Wax and chewing gum in a rug - how to remove them

How to remove chewing gum from a rug

1. Harden it Put ice cubes in a plastic bag and place it on the chewing gum. The bag keeps the ice from wetting the rug.
2. Break it off When the chewing gum has become hard and brittle, carefully break off most of it with your fingers or a blunt knife.
3. Scrape off the remains Scrape off the remains with a blunt knife or a spoon, working from the edge to the middle. If needed, harden it again.
4. Check the spot If a sticky spot or colour remains, do not apply solvents. Photograph the spot.

The University of Georgia gives exactly these steps for chewing gum: harden with ice in a plastic bag and scrape off. In long pile, work more slowly and do not pull the fibres out together with the chewing gum.

How to remove wax from a rug

1. Let it harden Do not touch candle wax while it is liquid, because it spreads. Let it harden, or speed that up with ice in a bag.
2. Scrape it off Scrape off the excess with a blunt knife as much as you can. Work from the edge to the middle.
3. Assess what is left If a thin layer of wax is left in the fibres, you have a choice: leave it or use the heat method. Its risks are described below.

Iron and paper: when it is a risk

The University of Georgia’s material describes a method where paper is put on the wax and heated with a warm iron so that the paper soaks up the melted wax. Utah State University warns that heat can push wax even deeper into the fibres. So the method exists, but it is not safe for every rug.

• Wool: Canadian conservators write that heat strips wool of its natural oils and weakens the threads.
• Synthetics: some synthetic fibres can melt from heat.
• Viscose: the pressure of an iron can flatten the pile for good.
• Tufted rugs: heat can weaken the latex glue in the backing.

If you do not know the fibre or the rug is valuable, stop after scraping and send photos of the top side and the underside.

What not to do with wax and chewing gum

• Do not rub: rubbing works wax and chewing gum deeper into the fibre.
• Do not pour solvents or oil on it: solvents can damage the backing and make the dye bleed.
• Do not use a hair dryer to soften wax on wool and synthetics.
• Do not put ice directly on the rug without a bag: melting ice wets the fibre.
• Do not cut the pile with scissors if you do not know how the rug is made.

The last point matters for hand-made and tufted rugs: a hand-made rug has no layer of glue, and its threads are knotted into the backing, while in a tufted rug the threads are held by latex glue. A cut-out spot can stay visible in both, and we do not do repairs or fringe restoration.

By the rug’s fibre

Jute and sisal can turn brown from water, so for them the ice bag must be tied tightly shut. In long pile, wax and chewing gum can get deeper; more on these rugs: long-pile (shaggy) rug cleaning.

What may stay and when to order cleaning

In the request, write whether it is wax or chewing gum, how long ago it happened and what you have already tried, and attach photos of the top side and the underside: a specialist gives the price. Service: stain removal from a rug.

• Synthetic short-pile rug, cleaning at home: from €6/m².
• Long-pile (shaggy) or thick rug: from €10/m².
• Silk, viscose, hide, hand-made and Persian rugs (with pick-up): from €15/m², the price is given from a photo.

The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside the Riga boundary; further out it is from €10. Pick-up and return in Riga costs €10 (both ways together); in the Riga region up to about 15 km from the Riga boundary it is also €10, and further out another €10 is added. Other stains: how to remove a stain from a rug, all prices: carpet and rug cleaning prices.