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Gorilla glue is one of the most difficult glues to remove, as it cures quickly and strongly. Exfoliation and oil are the key to removing it once it dries, but it may not be 100% successful. Stronger gorilla glue products or glue that has had time to fully cure may need to be left to slough off on its own, but this should not cause harm as a one-time occurrence.
Steps
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Exfoliate. Use a knife-sharpening stone, pumice stone, or other gritty or rough material to scrub your skin. Use a strong but slow motion to avoid tearing your skin, and alternate by rubbing with your fingers to prevent friction burns. Attempt this for several minutes, then move on if the glue shows no sign of balling up or peeling off. [1] X Research source
- If nothing else is available, use a scrap of wood or a thick index card.
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Apply oil. Rub one of the following oil-based materials onto your hands for several minutes:
- Hand lotion, olive oil, sunflower oil, or baby oil are all gentle on skin. Increase the effectiveness by heating it for about 10 seconds in the microwave, and/or by mixing in a pinch of salt to add friction.
- Lip gloss, lip balm, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), nonstick cooking spray, or oil-based makeup removers are additional options. Also Argan oil with raw Shea oil is a very good solvent.
- Polyglycol body lotion may be extra effective. [2] X Research source
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Scrape with a blunt edge. Use a blunt butter knife or your fingernails to scrape away at the edge of the glue, while it is still oily. Avoid sharp blades, which may "succeed" by cutting off your protective outer layer of skin.
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Rub with citrus. Some people report success when rubbing slices of lemon or lime on the glue, or rubbing with a citrus oil or skin-safe citrus-based cleaner. [3] X Research source
- This method may sting if the gorilla glue or exfoliation has caused dry, cracked, or torn skin.
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Scrub with a homemade mixture. Wipe off your hand of the previous ointment, then track down the ingredients for a potentially more effective mixture. Industrial users of MDI, the bonding ingredient in Gorilla Glue, use the following mixture to clean up spills:
- Washing soda / soda ash (5 to 10%)
- Liquid detergent (0.2 to 2%)
- Water (add to reach 100%)
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Wait for a few days. The glue will wear off along with your regular skin replacement, with the stain fading completely in about four or five days. Waiting is recommended over using harsh chemicals, which are often ineffective and may damage skin.
- Keep your hands moisturized with lotion during this wait, as gorilla glue can cause dry or cracked skin.
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Wipe off tacky glue with a dry cloth. Wipe with a dry cloth or paper towel as soon as the glue spill occurs. If you catch it within a couple minutes, you may be able to remove all the glue.
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Wash with soap. Gorilla glue hardens when in contact with water, so this won't be 100% successful unless you catch the glue immediately. Wash with soap and plenty of water. [4] X Research source
- Bar soap will provide additional friction, but liquid soap may be more powerful. If using liquid soap, consider dish-washing soap instead of hand soap, unless you have sensitive skin.
- Try cleaning the area with hydrogen peroxide to break down the glue.
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Tips
- To remove the glue from skin, wet a dryer sheet and massage into skin. It will be gone in about 30 minutes.Thanks
- Store a box of disposable gloves next to your gorilla glue to jog your memory during the next craft project.Thanks
- It is a good idea to put a protective cover under where you are using the glue - this protects the surface!Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I used the scubby part of a sponge on wet hands before the glue dried. This worked well but left some that dried. I then used baking soda on wet hands and just scraped with my nails and the dried glue came right off!
- Keep a bottle of mineral oil next to the sink. Rub onto the glued areas, then wash well with soap and water.
- Finger nail polish works great for removing Gorilla glue from hands and fingers.
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Warnings
- Alcohol, acetone, or other solvents are not recommended. These can remove your natural skin oils, which can increase the strength of the glue bond. Although soaking your hands in these solvents can be effective, repeated contact can cause skin or organ damage.Thanks
- Repeated gluing can wear through your hard outer layer of skin. This can result in increased sensitivity and pain from temperature and touch.Thanks
- Using baking soda and vinegar is not recommended, as it can finish the curing process and make the glue bond stronger. [5] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Soap or detergent
- Baby oil or other skin-safe oil (polyglycol is best)
- Half of a lemon or lime
- Blunt butter knife
- Soda ash (washing soda)
References
- ↑ https://www.reference.com/home-garden/can-remove-dried-gorilla-glue-15dbb83aa26c4d16
- ↑ http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_0342/0901b803803426eb.pdf?filepath=polyurethane/pdfs/noreg/109-01224.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc
- ↑ https://zukzik.com/how-to-get-gorilla-glue-off-skin/
- ↑ https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-super-glue/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggekRdoQJNE
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To get dried Gorilla Glue off your hands, first try using a pumice stone or a knife-sharpening stone to scrub off the glue. If that doesn’t work, rub hand lotion, olive oil, or petroleum jelly onto your hands for several minutes. Then, use a butter knife or your fingernails to scrape off the glue. Alternatively, run slices of lemon or lime on the glue to see if that takes it off. For really stubborn glue, mix a solution that’s about 10% washing soda, 2% liquid detergent, and 88% water, and scrub your hands with it to remove the glue. For information on how to remove Gorilla Glue that’s still tacky, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I was able to remove Gorilla Glue off with castor oil and tea tree oil. I applied with a small green dish scrubber and gently rubbed it all over and continued scrubbing lightly until the majority of it was gone. Not sure if these items are harmful to the skin, but it was an experiment that seemed to work. " ..." more
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"I was able to remove Gorilla Glue off with castor oil and tea tree oil. I applied with a small green dish scrubber and gently rubbed it all over and continued scrubbing lightly until the majority of it was gone. Not sure if these items are harmful to the skin, but it was an experiment that seemed to work. "
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"This is how my story started. I was trying to fix something and I got the Gorilla Glue on my thumb and pointer finger. I was trying to find something to clean it and figured it wouldn't help, so I searched how to get the glue off. This article helped me get it off. Thank you so much!"
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"I had gorilla super glue (gel) on the pads of my fingers. I combined your method (1) with (2), using a pumice stone on castor oil and got excellent results. My fingers are nicer than they were before I glued them. I shall continue the procedure without the glue the next time!"
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"I had Gorilla Glue on two fingers and couldn't get it off. After I read this article, I used an emery board to file off what little I could. Then I rubbed olive oil into those spots and used an emery board with the oil. This removed all of the glue!"
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"WD40. Yep, good old WD40. Spray generously directly on hands, rub briskly for a few minutes until it feels as though glue is removed, wash off using a good soap, dish washing liquid, and warm water. Gone. "
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