The easiest way to get gum off a shoe is to freeze it. Hold a bag of ice against the gum for 10 to 15 minutes, or put the shoe in the freezer for an hour, until the gum goes hard and brittle. Then chip it off with a blunt edge. For what is left, a little cooking oil or WD-40 breaks down the stickiness.
In this guide
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Avoid on |
|---|---|---|
| Ice or freezer | All shoes; always try first | Nothing |
| Cooking oil or peanut butter | Rubber soles, smooth leather | Suede, nubuck, light fabric |
| WD-40 | Rubber soles with deep tread | Suede, fabric uppers |
| Rubbing alcohol | Residue on soles and canvas | Finished leather, unless tested first |
| Hairdryer and cloth | Small smears on rubber | Suede, synthetics, glued areas |
Method 1: Freeze it
- Put ice cubes in a sealed plastic bag and press it on the gum for 10 to 15 minutes. Or place the shoe in a plastic bag, gum side up, with the bag pressed onto the gum, and leave it in the freezer for one to two hours.
- When the gum is hard, peel away the bag. Much of the gum often comes off with it.
- Chip off the rest with a plastic scraper, old bank card or blunt knife.
- Pick fragments out of the tread with a toothpick or old toothbrush.
Method 2: Oil or peanut butter
Oils break down the gum’s sticky base.
- Rub a small amount of cooking oil, olive oil or peanut butter into the gum.
- Leave it for 10 minutes.
- Scrub with an old toothbrush and wipe away the gum.
- Wash the area with dish soap and warm water. This matters on soles, because oil left on the tread is slippery.
Method 3: WD-40
- Spray a little onto the gum on the sole and wait a minute or two.
- Wipe and scrape the gum away.
- Wash thoroughly with dish soap to remove the residue.
Related: How to Walk in Heels: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide
Method 4: Rubbing alcohol
Dampen a cloth or cotton pad with rubbing alcohol and work at the sticky film left after scraping. It evaporates quickly and leaves no oily residue, which makes it a good choice for canvas. Test coloured fabric on a hidden spot first.
Method 5: Gentle heat
Warm a small smear with a hairdryer for 20 to 30 seconds and wipe it off with an old cloth. Only do this on rubber soles, and only for thin residue; heating a large lump spreads it deeper into the tread.
Gum on the upper: what to do by material
- Smooth leather: freeze and lift, then wipe residue with a tiny amount of oil on a cloth, clean with a damp soapy cloth and condition. See how to clean white leather shoes.
- Suede and nubuck: freeze and pick off only. Then use a suede eraser and brush. No oil, no liquids. See how to clean suede shoes.
- Canvas and mesh: freeze and peel, dab residue with rubbing alcohol, then wash. See how to clean canvas shoes.
What not to do
- Do not pull at soft, warm gum. It stretches and smears into the tread.
- Do not use a sharp knife that can cut the sole or your hand.
- Do not use petrol, paint thinner or acetone. They can dissolve glue and damage rubber and finishes.
- Do not walk indoors before the gum is off; it transfers to carpet easily.
The same freeze-then-dissolve approach works for sticky tar; see how to get tar off shoes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get gum off a shoe?
Hold ice against it until it hardens, then chip it off. It takes about 15 minutes and works on every material.
Does peanut butter really remove gum?
Yes. The oil in it breaks down the gum. Any cooking oil does the same job with less mess.
How do I get gum out of deep tread?
Freeze the shoe, flex the sole to crack the gum, and pick it out with a toothpick. Finish with oil or WD-40 and a toothbrush.
Will gum come off on its own?
It hardens and collects dirt but rarely comes off completely, and it can keep sticking to floors, so it is worth removing.
