Remove Super Glue

Super glue (cyanoacrylate), a proprietary name that has morphed into a catch-all name given to all glues that dry quickly, is renowned for sticking together anything from fingers to objects in a matter of seconds. Thankfully there are various ways to remove super glue from anywhere it's not wanted.

Steps

Removing Super Glue from Skin

1. Try peeling it off first [but not with sensitive skin]. Sometimes this will be sufficient to remove the glue, especially if the offending glue has only stuck to one finger instead of sticking two fingers together. Go carefully though and if you feel any pain or see skin lifting off, stop immediately.
   • Wait until the glue dries into a thin, solid before attempting to peel it off. Do not touch it while it is still sticky.
   • Using clean fingernails or tweezers, grasp the dried glue at the edge and slowly peel it away from the skin. Stop if the glue resists or causes pain.
2. Soak the glue. Warm, soapy water may be enough to loosen the glue from your hand. Fill a bowl with warm water and add about 1 Tbsp (15 ml) of mild soap. Soak the glued area for 30 to 60 seconds, then attempt to peel the softened glue away.
   • If you cannot peel the glue away, try rolling another digit, spatula, or spoon handle over the area to help lift it up.
   • Note that you may need to make several attempts before having success.
   • You might also try using lemon juice instead of water, or a mixture made of one part lemon juice and one part water. The acid in the juice can help eat away at the glue.
3. Use acetone. This method is best for those with tougher skin types––those with sensitive skin might find this method irritating or drying. And never apply acetone to open wounds.
   • Soak the skin in warm soapy water as soon as possible. This will soften the glue. Adding a dash of cool vinegar may also help. Try loosening the glue from your skin. If this doesn't work, pat the skin dry and move on to the next step.
   • Use an acetone-based nail polish remover. It must contain acetone, because acetone softens cyanoacrylate. Rub it on the super glue. The dried glue should start peeling off. Do not use a cotton swab, as this can react very violently with cyanoacrylate (smoking or bursting into flames).
   • Let the area dry, then use a nail emery board to remove the glue. Be careful not to remove your skin, too. If you have a lot on your hands you can scrub it on a pumice stone kept in warm water.
   • Let it peel off on its own. It will turn white, but it will not hurt you, and it'll eventually come off without your help.
4. Try margarine. If you have sensitive skin, a little grease might work better. Rub a little margarine on the area repeatedly until the glue can be gently peeled away.
   • If you don't have margarine, olive oil should work the same way. The grease reacts with the glue to loosen the bond.
5. Use laundry detergent. Mix liquid laundry detergent (any brand) mixed with hot water. If you are removing the glue from a small area such as your fingers, a 1/4 cup of laundry detergent combined with the hot water in a coffee cup will be sufficient.
   • Rub and soak for approximately 20 minutes to loosen up the thick band of glue.
6. Use salt. A paste made of salt and water can be abrasive enough to scrape away the glue. Put two tablespoons (30 ml) of salt in your hands.
   • Put a little water in the salt to turn it into a paste.
   • Rub the paste in your hand for about 30 to 60 seconds.
   • Rinse a little off.
   • Keep rubbing without adding water.
   • Repeat until the salt has dissipated. Hopefully the glue has lifted off too.
7. Use petroleum jelly. Wash your hands and the area which has glue on it in hot, soapy water.
   • Apply petroleum jelly generously on the affected area.
   • Rub the affected area with a nail file for about a minute. Or, rub until you notice the glue coming off.
   • Repeat. Then dry your hands.

Removing Super Glue from the Eyes

1. Bathe stuck-together eyelids with warm water. Dip a very soft cloth in warm water and gently bathe the eyelid. Wash well. Apply a gauze patch and be patient. After 1-4 days, the eyelid will eventually open naturally.
   • Do not try to force open your eyes. Let time do the healing needed.
2. Allow tears to flow freely if the super glue has attached to the eyeball. The glue will eventually lift off the eye protein in a few hours and the tears will help to wash it out. It is okay to use warm water to wash the eyes out, as long as this doesn't distress you or the patient.
   • You may experience double vision. Relax somewhere safe until the glue detaches and is washed out of the eye.
3. See your doctor. It is highly recommended that you see a doctor after super glue has been near or in your eyes. The eye area is very delicate and should be seen by a professional to ensure that there is no lasting damage. Explain what has happened and ask for an eye check to ensure that everything is back to normal.

