Apply oil to hair or ice to fabric to remove gum

For gum in hair, massage peanut butter or cooking oil (olive, vegetable, or coconut) into and around the gum to break down its sticky polymers, then gently comb it out. For gum on fabric, harden it with ice until brittle and scrape it off.

Steps

Hair:

1. Apply a generous amount of peanut butter or oil to the gum and surrounding hair.
2. Massage gently for 2-3 minutes until the gum loosens.
3. Use a fine-tooth comb to carefully slide the gum out.
4. Wash hair with shampoo to remove oily residue.

Fabric:

1. Place ice cubes in a plastic bag and press firmly over the gum for 5-10 minutes until it hardens completely.
2. Use a dull knife, spoon edge, or credit card to scrape off the brittle gum. Lift rather than rub.
3. If residue remains, dab lightly with rubbing alcohol (test on a hidden area first), then launder as usual.

Tips

• Creamy peanut butter works better than chunky because it coats more evenly
• The fats in oil dissolve the gum's hydrophobic polymer base, which is why any cooking oil works
• Freezing makes gum brittle by hardening its polyisobutylene base below its glass transition point