Having Super Glue all over your clothes is a nightmare. The sticky glob of glue makes your clothes wet, slimy, and yucky. Things become even worse when the glue dries and hardens the fabric.
You can’t throw away those clothes. If you start doing that, almost all of your clothes will end up in the trash can!
So, if Super Glue is stuck on your clothes, don’t panic because we have a solution. In today’s post, we will discuss how to get Super Glue out of clothes in 3-simple steps. We will also share answers to commonly asked queries. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is Super Glue?
Super glue is a high-strength and fast-bonding adhesive that was first invented by accident in 1942. At that time, Dr. Harry Coover was researching the use of clear plastics in precision gun sights. He accidentally discovered a sticky chemical compound – cyanoacrylates.
But, since it had no use for the research, the discovery was discarded. Dr. Harry Coover later realized that cyanoacrylates make an amazing household adhesive. He invested in production, and the Super Glue became commercially available in 1958.
This glue can bond to any material easily. It has high resistance against temperature and moisture, which makes the bond unbreakable. It’s so powerful that only 9-drops of the glue can lift a 5-tons car.
With that said, the bond may be slightly flexible depending on whether the super glue is in liquid or gel form. Liquids have less viscosity for penetrating the fractures and cracks better. This results in very hard and strong bonds.
Comparatively, gels are thick and viscous. This allows them to drip less and offer more control for precision-based projects. But the resultant bond is not so powerful.
Will Washing Clothes Remove Super Glue?
Super Glue dries in seconds after spilling on clothes. However, the bond doesn’t reach its full strength until 10 minutes have passed. It also doesn’t become fully cured and unbreakable until a day has passed.
So, if you treat the affected garment immediately, it’s possible to remove Super Glue by washing only. First, scrape off the excess Super Glue using a spoon. Don’t dab at it because it will only spread the glue.
Then, dissolve laundry detergent in a bucket of water and soak the clothes in it. Rinse the clothes with fresh water. If you have a load of clothes ready for laundry, you can also wash the glue-stained cloth in the washing machine. But make sure to be super quick.
In most cases, Super Glue sets in the fabric and isn’t removed by washing only. If the same happens to you, don’t panic because you can still get it out. Read more to find out how!
3 Steps to Get Super Glue Out of Clothes
When Super Glue spills on your clothes, it’s important not to remove it with a tissue or rag. This will spread the glue to surrounding fibers and make it even more difficult to get the glue out. So, when the spill occurs, calm down and follow these 3-simple steps:
1. Scrape off the Hardened Glue
If you scrape the wet glue off and wash it immediately, chances are that the Super Glue will get out. But if the glue has hardened, then getting it out will be much easier.
First, place the cloth on a hard and smooth surface. It’s best to secure it with heavy objects on the corners so that it doesn’t move. Then, use a spoon to scrape off the hardened glue. If the fabric is delicate, like muslin, use your fingernail to get the glue chunks out.
Once you have scraped the hardened glue off, examine the cloth to see if more work is needed. Sometimes, the glue hardens before penetrating the cloth fibers. So, scraping is all you need to do.
2. Pretreat the Super Glue Stain
Pre-treatment is an important step to ensure Super Glue gets out of your clothes completely. It means you need to treat the stain with a substance before you put it in the washing machine. In the case of Super Glue, you need acetone.
Acetone is a colorless solvent that breaks down materials like grease. It also evaporates quickly and leaves behind a sharp smell. Typically, acetone is found in nail polish remover
nail polish, varnish remover, and paint remover.
So, if you have any of these products, you can use them to remove Super Glue. And, if you don’t have them, liquid acetone bottles are easily available at pharmacies and hardware stores. Here is how to use it:
- Soak a cotton ball in acetone.
- Find an inconspicuous part of the cloth and dab the cotton ball on it. If there’s no discoloration, proceed with the treatment.
- Use the same cotton ball to dab at the Super Glue stain. Continue dabbing until the stained area softens. If there are chunks of hardened glue still attached, press the soaked cotton ball on them for 3 to 5 minutes. This will soften them.
- Scrape off the remaining glue with a spoon or fingernail.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
3. Wash with a High-Quality Detergent
Once the Super Glue is removed, wash the clothes with a high-quality laundry detergent. This may be in powder, liquid, tablet, or pod form. Whatever suits you best, pick up that detergent for washing your stained clothes.
However, make sure to read the manufacturer’s details first. These will be present on the care tag inside the clothes. If the fabric can be washed in all temperatures, use warm water in the wash cycle.
It’s because heated water speeds up the process of breaking down dirt and stains on the clothes. With that said, if the fabric is delicate or may bleed color, stick to cool water. Air dry the garments after washing.
How to Remove Super Glue Out of Clothes Without Acetone?