Removing Super Glue from the Lips

1. Act quickly. If your lips have stuck together with super glue, it's no laughing matter.
2. Fill a small bowl with warm water. Dip your lips in the water and immerse as much as possible of the lips. Allow the lips to soak for one or two minutes.
3. Try to allow a build-up of saliva inside your mouth. Push the saliva against your lips from the inside.
   • The saliva should help moisten and soften the glue from the inside of your mouth while the warm water works from the outside.
4. Carefully peel or roll your lips apart. Wait until all sides are thoroughly moistened before attempting this, and do not pull! Doing so could cause more damage to your lips.
   • Work your lips from side to side while keeping them submerged in the warm water. Ideally, they should gradually peel apart from one another.
5. Eat and drink as normal. Your saliva will eventually remove any remaining stuck adhesive but do not swallow it. Instead, discard any detached adhesive.
   • Don't worry about swallowing liquid adhesive since the glue should solidify once it comes into contact with your saliva.
   • The remaining adhesive should lift away within one or two days.

Removing Super Glue from Smooth Surfaces (Wood, Metal, Stone)

1. Try peeling the glue from the surface first. Use your fingertips or nails and see if it will simply roll back. If so, all done. If not, move on to the next step.
   • These solutions should work for most smooth surfaces, including wood, metal, and stone. Do not use these on glass or plastic, however.
   • Always spot test a solution on a hidden part of the material to make sure it won't damage it, especially when working with something abrasive or corrosive, like acetone. If the spot test clears, you should be good to go.
2. Soak the area. Add liquid dish soap to warm water, then soak a cloth in the mixture. Lay the cloth over the glue and let it sit for several hours.
   • You may need to cover the cloth with plastic wrap to keep it moist.
   • Try scraping away the glue again once it softens.
3. Try acetone nail polish remover. Pulling glue off a finished wood surface risks lifting the surface with it, so some subtlety is required. The harsh acetone can also damage some stone and metal surfaces if you aren't careful.
   • Dip a cleaning rag into acetone or nail polish remover. You can also use a toothbrush -- just make sure no one uses the brush for their teeth afterward!
   • Rub the dampened part over the glue. For small areas, stick your finger behind the rag and use it to direct circular motions. For larger stains, swirl around with more of the cloth surface area coming into contact with the stain.
   • Use a rubber or silicone spatula to lift the glue off. Hopefully the acetone will help lift up edges of the glue and you can slide the spatula in under the edge and keep working at it till all the glue is removed.
   • Wash the area with soapy warm water to remove the acetone. For furniture, polish the furniture with beeswax or olive oil.
4. Use lemon juice. If you don't have acetone nail polish remover or want a slightly less corrosive solution, consider using lemon juice. Apply the lemon juice to the glue in a similar fashion.
   • Apply a small amount of lemon juice to the glue using a scrap toothbrush dedicated to household cleaning. Using the brush, work the juice around in circles over the glue until the adhesive starts to lift.
   • Similarly, you may have success with rubbing alcohol.
5. Try mineral oil. Provided the surface isn't painted, this might lift the glue. Dampen a cloth with the oil and rub on the glue stain until it lifts. Wash the oil off with warm soapy water and polish to complete.
   • This option works especially well with unpainted wood.
6. Sand glue off wood. In some instances, sanding the area may be the best option. Place masking tape around the glue stain, to protect the areas around it. Then sand over the glue until it lifts. Restore the sanded area with oil, varnish or paint, whatever finish the wood originally had.

