Help! Chewing gum on school trousers.

[funambulist]

I've just had a closer look at the white splash on my son's grey school trousers and realised that it is chewing gum. I'm wary of just putting them in the washing machine. Might that make it worse? Does anyone have any tips as to how to remove it? (My son doesn't eat chewing gum so I guess that he must have brushed against some that was deposited by another child. Yuk!)

I think you're supposed to freeze it and then you should be able to scrape it off.

Thanks so much prettybird, I'll give that a go.

Freezer and it breaks off.

Or place brown paper on the trousers and iron .. I comes straight off

Another vote for freezing it.

Ok, trousers now in the freezer. Will report back later. (How exciting is my life?)

I currently have a pair of trousers and a top in my freezer for the very same reason. :p

Good luck absentmindeddooooodles.

Ok, update for all those waiting with bated breath. I've taken the trousers out and managed to chip/pull nearly all of the chewing gum off. Then I had a go at the residue with a 1:1 mix of salt and washing up liquid (internet tip) which seemed to get rid off almost all of the rest. I've just put the trousers in the washing machine, but they are looking pretty good already.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I thought that I was going to have to buy a new pair of trousers.