How to Remove Gum from a Concrete or Asphalt Driveway

If you live in an urban or suburban area you may find sticky bits of gum accumulating on your concrete or asphalt driveway. Although it is not the most pleasant task in the world, you can remove the gum on these surfaces, restoring the clean appearance of your driveway.

When removing gum, you may have several different spots to target. You may wish to clean several areas at once, allowing you to stagger the wait times and finish this project quickly.

Step 1: Fill a plastic bag full of ice cubes and a small amount of cold water. Close the bag and place it on the gum on the driveway. Wait 15 minutes before proceeding.

TIP: Chilling the gum will aid you in removing it. If possible, choose a cool day to remove the gum from your driveway, or at least an evening where the ice can freeze the gum without melting.

Step 2: Scrap away the chewing gum using a plastic scraper. The ice water should have hardened the gum, making it more brittle and easier to remove without it sticking to your tools. If the gum is still sticky, apply the bag of ice on the gum and wait an additional 15 minutes before trying again.

Step 3: Saturate a rag with denatured alcohol and put it on top of the remnants of the gum. Wait 10 to 15 minutes. Then remove the rag.

Step 4: Use a stiff bristled brush, scrub away the remaining gum residue. If you cannot remove it after several minutes of scrubbing, reapply the rag, soaked with more denatured alcohol and wait a few more minutes.

TIP: As a last resort, you can use a wire brush to remove the gum residue from your asphalt or concrete driveway. Keep in mind, however, that this brush could scratch the driveway, so work carefully.

Step 5: Clean the entire driveway with a mixture of dish soap and warm water to rinse away any of the denatured alcohol still remaining on the asphalt or concrete.