Removing Super Glue from Fabric

1. Flush the clothing with warm water first. Rub at the stain to remove as much of the glue as possible just by rubbing.
   • Naturally, use your common sense with respect to very delicate fabrics––rubbing or scrubbing may damage the fibers.
   • Add some heavy-duty liquid detergent to the water to make this solution more effective. About 2 Tbsp (30 ml) should work.
2. Use acetone on natural fabrics. Dampen a cloth, clean an old toothbrush with acetone and rub the glue stain to try to lift it up. Scrape the glue off with a blunt knife or spatula, then wash the clothing as usual. (You can also pre-treat the stain if you'd normally do that before washing.)
   • Do not use acetone on clothing that contains acetate or acetate variations––the clothing will melt.
   • Always trial a test spot before using on any clothing.
   • Note that acetone can dull the color behind the glue stain.
3. Take expensive clothing to the dry cleaner. If the clothing is expensive or you can't get the glue off yourself, take it to a professional. Better safe than sorry.

Removing Super Glue from Plastic

1. Try rubbing and rolling it off. Use your fingernails to try to lift up at the ends of the glue stain. Once you get a small life, keep working at the stain and then try to roll it back off the plastic object. This may take a little effort but may be the best approach.
   • You can also use a plastic spatula or knife to help scrape off the glue without scratching the plastic.
2. Dampen the glue. Make up a solution of warm, soapy water. Use a gentle dish washing detergent.
   • Dip a cloth or paper towel into the soapy water and drench it. Wring so that it's just damp.
   • Lay the cloth or paper towel over the glue stain. Tape a layer of kitchen plastic wrap over the cloth or paper towel, to create a humid micro-environment. Leave the items there for several hours. The damp cloth or paper towel will moisten the glue, causing it to soften a lot.
   • Use a warm, soapy cloth to remove the glue as much as possible after a few hours. Keep dabbing until all the glue lifts up onto the cloth.
3. Use rubbing alcohol. Note that this method may damage some surfaces, so it's best to do a spot test before proceeding.
   • Dampen a soft cleaning cloth with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol).
   • Dab the cloth on the glue stain to soften.
   • Pick at the lifting, softened glue to remove as much as possible.
   • Use a fresh cloth dipped in soapy water to remove residue.
   • Wash with clean warm water to finish. Let dry.

Removing Super Glue from Glass

1. Try to remove as much glue as possible with a sharp blade. A razor blade will do the trick and shouldn't harm the glass. If you manage to get the blob of glue off this way, simply wash off the residue with warm, soapy water, rinse and let dry.
2. Saturate the stain. If you are unable to peel the glue away, soak it in warm water and try again.
   • Place the glass object in a bowl of warm soapy water. If this isn't possible, simply wet a cloth with warm soapy water and hold over the glue stain.
   • Attach a sheet of kitchen plastic wrap around the cloth with tape. Let sit for an hour or two to soften the glue. Then scrape off the softened glue with a blade or spatula.
   • Rubbing alcohol, eucalyptus oil or acetone can be used to get rid of any remaining residue. Wash the glass and polish if needed.

Tips

• Some proprietary products, such as citrus cleaners, will lift super glue from a range of surfaces. There are also commercial super glue removal products available in some markets. Read the instructions to see what materials the stain remover can be used on.
• Acetone is often found in nail polish remover. Check the label as this isn't always the case but if it's on the ingredients, then you can use nail polish remover to remove the glue.
• Focus most on the edges of super glue stains. You'll be wanting to grab at those edges to start the lifting off process, so moistening and lifting them is a priority for getting rid of the whole blob.

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.
• Think before sticking super glue tubes or tube lids in your mouth! This is one of the most common reasons for lips getting stuck together––people try to unclog the glue by biting or holding the tube with their mouths.
• Be aware that wearing cotton or wool clothing (especially gloves made from either) is not advised when working with cyanoacrylate products owing to the fact that these products can inter-react and release a lot of heat, potentially burning skin or even bursting into flame.

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Sources and Citations

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