HOW TO BEST REMOVE CHEWING GUM FROM THE BOTTOM OFT HE SHOE

Particularly in summer this is a real problem, because the heat makes the chewing gum soft and very sticky.  Due to the body weight and our natural rolling movement when walking, the chewing gum is pressed deeper into the profile of the shoe sole with every step. There are several effective methods for removing chewing gum from the sole of a shoe. Below we have outlined the three simplest techniques.

Practical tip #1: How to remove chewing gum from plain outsoles

In case of a smooth leather sole, it is mostly sufficient to soften the chewing gum with hot water and rub it off with a cloth or scrape it off with a scraper or knife. If this does not work, the following two practical tips will help you.

Practical tip #2: How to remove chewing gum from soles with a profile

A chewing gum can be easily peeled off when it is frozen. Put your shoe in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours. The cold will freeze the chewing gum, making it hard and brittle. When frozen, the chewing gum can simply be scraped off and removed from the profile. This technique not only works excellently for shoes, but can also help you to remove chewing gum from a textile fabric, e.g. from trousers.

Practical tip #3: How to remove stubborn chewing gum from the shoe sole

For stubborn chewing gums, use one of the following products, which should be available in every household: Either olive oil or the all-purpose penetrating oil (e.g. WD-40) – one of the two household remedies can be found in every household (or in the well-assorted hobby garage).

Spray the chewing gum and the sole of your shoes with the oil respectively moisten both with it and let it soak in for a few minutes. The penetrating oil dissolves the sticky connection between chewing gum and shoe sole. Olive oil does the same. After that you should be able to rub the chewing gum easily off the sole with a paper towel or a piece of cloth. If this does not work at first attempt, we recommend warming up the chewing gum with a hair dryer and repeat the process. The heat makes the chewing gum stickier, but also loosens its connection with the sole.

As an alternative to penetrating or olive oil, you can also use lighter fuel, vinegar, spirit, acetone-based nail polish remover or high-proof alcohol (which confirms what we have always known: a grappa or a vodka is really a helper in times of need). Be sure, however, that the liquid used does not wet the upper material of the shoe. This could cause fading or ugly stains on the leather or textile fabrics. In any case, it is advisable to try out the solvent used on a small, invisible area before use.

We wish you a carefree and “ non-sticky “ stride at all times.

Have you got another method you swear by? E-mail us at Marketing@Sioux.de Thank you very much!