24+ Clever Ways to Remove Super Glue (2024)

We’ve all had that dreaded moment when you realize that you went a little overboard with the super glue. At this time, you feel the panic set in, and your mind is void of all rational thought. We’ll show you how to remove super glue, no matter where it is stuck, to set your mind at ease.

Ah, super glue, the solution to all of our problems. It’s right up there with duct tape and Velcro. This waterproof glue fixes everything from your favorite broken mug to the sole of your shoe, and it dries in little to no time at all.

The only downfall is that once it’s stuck, it is really and truly stuck. Super glue adheres to just about every type of surface, including plastic, metal, wood, leather, fabric, and ceramic. Unfortunately, it also easily sticks to the skin and other unintended objects. While an accidental mishap instills a feeling of alarm, there are ways to remove it.

Ways to Remove Super Glue from all Surface Types

While your first instinct is to clean the area with hot water, super glue is not water-soluble. Fortunately, there are various ways to remove this stubborn glue in minutes, no matter what it’s stuck to.

Ways to Get Rid of Super Glue from a Smooth Surface

One of the easiest ways to get rid of super glue on a smooth surface, such as stone or metal, is to use nail polish remover. This inexpensive liquid contains acetone that quickly dissolves the glue and is great to remove super glue from wood surfaces, as well.

Pour some polish remover into a bowl or container and dip the head of an old toothbrush into the liquid.

Scrub the glued area gently with the toothbrush to remove the residue while dunking the brush as needed. Get a cloth wet with warm water, apply a couple of drops of dish soap, and wipe the area to clean away the acetone.

Make a Homemade Super Glue Remover with Baking Soda

Baking soda is an ingredient useful for many purposes, including the removal of glue. This homemade super glue remover is safe to use on any surface and only takes minutes to prepare.

Combine equal portions of coconut oil and baking soda in a container, depending on the affected area’s size. Rub the paste over the dried glue and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Use a damp sponge to scrub the area gently and then rinse it under clean water.

How to Remove Super Glue from Hands with Laundry Detergent

Warm soapy water often helps clean off super glue from your hands if you get to it right away. Laundry detergent softens and loosens the adhesive from your skin for gentle removal.

Fill a container or bowl large enough to fit your hand with hot water and add a couple of squirts of liquid laundry detergent. Agitate the solution to create suds and soak your affected hand in the soapy water for about 20 minutes.

To remove super glue from skin, rub the area to loosen the glue while waiting, and then rinse your hand under clean water. If there is still some residue, try rubbing hand lotion on your skin.

Remove Super Glue from Natural Fabric with Acetone

To clean up super glue spill on fabric, try using acetone. Make sure the clothing does not contain acetate and test it on an inconspicuous area first.

Drizzle a small amount of acetone on the super glue stains and use a toothbrush to scrape away the glue gently. After the bond is gone, wash the item in the washing machine with laundry detergent using a normal setting.

This method of glue removal will also work on hair glue. Hair glue comes out of clothes with acetone as the chemical breaks down the bond of the glue. Be sure to always wash your clothing items in the washing machine to get rid of any excess glue or smell from the acetone.

How to Get Super Glue off Glass

There are a few steps to removing super glue off of glass surfaces, and they involve using a sharp blade and a little bit of soapy water. This is also the same technique for removing stickers.

Dampen a cloth with warm water and squirt a couple of drops of soap onto it. Lay the wet cloth on the dried glue for a few minutes to soften it.

Use the edge of a razor blade to pry the glue from the glass surface. Repeat the steps to remove all of the surface glue. Finish up by wiping away glue residue with an acetone soaked cotton ball.

Removing Super Glue from Plastic

Removing glue from plastic is relatively simple, but it does take a little time and effort. The best way to clean this surface type is with soapy water and a plastic knife or spatula.

To safely remove super glue from plastic surfaces, pour warm water into a bottle and add a few squirts of dish soap. Shake the bottle to gently mix and spray the liquid on the glue stain.

Use the fine edge of a plastic knife or spatula to scrape the glue from the surface. If the stain persists, respray it and let the soapy water sit for several minutes before scraping it once more.

Getting Super Glue off Carpeting

Carpets are a common area to spill super glue, especially if you enjoy doing projects while sitting cross-legged on the floor. Fortunately, acetone works wonders to clean a carpet glue stain.

