Doing DIY projects and home repairs can be challenging but rewarding. However, sometimes, accidents happen, such as spilling super glue on your clothes.
This tough adhesive is tough to remove. If you’re asking yourself, “how to get super glue off clothes?” then we have the answers for you in this article.
What You Need to Know About Super Glue
What is super glue?
Super glue or cyanoacrylate in industrial jargon is an instant adhesive known for its superior strength and fast-bonding properties.
It is also resistant to temperature and moisture, making it a popular material for minor repairs and craft projects. You can use this adhesive with wood, plastic, metal, stone, ceramic, and glass.
How does super glue work?
Super glue needs humidity or moisture from the air to work via rapid polymerization. This chemical reaction explains while glue easily sticks to body parts or why the glue immediately dries up when exposed to air.
Does super glue come in different forms?
Generally, super glue comes in gel or liquid forms. Liquids usually dry faster than gels and penetrate fractures and cracks easily.
On the other hand, gels form a more flexible bond than their liquid counterpart. Due to its higher viscosity, it allows for a cleaner and more precise application. It is often used to repair delicate ceramics or in building models.
How fast does super glue dry?
High-quality super glue dries and sets in a matter of seconds. To maximize its adhesive potential, you should leave the parts you are gluing together untouched for at least 10 minutes. The glue needs 24 hours to be fully cured.
How strong is super glue?
Super glue forms a powerful and nearly unbreakable bond because of cyanoacrylate’s unique adhesive properties. An excellent glue brand broke the Guinness Book of World Record by lifting a 5-ton car with just nine drops of adhesive.
How to use super glue?
Before gluing things together, make sure their surfaces are clean and free from dust. It’s also best to use thin layers to initiate a good polymerization process. Keep acetone handy in case you need to remove the glue immediately.
Leave the bonded parts undisturbed for about 10 minutes. The curing process takes 24 hours, so you need to wait to use the object you have just fused.
How to Remove Super Glue From Clothes
If you accidentally squirted glue on your clothes in the middle of a project, don’t worry- there are ways to remove this adhesive.
Super glue may have extraordinary adhesion properties, but some products and methods can get them off clothes.
Pre-treating your Super Glue Stained Clothes
Step One: Scraping
- If the affected fabric is lace, silk, or sheers, it would be best to bring them to the dry cleaners for professional, super glue removal. Scraping and applying acetone can destroy delicate fabrics, so better not attempt to do it yourself.
- Ensure that the glue is dry before dealing with it. Allow it to dry on its own. Otherwise, you’ll only make the situation worse. Avoid using a dryer to speed up the process since it will make the stain permanent and unmanageable.
- To make the process faster, you can soak the affected area in iced water. First, fill a bowl with ice cubes and water. Next, .dip the stained area for five to ten seconds, then pull the fabric out. The cold water will harden the glue.
- Put the clothing on a hard surface. Using a spoon or your fingernails, you scrape the glue off. You may not remove the glue off, but you will get a few large pieces.
Do you want to know how to scrape glue properly? Please watch this video.
Step Two: Soaking in Acetone
Testing
- Test the acetone first on a hidden area of your garment.
- Moisten a cotton ball with 100% acetone and gently press on an unnoticeable part of the fabric like the seam or heam.
- Pull the cotton ball away after a few seconds.
- If there is no discoloration, you can continue with the process.
- If you’ve noticed a change in color, discontinue the process and rinse the affected area. It would be best to bring the stained garment to the drycleaners.
Soaking
- Soak a cotton ball in 100% acetone.
- Press it on the affected area. Ensure that you avoid other parts of the fabric.
- Get another acetone-soaked cotton ball and press it again on the site that has glue.
- You can also use a piece of white cloth if you do not have cotton balls available.
- Check every few minutes if the superglue has softened. You may pull the cotton ball away after five to ten minutes.
- Use a spoon or a fingernail to scrape the glue off.
Here’s a video on how to remove super glue stains with acetone.
Washing Your Super Glue Stained Clothes
After the pre-treatment stage, it’s time to wash your garment in the washing machine. It is essential to check the fabric’s care label to know the right temperature and settings that you need to use.
Using a Washing Machine
- Apply a laundry stain remover on the affected area. Gently massage the liquid on the fabric for better absorption.
- Rinse the garment with cold water.
- Toss the clothing on the washing machine and program the settings based on the care instructions. If the care tag is missing, the safest option is cold water.
- After the spin cycle, check the garment to see if there are still traces of glue. If the stain is light, you can rewash it. However, if the stain is noticeable, it would be best to do the acetone treatment again.
Handwashing
- If there is no washing machine available, you may also handwash the stained garment.
- Fill a bucket with cold water and a capful of mild liquid detergent. Stir the solution with your hands.
- Pour some detergent directly on the stain and rub it until it gets absorbed by the fabric.
- Put the clothing into the soap and water solution. Let it soak overnight. Ensure that you place the bucket in a safe and clean place. You may cover it with cling wrap or a plastic tray.
- Scrub the stained area with a soft-bristled brush.
- Wring the fabric to get rid of as much soapy water as possible.
- Rinse the fabric thoroughly, ensuring no traces of the soap are left.
- Wring the garment again and proceed to dry.
Drying
- It would be good to air dry the garment to prevent any leftover stain from setting.
- You may hang them outdoors on a clothesline or indoors on a drying rack.
- Repeat the pre-treatment and washing process if you still notice any stain. If it still doesn’t come off, it’s time to bring the stained clothes to the dry cleaners.
Other Products You Can Use to Get Super Glue Off Clothes
Aside from acetone, you can also use other products for the pre-treatment stage. Some of them are readily available in your home, so you don’t have to spend extra to remove the nasty super glue stain.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
These two everyday kitchen staples are also effective stain removers. They are known to eliminate almost any kind of stain, and super glue is no exception.
Here are the simple steps to remove super glue stain using baking soda and vinegar
- Lay the stained fabric on a clean, flat surface. Ensure that you expose the stain.
- Dust the affected area with some baking soda.
- Pour white vinegar into a small bowl.
- Dip a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush on the vinegar.
- Gently scrub the stain.
- If you can still notice some remnants of the stain, repeat steps one to five.
Check out this video on how you can use vinegar and baking soda to remove super glue stains.
Abrasives
Sanding the affected area can help remove the super glue from your clothes. This method is also effective in removing gum from clothes and other surfaces.
Here are the steps in using abrasive to get super glue off your clothes
- Place the garment on a flat surface, ensuring that the stained part is in the center.
- You may use a small piece of sandpaper or an emery board to scrape off the super glue gently.
- Sand the affected area using a back and forth motion while holding the fabric in place with one hand.
- Drop a small amount of dish soap or liquid detergent on the stain.
- Massage it on the area for a few minutes to soften the glue.
After these pre-treatment methods, you may toss the garments in the washer. Make sure to follow the settings on the care label before washing the clothes. It would be best to air dry the clothes to ensure that the remaining stain if any, won’t set.
Conclusion
Doing craft and DIY projects with super glue is convenient, but a spill from this solid adhesive can be frustrating. If you’re in a similar situation, you don’t have to worry because there are ways on how to get super glue off clothes that you can try.
Not only will you save your precious garments, but you’ll save money in the process as well.
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.