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Super glue is great for sticking things together permanently—but what about when it gets somewhere you don’t want it to be? In this article, we’ll walk you through cleaning super glue off of common surfaces, including skin, fabric, wood, and plastic. Though an accidental super-glue situation might feel stressful in the moment, trust us: with a little guidance, the problem will be solved in no time!
Things You Should Know
- To remove super glue from skin, first wash with soap and water. Try lotion to loosen the glue, and use acetone as a last resort.
- For cloth and fabric, dab the area with acetone, then launder the garment with laundry detergent.
- To remove super glue from wood, dab the area with acetone, then soak it in petroleum jelly overnight.
- For plastic, glass, or metal, try acetone or WD-40 .
Steps
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Wash the area with soap and water. Sometimes, just a bit of soap and water is enough to remove super glue, especially if it hasn’t fully dried. Use hand soap or dish soap and warm water to dissolve the glue and get super glue off your skin . [1] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- If the glue has hardened and doesn’t come off, that’s okay—move onto the next step.
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Rub an oil onto the area to break down the glue. Oily products like hand lotion, mineral oil , petroleum jelly , and vegetable oil can help break down the glue and loosen the bond to your skin. Rub a small amount of an oily product onto your hands or fingers, then gently tug the glue to see if it has loosened. [2] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- If the glue is still stuck, don’t try to force it. Tearing the glue could rip your skin and injure you.
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Dab acetone onto your skin to remove any leftover glue. If the super glue is still on your skin, pour a little bit of nail polish remover with acetone onto a cotton ball, then dab it onto the area. Try to use as little as possible, and rinse the nail polish remover off your skin right away. [3] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Nail polish remover is great for loosening glue, but it’s very drying for your skin. Wash your skin well after using it, and apply some lotion if your skin feels dry.
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Peel the glue off after 1 to 2 days as a last resort. If all else fails, you can always wait for the super glue to peel off on its own. As your skin regenerates, the glue will slowly loosen and fall off. After a couple of days, you can peel the glue off with your fingers or simply wait for it to chip off on its own. [4] X Research source
- Leaving super glue on your skin for a couple of days won’t hurt you, so it’s harmless to leave it be if you need to.
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Seek medical attention if super glue is in your eyes, nose, or mouth. At that point, you need a doctor’s help to assess your situation. If the super glue is on your face or you’ve swallowed it, call your doctor right away. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- If you’ve swallowed super glue, contact poison control in the United States at (800) 222-1222.
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Scrape hardened glue off with a spoon. If the glue is dry, grab a spoon and carefully scrape the fabric to loosen off any hard chunks. Throw any big pieces of glue into the trash. [6] X Research source -
Dab the cloth with acetone. Acetone breaks down super glue and helps dissolve it from surfaces. Dab a cotton swab with nail polish remover that contains acetone, then pat it onto the fabric. [7] X Research source
- Nail polish remover has the potential to discolor and warp certain fabrics. If you’re worried about your garment, test the acetone on a discreet corner of the fabric. If you notice any color changes, don’t use this method. Instead, skip straight to laundry detergent.
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Rub laundry detergent directly onto the glue. Wet the fabric and then dab a small drop of laundry detergent onto the area. Use a clean cloth to scrub the detergent into the fabric, then rinse the area well. [8] X Research source
- If your garment is dry clean only, skip this step, and take it to a dry cleaner’s instead.
- Let your garment air dry instead of drying it in the dryer. If there is any leftover glue, the dryer could set the stain deeper into the fibers of the fabric.
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Dab the glue with acetone. Pour a small amount of nail polish remover with acetone onto a cotton ball, then gently pat the super glue. The acetone will break down the glue, leading to an easier cleaning process. [9] X Research source
- Nail polish remover is harsh and drying, and it has the potential to remove some wood stains. If you’re worried, test the nail polish remover on an inconspicuous area of the wood first.
- If the acetone damages the wood, skip straight to petroleum jelly.
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Soak the area in petroleum jelly overnight. The oily nature of petroleum jelly helps break down and remove super glue. Spread a thick layer of petroleum jelly over the super glue, then leave it to sit for about 8 hours. [10] X Research source
- After 8 hours, use a paper towel to wipe off the petroleum jelly.