Use a dropper to apply four drops of acetone directly on the glue spot and let it sit for five minutes. Use a cotton swab to scrub the glue from the carpet fibers, using a circular motion, and clean away the residue with a damp rag.

How to Get Super Glue out of Hair

While shampoo and conditioner are usually sufficient for getting slime out of hair, a third ingredient is necessary to remove super glue. Loctite is a popular glue remover sold at many stores and a good option for getting the glue out of hair.

Put a small amount of Loctite on a cotton pad, wrap it around the section of hair, and cover it with a piece of tissue to hold it in place for several minutes.

Remove the tissue and cotton, check that the glue is gone, and wash the hair with shampoo and conditioner to clean away leftover residue.

Using Sandpaper to Remove Super Glue

If you spill glue on a flat surface such as wood, then sandpaper is your best bet to remove it. This process is a little tedious since you do not want to strip off too much of the paint or stain.

Tape off the area to be sanded and use appropriate grit sandpaper to rub away the glue patch. Use a back and forth movement with the grain of the wood to prevent scratching the surface.

Restore the sanded area with a matching stain or paint before taking off the tape if you accidentally remove any during the sanding process.

Cleaning away Super Glue Residue with Soapy Water

While water alone doesn’t remove glue, a combination of soap and water often does the trick and is a good choice for removing small amounts of super glue or glue residue.

Mix the dish soap and hot water in a container and stir it to create suds. Dunk a cloth or rag into the soapy water and spread it on the dried glue.

After letting the stain soak for about 15 minutes, use an old toothbrush to scrub the loosened adhesive. Rinse the cloth under clean water and wipe away the glue and soap residue.

Removing Super Glue with Goo Gone

Goo Gone is a popular choice for cleaning away gum, grease, and sticky adhesives. It also works wonders to clean the glue off skin, as well as other household surfaces.

To clean the glue off your hands, pour a small amount of Goo Gone on the glue stain, and work it into the sticky spot while using your fingernails to scrape away the bits of glue.

Use mild soap to wash your skin and rinse it with clean water. For other surfaces, pour some Goo Gone onto a cloth and rub it over the glue.

Let it sit for a few minutes as it loosens the glue, and then use a razor blade to pry the glue from the surface. Rinse the cloth under warm water until it runs clear and use it to clean off any residue.

How to Use Acetone to Get Rid of Super Glue

Acetone is a solvent that breaks down glue and helps remove Sharpie from clothes, depending on the material. Putting a small bit of this liquid on glue helps it dissolve for quick cleaning.

Put some acetone on a washcloth and work it into the glue stain. If the stain is very stubborn, use an old toothbrush to scrub away the bits of adhesive. Rinse the washcloth under warm water and clean the area with a small dab of dish soap.

Removing Super Glue with a Finger Nail File

A nail file comes in handy if you do not have any sandpaper to remove super glue. Not only does this common tool work to sand away the bond, but its sharp edge helps pry large pieces away from the surface.

Begin by using the nail file’s edge to pry away as much of the glue as possible, being careful not to damage the surface. Use the file’s flat side to sand away any leftover debris lightly and then clean the spot with a damp cloth.

Using Cooking Oil to Remove Super Glue

Oil helps to soften the glue’s hold, making it easier to pry away from the surface, whether you need to remove glue from car paint or your fingers. Just about any cooking oil works, but our favorites are olive oil and coconut oil since they are most common in the kitchen.

Pour the cooking oil onto a washcloth and drape the cloth over the super glue. Let the oil soak on the glue for several minutes to make it pliable. Use a spatula to gently scrape the glue away and clean the oily residue with a washcloth and hot water.

Dissolving Super Glue with Citric Acid

Citric acid naturally breaks up and dissolves dried glue and is a safe way to remove adhesives from skin. While grapefruits and oranges contain this acid, it is most prevalent in lemons and limes.

Squeeze the juice from a lime or lemon onto a cotton ball and rub it over the affected area of your skin. Continue rubbing the spot, and use your fingernails to gently pry the glue away until it is gone and then rinse the area with cool water.

Cleaning away Super Glue with Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol has many purposes, and removing sticky substances is one of them. This liquid breaks down the glue so that it loses its grip on the surface.

Pour rubbing alcohol on a ball of cotton and press it into the glue to soak. Use the cotton to rub away the spot and check for any leftover adhesive. Clean the remaining area with a washcloth and hot water.

