How to Remove Super Glue From Skin & Surfaces

Published August 14, 2020
Tube of super glue

If you've dropped crazy glue where it shouldn't be, you might be wondering how to remove super glue. While nail polish remover is a go-to for many, there are other methods as well that use white vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, baking soda, and even salt.

How To Remove Super Glue

Whether you got a bit overzealous with the crazy glue or had a gorilla glue nightmare, there are a few home remedies you can try to get glue off nearly everything.

  • Dish soap

  • Lemon juice

  • Nail polish remover

  • Olive oil

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • White vinegar

  • Sandpaper

  • Baking soda

  • Cotten balls

  • Cloth

  • Salt

  • Razorblade or plastic scraper

  • Cotton swab

  • Laundry detergent

  • Masking tape

  • Polish

How To Remove Super Glue From Skin

When it comes to removing glue from your skin, there are various methods you can try that have been proven effective time and time again. However, depending on where the glue had landed, you might want to try a few different methods.

finger glued to her face

Remove Crazy Glue From Your Hands

When it comes to removing super glue from your hands, take it in steps. Sometimes, you can just use a mild soap to get it loose but other times, you need something a bit more powerful like alcohol or fingernail polish remover. To remove crazy glue from your hands:

  1. Fill a sink with warm soapy water.

  2. Soak your hands for a minute or two.

  3. Put more soap on your hand and rub them together.

  4. Dunk them back into the warm water to rinse.

  5. Use your nails to pull off the softened glue.

  6. For stubborn glue, put some fingernail polish remover or alcohol on a cotton ball.

  7. Rub it on the glue until it is gone.

How To Remove Super Glue From Skin Without Acetone

If you have sensitive skin or the gorilla glue is not on your hands, then you might want to try an acetone-free method after the soapy water doesn't work.

  1. Mix enough baking soda and olive oil to make a paste.

  2. Cover all the crazy glue with the paste.

  3. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes or so.

  4. Rub the paste around.

  5. Try peeling away the glue.

  6. Add more paste as necessary until the crazy glue is gone.

This method can also work with margarine and coconut oil. You can also use salt for the light abrasiveness if baking soda isn't available.

Removing Super Glue From Eyes

When you get gorilla glue in your eyes, it's always best to call the doctor first. However, there are a few things you can do to try to loosen and remove the glue from your eyelid.

  1. Dip a cloth in warm water and place it over your eye. This will help to soften the glue.

  2. Don't try to remove the glue or force your eye open; just let it soak.

  3. Let your eye open naturally.

What Removes Super Glue From Plastic

While using gorilla glue to glue back your plate, you didn't notice it got on the plastic back of your phone. Rather than panic, give these tricks a try.

  1. Saturate a cloth in warm soapy water.

  2. Allow it to sit on the glue to soften it for several hours.

  3. Peel up the softened glue.

  4. For stubborn glue, soak a cotton ball in alcohol or acetone. (Check a discrete area of the plastic first before using this method to ensure it doesn't damage the plastic.)

  5. Try to blot only the glue with the cotton ball until it is gone.

  6. Wipe off the plastic with a clean cloth.

If the alcohol or acetone is too harsh for the plastic, try to scrape it off gently with a razor blade or plastic scraper.

Man using super glue on plastic

How To Remove Super Glue From Clothes

Since crazy glue likes to go everywhere but where it is supposed to, knowing how to remove it from your laundry can be a good skill, just in case. If you happen to get gorilla glue on your favorite shirt, follow these steps.

  1. Use a plastic scraper to remove as much as you can. The dull end of a butter knife works well too.

  2. Apply the rubbing alcohol to a swab or cotton ball.

  3. Rub it over the super glue stain.

  4. Add straight laundry detergent to the stain and rub it with your finger.

  5. Allow it to sit for 30-60 minutes.

  6. Launder as normal.

Remember to test the garment for colorfastness with the alcohol by trying it in a discrete area. If the color of the garment rubs off on the cotton ball, you do not want to use rubbing alcohol on the fabric. In this case, substitute with vinegar or lemon juice. Additionally, it may take more applications of the white vinegar to get the crazy glue to remove.

Explore How To Remove Super Glue From Glass

Removing super glue from glass is easy as long as you have some nail polish remover available.

  1. Put some fingernail polish remover on a swab or cotton ball.

  2. Wipe at the crazy glue.

  3. Repeat as needed.

Nail polish remover

How To Remove Super Glue From Wood and Metal

Removing gorilla glue from wood and metal can be a tricky job. Why? Because wood and metals might have finishes that are damaged by acetone. Therefore, you might need to get creative.

  1. Test a small discrete area to make sure acetone is safe for the surface. If so, use the steps for the glass above.

  2. If not, put masking tape around the glue.

  3. Use 1,200 grit sandpaper to sand off the glue using circular motions until the glue is gone.

  4. For wood or metal with glossy finishes, use the polish to shine them up.

Easy Super Glue Removal Methods

Super glue is one of those amazing inventions that always seems to get where it is not supposed to. However, now you have the knowledge to remove it from any surface around your home. to solve more sticky problems, learn how to remove tape residue from almost anything.

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How to Remove Super Glue From Skin & Surfaces