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Use a commercial cleaner as a last resort. If nothing else works, try a commercial glue remover, like Goo Gone . Spritz a small amount of the cleaner onto the super glue, wait for about 10 minutes, then wipe it up with a paper towel. [11] X Research source
- Commercial cleaners are usually harsh, and they could damage or discolor wood. Test the cleaner on a hidden area first, and always read the directions on the back of the bottle.
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Soak the area with a damp paper towel for 1 hour. Get a paper towel wet, then add a few drops of dish soap. Place it on the super glue, then let it soak in for about an hour to loosen the glue. [12] X Research source
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Dab vinegar onto the spot. Take the paper towel off the area and check to see how much glue is left. If there’s still a significant amount, grab another paper towel and wet it with vinegar, then scrub the area. [13] X Research source
- Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that isn’t very harsh, so it won’t warp or discolor the plastic.
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Rub the area with a clean, dry cloth. To get off any residual glue, scrub the spot with a dry towel. Use the towel to scrape off any chunks of glue leftover. [14] X Research source
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Blot the area with acetone. Pour some nail polish remover with acetone in it onto a cotton swab, then dab it on the area. Acetone helps loosen super glue and dissolve it for an easier cleanup. [15] X Research source
- Acetone can discolor delicate objects. Test the acetone on an inconspicuous area if you’re worried about discoloration.
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Wipe up the spot with a clean towel. The clean towel will remove any extra super glue leftover, as well as wiping up any cleaning agents left behind. [17] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I remove super glue from dentures?Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.Try and scrape it off or soak the dentures in hot water. You may have to change the water few times.
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QuestionHow do I get super glue off of quartz counter tops?Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.You will need to use a razor blade scraper to scrape the super glue off of the counter.
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QuestionHow do I remove super glue from granite?Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.The glue should be able to be scraped off the granite. Use some acetone to loosen up the glue.
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Tips
- Put some scotch tape on the affected area and let it sit for about ten minutes. Peel off and the glue should come off as well. If not try again.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.
- You can purchase bottles of pure acetone. It's inexpesive and will work much more quickly than the nail polish remover, which only contains a small amount of acetone. Look for it wherever nail care products are sold or at a hardware store with the other solvents. It's a good idea to have some on hand if you work with super glue a lot.
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Warnings
- Acetone or rubbing alcohol can dull colors, lift off decals and print and harm other aspects of many materials. Always use with care and test an inconspicuous spot first.Thanks
- If you got super glue on your skin and you notice any redness, swelling, or pain, make an appointment with your doctor. This could indicate that the skin underneath has torn, which can lead to an infection. [18] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
- ↑ https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condition/accidents-injuries-and-poisonings/safety-in-the-home/super-glue
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/how-to-remove-glue-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/laundry/how-to-remove-super-glue.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/how-to-remove-glue-from-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/laundry/how-to-remove-super-glue.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/laundry/how-to-remove-super-glue.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/laundry/how-to-remove-super-glue.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-glue/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To remove super glue from plastic, try dabbing the glue with rubbing alcohol to soften it before peeling it off with your finger or a knife. For super glue that's stuck on a wooden, metal, or stone surface, rub lemon juice or acetone nail polish remover into it. Then, use a spatula or old toothbrush to remove the glue. If you spilled super glue on fabric, flush the fabric with warm water and then rub acetone into the stain before scraping it off with a knife. To get super glue off your skin, soak the glue in warm, soapy water for 30-60 seconds and then try peeling it off. To learn how to remove super glue from glass, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My thumb and pointer finger were super glued by accident with a bobby pin between them. I could not find any of the three bottles of polish remover we had. I decided to Google what to do. I read the article displayed with y'all about using salt and lemon juice working the quickest. I went to the kitchen and mixed it up. I am happy to say that it worked! Seconds and determination is all it took, and my finger was free. Thank you so very much." ..." more
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"My thumb and pointer finger were super glued by accident with a bobby pin between them. I could not find any of the three bottles of polish remover we had. I decided to Google what to do. I read the article displayed with y'all about using salt and lemon juice working the quickest. I went to the kitchen and mixed it up. I am happy to say that it worked! Seconds and determination is all it took, and my finger was free. Thank you so very much."
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"This article gives a method to remove super glue from fabric. I need to try it. My glue leaked and glued objects to the lining of my handbag. Will keep it for future reference!"
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