by the shirt? Is she willing to travel or do we need to take them to her?

flyfish101 · 03-09-2006, 02:43 PM

Maahhtha Steewut suggests:
Use ice to freeze, or place item in freezer; scrape or crakd off as much as you can, then use an oil solvent or mineral spirits to remove residue.
I've found Oil Eater to work well
Good Luck!!

FisherJack · 03-09-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

I'd just forget about it and get some new gum.. It's probably lost most of it's flavor by now anyway.

WyldHen · 03-09-2006, 11:28 PM

The problem here is it's gone through the WASHER & the DRYER.

Ice and a butter knife will not help.
I have no idea.
Try freezing it and picking anything off you can, but it sounds like it's pretty well imbeded in the fibers of the fabric. :tongue:
After icing it, use the oxyclean or similar stain remover to get the color out.

GOOD LUCK! Your gonna need it buddy!

Sweet Melissa · 03-10-2006, 05:53 AM

If you are set on saving the shirt, seriously give the Fels-Naptha a try. The gum stain on my jacket had been washed, and dried a few times. It's just a big ol' yellow bar of soap, but it worked great. You have to rub the soap into the stain with a bit of water. Can't guarantee anything, but it just might work.

jvp · 03-10-2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

If you are set on saving the shirt, seriously give the Fels-Naptha a try. The gum stain on my jacket had been washed, and dried a few times. It's just a big ol' yellow bar of soap, but it worked great. You have to rub the soap into the stain with a bit of water. Can't guarantee anything, but it just might work.

Freeze it first and get the bigger pieces.
probably still chewable.

chummer · 03-10-2006, 08:34 AM

Seems to me an old remedy was to rub peanut butter into the gum. The peanut oil would break down the gum and cause it to release.

Sweet Melissa · 03-10-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Seems to me an old remedy was to rub peanut butter into the gum. The peanut oil would break down the gum and cause it to release.

Peanut butter works great if you get gum stuck in your hair, too. It's all a matter of chemistry- what type of chemical bond the substance has determines what you use as its solvent.

Got One! · 03-13-2006, 05:16 PM

warm/hot vinegar will work also (freezing will too as mentioned)

If you have canned air turn it upside down and spray that on it :-D

jocose · 03-13-2006, 07:06 PM

i would cut it out with scissors, than start a new post thread asking how to mend a hole in your shirt.... joco :grin:

Mr. Fisherman · 03-14-2006, 02:25 AM

No no no no no... none of these will work Jack...

Here's what you do....
Book a trip with Tracker and wear the shirt....
Make sure to bleed every Tuna that comes into the boat.
Take the beating heart from the first 6 or 7 fish and pack them into the pocket that has the gum stain.
When you finish the trip let the shirt dry in the sun.
Scrape out the remaining dried up fish hearts and shake out what you can.
Next, get enough kerosene to saturate the shirt. Place some nice size river rocks in a circle in a safe area. Place the shirt in the middle of the rock circle. Make sure there are no overhead trees. Light a match and light the shirt. Walla, you no longer have gum in your shirt. not only that but you have a great story to tell, Tuna to eat and we all get to see the whole thing on a Tracker studio video.
Only 109 days to go buddy!