If acetone or acetone-based products aren’t available, you can still get Super Glue out of your clothes. The entire method will remain the same. You will just need to replace the acetone with any of the following substances:
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is just another name for isopropyl alcohol and water mixed together. It’s an excellent degreasing agent that breaks and lifts up stains from almost any fabric. But you can’t use it on rayon, silk, and wool.
To use, soak the Super Glue stain with rubbing alcohol and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The alcohol will penetrate the hardened glue and soften it. So, you can scrape it off easily.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is not only used for cleaning and whitening our teeth. It’s also used in removing stubborn stains from different materials like the sink, countertops, and fabric. But, when using it for Super Glue, expect it to get rid of light stains only.
It’s because toothpaste has abrasive substances that include baking soda, silica, or dicalcium phosphate. While these are great at scrubbing and eliminating stains, they don’t work well for softening hardened glue.
So, use it when most of the hard Super Glue is scraped off, and some are left behind. First, soak the clothes in warm water and squeeze out the excess. Then, apply a small amount of toothpaste to the stain and scrub it with an old toothbrush.
White Vinegar
With a pH value of 2, white vinegar is acidic in nature. The acidity removes stains by introducing a chemical charge to the dirt and stain molecules. These charged molecules are then pulled out by the charges in water.
You can also use white vinegar to remove Super Glue from the clothes. Dab the stain with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar. Or, you can pour some vinegar into a bucket of water and soak the clothes in it for 15 minutes. Then, wash with a detergent in the washer.
Sandpaper
Sandpapers are sheets covered with abrasive material on one side. While this may not get the super glue completely out of clothes, sandpapers are great for scraping off the hardened glue blobs.
Just place a piece of sandpaper on the dried glue and rub. You will have to do it continuously and aggressively to grind the glue off the fabric.
Baking Soda & Coconut Oil
Baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is popular amongst cleaning experts. It cleans, disinfects, and brightens every surface it comes across. All you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda onto the affected place, and voila!
However, baking soda alone will be a little light for the powerful Super Glue. You must mix it with coconut oil in equal parts. This will help soften the dried glue and make the removal more effortless.
Salt & Water
This is the easiest and simplest remedy to treat Super Glue stains from clothes. We all have them at our homes. So, when you spill the Super Glue on your outfit, just grab the salt shaker and add some water.
Once a thick paste is ready, apply it to the affected areas and let the clothes rest for 15 to 20 minutes. The salt will dehydrate the stain and lift it. Then, wash them with clean water and laundry detergent.
Lemon Juice
Another natural way is to use lemon juice. Being acidic, lemon juice has a slight abrasive and whitening effect on stains. You can also use it on all fabric types without worries. The substance won’t damage the fibers or cause discoloration.
But never apply lemon juice directly on clothes. First, measure out ⅓ cup of lemon juice and mix it in ⅔ cup of room temperature water. Then, soak a cotton ball in the mixture and dab the stain with it.
Emery Board
Emery board is commonly known as a nail file. It is a thin wood strip coated with an abrasive substance. When rubbed against fingernails, it grinds and shapes them. You can use it to grind off the dried Super Glue from clothes too. But don’t use it on delicate and expensive fabrics.
FAQs
How to get Super Glue out of black clothes?
You can get Super Glue out of black clothes using the same method mentioned above. But before you apply acetone or wash the clothes, make sure to test for colorfastness. Most dark-colored clothes bleed. So, if you’re not careful, the clothes may become damaged.
How to remove Super Glue from fabric with iron?
You can’t remove Super Glue from fabric with iron only. But you can use it to soften the dried glue on the clothes. Here’s how to do that:
- Place a soft fabric on the ironing board (preferably cotton).
- Put the glue-affected cloth on the fabric with the glue side down.
- Heat up the iron and put it on the back of the cloth for 15 seconds.
This will soften the glue a bit. You can scrape it off using a spoon or butter knife.
What’s the fastest way to get Super Glue off fingers?
Super Glue on your fingers is worse than Super Glue on clothes. The strong glue can stick to your skin and may peel it off in the removal process. So, you must soften the bonds with a greasy product. This may include oil, hand lotion, petroleum jelly, or anything that is oily and skin-safe.
Apply the product to the dried glue and massage it for 10 minutes. The glue will start to come off in pieces and chunks. Keep massaging until all of it is removed. Soak your fingers in hot soapy water to speed up the process.
Summary
All in all, getting Super Glue out of clothes isn’t impossible. If you treat the stain immediately and properly, there’s no reason why it won’t get out of the cloth fibers. To recap, you have to follow these 3-simple steps:
- Scrape off the hardened Super Glue.
- Remove the stain using acetone.
- Wash the clothes with high-quality detergent.
If acetone isn’t available, you can use several different substances discussed in the article above. We hope your queries are resolved. But if there is still any confusion or doubt, drop us a message in the comments below!