How to Remove Super Glue with Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is a mix of natural waxes and mineral oils, and this substance helps to soften the glue while gently separating it from the stuck area. It is safe to use on hair, skin, and many other surfaces.

Use your fingertips to smear a decent amount of petroleum jelly over the glue spot. Rub it carefully in a circular motion to help unbind the adhesive until it comes off the affected area. Wipe the spot clean with hot water and a washcloth.

Using Fingernail Polish Remover to Clean away Super Glue

Fingernail polish contains acetone, a liquid that breaks down the compounds in paint, glue, and other products. It is a handy replacement to remove super glue from many surfaces.

Dip a cotton swab into the fingernail polish remover container and dab the tip on the spot of glue to soak it.

Continue to dissolve the bond and then wipe the glue away with a paper towel. Put warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap on a cloth and clean all residue away.

Using Salty Water to Remove Super Glue

If you do not have acetone, Goo Gone, or another form of glue remover, consider using salt. The salt behaves as a mild abrasive to safely get Gorilla Glue off your fingers. Salt is a gentle abrasive and won’t damage your skin barrier.

Combine enough salt and warm water in a container or bowl to form a paste, and use your fingers to rub it into your skin. Rub the salt paste in a circular motion until the glue comes free, and then rinse the area with water.

Removing Super Glue with Mineral Spirits

Mineral spirits is a solvent we often use as a paint thinner to clean paint stains and brushes, but it’s also great to clean up dried super glue.

Pour some mineral spirits onto a rag and rub it on the super glue for several minutes to help it dissolve.

After the adhesive is gone, get a cloth wet with clean water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Clean the solvent and glue with the cloth and rinse it with clean water.

How to Clean up Super Glue with Egg Whites

Egg whites are for baking, you say? While this is true, there is something about them that works wonders at removing glue from surfaces, and they are natural.

Break an egg white into a bowl or container, dunk the head of a toothbrush into the whites, and brush the substance into the glue, using a steady, circular motion to remove the adhesive.

Clean away the egg residue with hot water and a cloth and dry with paper towels.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Super Glue

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and antiseptic that helps release super glue bonds from various surfaces. It is very inexpensive, and you probably have a bottle in your bathroom cabinet.

Pour enough hydrogen peroxide into a cloth to wet it and rub it on the super glue with mild force. Continue reapplying the liquid and rubbing the area until the bond is gone. Rinse the cloth under clean water and use it to clean away all residue.

Getting Super Glue off Hands with WD-40

Just like duct tape, WD-40 is a must for any home. This lubricant prevents metal from rusting, doors from squeaking, lubricates stuck bolts, and even removes super glue.

Spray the WD-40 on the super glue and let it sit for a couple of minutes to penetrate. Use a plastic paint scraper to gently peel away the glue globs, and then clean the surface with hot water, soap, and a rag.

How to Clean Super Glue Residue with Vinegar

Vinegar is a standard household liquid that does everything from cleaning shower mold to unclogging a dishwasher drain. It is also a great ingredient to clean super glue residue.

To make this vinegar based adhesive remover, fill a container with equal parts vinegar and water and add a couple of drops of dish detergent. Shake the container gently and spray the liquid directly onto the glue residue.

Clean the surface area with a sponge to remove old glue, and then repeat with a damp cloth to clean away the leftovers. Repeat if necessary.

Preventing Accidental Spills and Mishaps while Working with Super Glue

The best way to avoid cleaning up dried super glue is to avoid the accident in the first place. While that is sometimes easier said than done, there are ways to decrease the chances of an accident.

The most crucial thing to do when working with super glue, or cyanoacrylate, is to protect your hands. To avoid having to get super glue off your fingers, try creating a barrier between your fingers and the glue by wearing gloves.

If you do not have a pair, consider rubbing barrier cream into your hands to stop the glue from bonding to your skin. Always prepare ahead of time by spreading out newspapers or old rags on the workspace to prevent spills or drips from contacting the work surface or countertop.

Most importantly, avoid touching your hands to your face or any other surface while gluing to avert a worst-case scenario.

It’s easy to have a love-hate relationship with super glue. This miracle glue repairs just about anything in a matter of seconds, but it is so strong and quick-drying that an accidental leak leads to disaster.

Luckily, there are many simple and quick ways to dissolve this substance for easy removal.

Knowing how to remove super glue from just about anything makes life a whole lot easier, so why not help a friend by sharing our super glue removal tips on Facebook and Pinterest?