Super glue is one of those inventions that has come in handy more than once but also landed us in a sticky mess of hot water. It is in fact so amazing that often times we end up gluing together something we didn’t actually want glued. Sometimes it winds up on our fingers, or surfaces around the home and even worse– winds up in the hands of our curious children.
One of the crazier moment of my parenting life, was when my 4 year old snuck into my craft cabinet, grabbed some super glue and managed to glue his hands to his favorite Frozen toy! Tears streaming from his face, he ran to tell me Elsa was now stuck to him, forever!! If any of this sounds familiar, don’t panic. There are some simple tips and tricks for getting glue off of our beloved surfaces– including ourselves and our darling little ones.
How To Remove Super Glue From Your Skin
Working with super glue can oftentimes lead to it staining your clothing or winding up on your skin. Companies are usually good with explaining how to get super glue off skin but if you’re looking for a home remedy you can try then these are the routes to take.
One of the best things you can do is apply acetone to the affected area (so long as it’s not a super sensitive part like your eyes or mouth). It’s possible to buy pure acetone, but the simplest way is just to grab some acetone-based nail polish remover to get the job done. If you don’t have nail polish readily available, vinegar may offer similar results. Soak the affected area for 4-5 minutes and then see if you can rub the glue off your skin. If you can’t, soak the area for a few more minutes and remove the glue.
Be careful when using acetone, though, because it tends to dry out the skin. When you’ve successfully removed the glue, wash the area with warm soapy water and apply a moisturizer to keep the skin from drying out.
Another method you can try is to use margarine or olive oil. Apply either to the affected area until the glue begins to soften and mix with the oil or margarine. It’ll start to lose its bonding agent and you can safely start to peel off the glue.
Another pantry staple to try if you are out of the above products is peanut butter. The oils in peanut butter can break down the bond in superglue, and even better chunky peanut butter works as an abrasive, making the process even easier.
How To Get Super Glue Off Your Fingers
Chances are that glue will sometimes wind up on your fingers, even if you’re super careful. The good news is that the above remedies will help with your fingers the same way they’ll help with other body parts. There are a few other things you can try specifically for fingers, though.
A simple mixture of salt and warm water will peel that glue right off. All you need is about two tablespoons of salt and a bit of water to turn everything into a paste. Rub the paste onto your fingertips for about a minute. Once you see that the glue has started peeling off, stick your finger in warm water for about another minute. Remember to wash your hands after you’re done and apply a moisturizer to avoid dry skin.
You can also use petroleum jelly on your fingers to remove super glue and to act as a moisturizer for afterward. Take a generous amount and apply it to your fingertips, rubbing it in until the glue begins to peel. Repeat until the glue successfully lifts. Neosporin may be equally effective, as it contains a petroleum jelly base.
Lemon juice can work on skin and fingers. Simply work it into the skin with a cotton swab or toothbrush, and scrub away the adhesive.
How To Remove Super Glue From Plastic
The two chemicals you can use to remove glue from plastic are acetone and nitromethane, which can be found in specialty stores.
Acetone is pretty much super glue’s kryptonite so applying it to any surface will typically get the job done. However, when you’re working with particular glues (like Krazy Glue), you can remove it with nitromethane as well. If you hop over to Krazy Glue’s website, for example, they state that you can use acetone but that its power may damage certain plastics. If you’re worried about damaging a surface then you can use the safer option of the two.
All you need to do with these two is to apply a small amount to a cloth and rub away the glue on your plastic surface. In order to avoid ruining your plastic, you can dilute acetone with water first and then apply it. Nitromethane, on the other hand, has diluted versions available for purchase.
If you’re wondering how to remove Gorilla Glue, we have you covered there too! If you manage to get this particular brand on plastic then you can either soak a cotton ball in alcohol and apply it to the affected area, or you can use mineral spirits on a rag.
How To Remove Super Glue From Glass
Glass is one of those surfaces we would love to protect and keep clean in our home, which is why it can be daunting to remove super glue. These simple methods will help your glass look its best without being a sticky mess.
The first thing to try is, you guessed it, acetone. You can apply acetone to a rag or cloth and wipe away until the glue begins to peel. From there, you can carefully use a razor or your fingernail to scrape away the remnants of glue. If, however, you’re removing glue from eyeglasses or phone screen you shouldn’t use a razor as it will scrape away at the surface. In that case, keep rubbing with the cloth. Once the glue has successfully been removed you should rinse the glass with soap and water.
Acetone can be used on just about any super glue to remove it from glass. You can also use special products in stores to get that glue off glass and keep it off. Goo Gone Spray Gel works wonders on glass without damaging the surface.
When you’re using super glue one of the best things you can do is to use extra care. Have a little patience and use precaution when dealing with super glue, even if you’ve used it before. Though, try as we may, accidents do happen and these foolproof methods will ensure any pesky glue is peeled right off any surface safely and efficiently.
