4 Tips and Tricks for Getting Gum Out of Your Dryer
Don’t be clothes-minded when it comes to ways to remove gum from your dryer
We’re guessing that you wouldn’t read about how to get gum out of your dryer unless you are unfortunately dealing with this problem. Gum in a dryer is usually worse than gum in a washing machine, as the dryer’s high temperatures make the gum more pliable—meaning it stretches, spreads and sticks to your laundry and the dryer’s drum surface.
Why Do I Have Gum in My Dryer?
You probably ended up with gum in your dryer because someone accidentally left it in a pocket and it got washed. It’s best if you can catch the gum before it makes its way into the dryer, as the dryer heat will worsen the situation, but again, we know that isn’t the case here.
Signs of Gum in the Dryer
Your laundry needs to move freely in your dryer. If there is gum stuck on the side of the dryer drum, it can grab and stick to your laundry. This can cause more delicate items to rip as they are pulled around the dryer by the items that aren’t stuck. Over the course of the cycle, this can severely damage your items.
Another sign is if your dryer is emitting a weird odor. You know how your drying cycle typically smells, so if you smell a new smell—especially a burning smell—check your dryer drum and lint trap before adding any laundry to your dryer or running any more cycles.
How to Remove Gum From the Dryer
Gum stuck in your dryer can be super annoying. The bad news is that you’ll need to get your hands dirty to get it out. The good news is that only in rare cases is it necessary to disassemble your dryer. You can try any or all of the tips below before escalating the issue and calling in a local dryer repair professional.
Freeze the Gum
Just like us, gum likes comfortable temperatures. If you can see the gum in your dryer, run an ice cube over it for 5 to 10 minutes. This will harden the gum and make it easier for you to scrape it off. This works well if you use a plastic scraper that has some give but isn’t too flimsy. A thick credit card or plastic ruler will work also. We recommend trying this method first, as it will keep the gum in one solid piece.
Heat It Up
You can use a hair dryer to heat the gum, and then usually a slightly softer plastic scraper—like a thin card—and peel it off. Make sure your dryer is completely dry before using a hair dryer inside of it.
Add Oil
Any type of cooking oil will work to soften the gum. As the gum absorbs the oil, it will become easier to remove. To do this, rub a cooking oil of your choice (canola, olive, etc.) on the gum. Make sure you use enough oil so the gum will absorb it. After about 15 minutes, the gum should be soft and easy to peel off the dryer drum. This method also works well with WD-40.
Note: Do not use WD-40 or any other oil in a gas dryer—only use oil in an electric dryer.
Goo Gone
Goo Gone is an adhesive remover that works decent on gum. Before using this product, test it on a small piece of a garment that can’t be seen to make sure it won’t react with the fabric. If there’s no indication that it will damage the fabric, add the Goo Gone and scrub the gum with either a soft cloth or, if the garment can handle it, a toothbrush. Rinse the area of the dryer where you used Goo Gone completely and, if the gum is gone, wash the area thoroughly.
Professional or Industrial Dryers
All of the above methods will work, but you should only try them on a residential appliance. Industrial dryers are more expensive, more complicated, and require professional assistance. If you work in a laundromat, hotel or other business with an industrial dryer, now isn’t the time to learn how to clean a dryer.
Tips to Remove Gum From Inside Dryer
If you find gum inside your dryer, here are a few tips to help you remove it:
Make sure everything is dry before trying to remove gum.
Don’t use anything breakable (i.e., wooden toothpick) to remove gum from holes.
Remove gum before running your dryer.
To remove gum residue, use warm water and soap or white distilled vinegar.
Goo Gone can work, but only for stout fabrics.
If your dryer shows signs of damage, call a professional.
You can tackle most gum-related issues yourself. However if your dryer vent—or any other machinery—becomes damaged, you really should call a professional.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
TTo require the help of a professional, the problem would have to be extreme. For example, gum is covering the entire drum; it’s stuck in areas you can’t reach; it’s burnt on the dryer drum; or it caused other damage to your dryer. DIYing the removal of gum in your dryer can be cheap with the only cost being an ice cube, a hair dryer, some oil or a can of WD-40.
Professional dryer technicians charge anywhere from $107 to $247, with an average cost of $176. If you don’t have the time to clean it, call a professional dryer cleaner. If it is only gum stuck on the dryer drum, the repair shouldn’t take too long, but if the problem is more complicated, you can expect the price to rise accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
If there is only a small amount of gum, it’s entirely possible to remove it on your own. What you’re unable to pick or scrape off, try to scrub out with warm soapy water. You can try freezing the garment and removing the hardened gum. Some swear by rubbing peanut butter on the gum before washing. No matter which method you choose, do not put your clothing in the dryer until the gum is 100 percent removed.
Most washing machines will not remove gum. In fact, running an item with gum on it through a washing machine will make the matter worse. The combination of water, movement, and detergent can cause the gum to break down. Instead of it remaining in one piece, the gum can spread and stick to other items during the wash cycle. If you’re lucky, the gum will stay in the pocket it was left in, so you only have one item to fix.
There are a few different ways your clothes can get stuck in the dryer. If any of the seals are broken the clothes can get stuck between the drum and the machinery of the dryer. This almost always rips the clothes. If your clothes get stuck on the drum itself and it isn’t because of an adhesive like gum, try spraying anti-static inside the dryer before loads. If clothes seem truly stuck, you should remove the drum and take out the clothes. Placing stress on the drum while inside the dryer can damage the dryer. Learning how to clean your dryer will pay off here.
You should avoid putting anything in the dryer that could be damaged from the heat or tumbling motion, or caught in any parts of the dryer. While there are some items that should never be dried (such as spandex, silk, leather, wool, etc.), there are some items you can dry, but only if you put them in a mesh bag first. These are usually delicate items or any items with strings or pieces attached that could be ripped off in a drying cycle.
Home dryers vary in size. They aren’t like dishwashers, which need to be a uniform size to fit kitchen spaces. Most home dryers are about 27 inches wide and 35 to 60 inches tall. The size of your dryer will depend on the amount of clothes you are washing, which is usually determined by the number of people living in your home.