How to Remove Gum from Shoes
Freeze the gum solid with ice, then chip it off the outsole with a blunt blade without scuffing the rubber.
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Required Supplies
- Ice Pack or Ice Cubes
- Plastic Bag
- Towel
- Plastic or Dull Knife
- Mild Cleaner
The Logic Verdict
My Take: The New Life Sneakers host stepped in gum, felt every annoying stick with each stride, and solved it by massaging an ice cube across the wad until the rubber froze. Once the gum stiffened, it shaved off in big chips with a dull knife—no solvents, no smell, no damage to the tread.
The Science
Gum is pliable above its glass-transition temperature. Chilling it with direct ice takes the elastomer below that point, making it brittle so it fractures instead of stretching. Because sneaker outsoles are designed to stay flexible at these temps, you can chip the gum off without gouging the shoe. A quick wipe with mild cleaner removes any frost or dirt afterward.
Step-by-Step Removal
- Set up your workspace. Cover a table with a towel so melted ice and gum bits don’t smear everywhere, then place the shoe upside down.
- Prep the ice bag. Toss ice cubes or an ice pack into a zipper bag. Squeeze out air so the ice makes flat contact with the gum.
- Freeze the gum. Rub the ice bag directly on the wad for several minutes. Keep moving in circles so every edge stiffens; add fresh ice if it starts to melt.
- Test with a scraper. As soon as the gum feels rock hard, use the blunt back of a knife or plastic scraper to gently pry at one corner.
- Chip it off in layers. Work slowly, flicking frozen shards away. If the gum starts to bend, pause and chill it again before continuing.
- Detail the outsole. Wipe the area with a mild sneaker cleaner or dish-soap solution to clear any residue, then dry with a clean towel.
Parts & Tools
- FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack (Amazon) – Stays flexible so it hugs the outsole and freezes the gum fast.
- Nylon Scraper Set (Amazon) – Non-marring edges to chip frozen gum without slicing rubber.
- Jason Markk Essential Kit (Amazon) – Gentle cleaner + brush to finish the outsole once the gum is gone.
What NOT To Do
- Don’t reach for harsh chemicals like acetone—they can cloud or dry out rubber.
- Don’t hack at warm gum with a knife; you’ll smear it deeper into the tread grooves.
- Don’t skip the towel—gum shavings get messy once they thaw.
Resources
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