Stepping in gum and getting it stuck to your shoe is a major inconvenience that has the ability to ruin your mood.
Luckily, there are 6 different methods that you can use to easily and effectively remove the gum from the bottom of your shoe.
Below you will find ways on:
- How to remove chewing gum from shoes
- How to get gum off rubber sole shoes
- How to get gum off sneakers
- How to get gum off shoes quickly
- How to get gum off your shoe at school
I found the best way to get gum off shoes is using the freezer method.
These methods may sound quirky, but they are easy to do, and they work!
The first two methods you may use involve freezing the gum so that it becomes easier to peel off.
Another way to remove the gum is by using every Dad’s favorite household lubricant, WD-40.
You may also use basic cooking ingredients such as olive oil or peanut butter to help remove that stubborn piece of gum from your shoe.
Finally, if nothing else works, try using a blow dryer to heat up the gum so that it becomes more malleable so that you’re able to remove it with a toothpick or brush.
Continue reading to see the step-by-step instructions to learn how to remove gum from shoes.
Table of Contents

How To Get Gum Off Shoe
Total Time: 2 hr 15 min
Cost: $0
There is nothing worse than getting gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe. It makes your shoe bottom feel sticky, creates a big mess, and can be difficult to remove.
Below, we give you 6 different methods that you can use to get gum off shoe.
Removing gum from the bottom of your shoe is much easier if the gum is hardened. The easiest way to harden gum is to freeze the shoe in the freezer.
1. Put shoe in plastic bag
Place the shoe in a large plastic bag.

2. Push on gum wad
Make sure the plastic bag is stuck to the gum.

3. Put in freezer
Place the entire shoe in the freezer.

4. Leave for 2 hours
Let the shoe sit in the freezer for 2 hours.

5. Take shoe out of bag
Remove the shoe from the freezer and take it out of the plastic bag. The gum should come off the bottom of the shoe as you peel the bag away.

Using Ice Cubes
Total Time: 15 min
Cost: $0
Another way to freeze and harden the gum on the bottom of your shoe is by using an ice cube. This freezing method will only take 10 to 15 minutes to work, as opposed to the 2 hours needed to freeze in the freezer.
1. Get ice cubes
Grab a couple large ice cubes.

2. Put ice in plastic bag
You can place the ice cubes into a plastic bag if you do not want to get the shoe wet.

3. Put ice on gum
Apply the ice cubes to the gum on the bottom of the shoe. Do this for 10-15 minutes.

4. Pick gum off shoe
Once the gum is frozen, use a toothpick or another small tool, to chip away and remove the frozen gum from the shoe.

Using WD-40
Total Time: 10 min
Cost: $0
WD-40 is a common household product that can be used for almost anything. WD-40 is a lubricant with a range of uses, and one of these uses happens to be gum removal.
1. Spray the WD-40
Spray the gum and the area around the gum with WD-40.

2. Wait 1-2 minutes
Give the spray 1 to 2 minutes to settle in and work its magic.

3. Pick - pull - wipe gum
Pull the gum off, pick it with a toothpick, or wipe it with a coarse paper towel.

4. Repeat until clean
Repeat this process until the gum is completely removed from the bottom of your shoe.

Using Peanut Butter
Total Time: 25 min
Cost: $0
Using peanut butter may sound like a strange solution for removing gum from a shoe, but it works! If you find the gum on the bottom of your shoe to be especially stubborn, try using this hack!
1. Put peanut butter on gum
Take a scoop of peanut butter (smooth peanut butter is best) and completely cover the gum. Use as many scoops as necessary to cover the entire piece of gum.

2. Let sit for 20 minutes
Let the peanut butter sit on the gum for 20 minutes.

3. Scrape gum off
Use a spoon or wire brush to scrape the peanut butter and gum off of the outsole of the shoe.

Using Olive Oil
Total Time: 10 min
Cost: $0
Olive oil is a common cooking ingredient that most households have in stock. Olive oil is a great solution to use when trying to get gum off shoes.
1. Pour olive oil into a bowl
Pour some olive oil in a bowl and dab a kitchen cloth in it.

2. Apply oil to the gum
Apply the oil to the gum and let it soak in for 1-2 minutes.

3. Remove the gum
Use a toothpick or brush to remove the gum from the shoe.

Using Blow Dryer
Total Time: 20 min
Cost: $0
If the gum on the bottom of your shoe is too hard to remove, you can soften it up using a blow dryer. Blow dryers are another common household item that is great for helping to remove gum from shoes.
1. Turn on blow dryer
Turn the blow dryer on to the highest heat and wind settings.

2. Put heat on the gum
Aim the blow dryer directly at the gum.

3. Pick at the heated gum
Use a toothpick or a knife to try to peel off the gum as you heat it up.

4. Repeat until gone
Heat the gum until it peels off easily.

Check out our other articles on making sure you have clean kicks day-after-day.
Don’t forget about your laces!
FAQ
Rubbing alcohol will break gum down so that it is able to be removed from the bottom off a shoe. Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a kitchen towel or directly onto the gum. Allow the liquid to soak into the gum for 30 seconds to 1 minute, and then remove using a towel, toothpick, or wire brush.
Vinegar, lemon juice, and any other liquid with a high level of acidity will help to dissolve chewing gum. Rubbing alcohol and WD-40 are also good tools to use when trying to disolve chewing gum.
Depending on what type of surface the gum is stuck to, you may try to use olive oil, WD-40, the freezer, an ice cube, rubbing alcohol, a blow dryer, peanut butter, vinegar, or lemon juice, to help remove sticky gum.
WD-40 is effective at removing gum from shoes. Spray WD-40 directly onto the gum, as well as the areas around it. Let the WD-40 soak into the gum for 1 to 2 minutes, and then use a toothpick or wire brush to help remove the gum from the outsole.