It can be a tricky process to remove gum from clothing, and there are many tips to do so. A lot depends upon the nature of the clothing. A knife shouldn't be taken to a delicate silk blouse, but it might work to remove gum from jeans.

There are currently some products on the market that can quickly remove gum from clothing. Some of these products contain chemicals, while others use more natural sources from citrus. Any of these products may not only remove gum but also color from clothing. Before applying them to clothes, test the product on an unseen bit of the clothing to verify it won’t damage the fabric.

One of the traditional tips is to apply ice to the gum until it is frozen, about 10 to 15 minutes. Once frozen, remove gum with a knife. It is preferable to use a dull knife like a butter knife so the garment isn't accidentally cut.

Some recommend that people remove gum by freezing the whole garment for about an hour. This will accomplish the same effect as applying ice to the gum. However, it is a bit more time consuming. Again, once the garment has been frozen, remove gum with a dull knife, or pick the gum off manually.

Some people recommend placing peanut butter on the garment prior to freezing it, because it does tend to adhere to the gum and make it easier to remove gum. The problem with this method may be that the garment ends up significantly stained. If the garment requires delicate handling, it may be stained beyond all hope of recovery due to the oils in peanut butter.

An alternative plan to remove gum is to take the garment to a reputable cleaner. They usually can apply solvents which will not damage the clothing, and will remove gum. This is an especially good idea with items requiring dry-cleaning, as they also require special care.

Since gum is frequently encountered in unwanted places like clothing, hair, or seats on buses and movie theaters, some gum producers are working to develop gum that doesn’t stick. These products are still in development but may ultimately make it quite easy to remove gum from clothes.