Why gum is so hard to shift
Gum that's been dropped and walked on gets pressed into the surface, then hardens. On paving it fills every small pit and hollow, and on porous slabs some of it soaks in. Scraping takes the top off and leaves the rest. A cold pressure washer often just smears it or barely moves it, and turning the pressure up until it does move can damage the paving around it.
Freezing sprays and scrapers can deal with a handful of spots outside a front door, but they're slow over a whole forecourt and often leave the stain behind. Solvents and harsh products can mark stone and tiles.
The answer is heat. Hot water and steam soften the gum so it can be lifted from the surface without blasting the paving. It's a slower, more careful job than a quick spray, but it's the one that works without leaving the ground scarred.
How we remove chewing gum
- Look at the surface first. Granite, concrete flags, block paving, tarmac and tiled entrances all behave differently.
- Soften the gum with hot water and steam, spot by spot on light patches and in bands across busy areas.
- Lift it off without hammering the surface underneath.
- Wash and rinse the area so you're not left with clean dots on a grubby footpath.
That last step matters more than people expect. On paving that hasn't been washed in a while, lifting the gum alone can leave a polka-dot effect of clean spots. The best-looking result usually comes from washing the whole area at the same visit.
The video below shows our hot-water washing on a patio. On gum, it's the heat that does most of the work.
What to expect from old gum
Fresh gum lifts well. Gum that's been there for months or years is a different story. Over time it collects dirt, gets baked by the sun and soaks into porous paving, and even when the gum itself has gone it can leave a dark or pale mark where it was.
How visible those marks are depends on:
- the surface: dense granite and sealed tiles come up best, while porous concrete and sandstone hold more staining
- how long it's been there
- how much foot traffic has ground it in
We'll tell you from your photos what's realistic before you book. On tarmac, the heat that softens gum also softens the bitumen, so we take extra care there. See tarmac cleaning for why.
Where we remove gum
| Location | What usually matters |
|---|---|
| Shopfronts and the footpath outside | Working before opening or after closing, and a frontage that looks even |
| Petrol station and retail forecourts | Gum plus oil and tyre marks, often over a large area |
| School entrances and yards | Booking around the school day and holidays; Saturdays work well |
| Office and apartment entrances | Granite or tiled entrances that need to look right for visitors and residents |
| Shopping centre entrances and car parks | High footfall, so the work is planned in sections |
Granite entrances and steps respond well to hot water. For more on how we treat stone, brick and concrete, see stone, brick and concrete cleaning.
Working around your business
Gum removal happens where people walk, so timing matters. Our hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, which means we can often start before you open or work on after you close. If you need us outside those hours, out-of-hours work can be arranged: just ask when you get in touch.
We agree in advance which sections get done and when, and we keep the area we're working on clear for passers-by and your customers. For schools, Saturdays and the holidays are the obvious times. For offices, early starts before staff arrive work well.
The footpath outside your door is usually public, and street cleaning there is the local authority's job. If the stretch outside your premises matters to your business, we can quote for it along with any private forecourt or entrance. If you're not sure which areas are yours to clean, check with the council first.
Want a price for gum removal? Send a wide photo of the area and a close-up of the gum on WhatsApp, with your area and the times that suit you. We'll reply with a fixed price, usually the same day.
Before we arrive
A little preparation means we can get straight on with it:
- tell us the times that suit you, and any days to avoid
- move A-boards, planters, bins and outdoor seating if you can
- let us know where the van can park, and whether there's an outside tap we can use
- point out cellar hatches, drains or anything at ground level that needs care
Keeping it clean
Gum comes back wherever people stop and wait: doorways, benches, bins and smoking areas. A bin close to the door helps. If it's a constant problem, ask about repeat visits, because a regular clean keeps on top of it before the build-up gets heavy.
How gum removal is priced
We price on the size of the area, how dense the gum is, the surface, timing (including any out-of-hours work), and whether you want just the gum removed or the whole area washed. A wide photo and a few close-ups are usually enough, and we confirm a fixed price before booking. Very large sites may need a call or a visit first. Our power washing cost guide explains more.
If your shutters or walls have been tagged too, see graffiti removal, and for wider commercial washing in the city, see power washing in Dublin. For homes rather than businesses, we also offer driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, roof cleaning and gutter cleaning. Everything is on our power washing page.
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