First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Check the glue's packaging first, since many makers print removal instructions.
- Harden the glue with ice or cold water, then scrape it off with a dull knife or spoon.
- Blot, don't rub, and work from the edges toward the center so the spot doesn't spread.
- Keep the item away from dryer heat until the glue is gone.
Fabric glue comes in several forms, and the one you're dealing with sets the approach. Water-based school glue softens in warm water, while airplane glue and household cement need a solvent that works on resins. Super glue and epoxy are usually permanent, so figure out which kind you have before you start.
Test a hidden seam first, since some fabrics change color under solvent. Hot glue from a glue gun is easiest to remove once it has cooled and you've peeled off whatever lifts. Silk and wool need the gentlest approach, so don't rush a delicate piece.
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Ice cube in a plastic bagHardens the glue so it can be scraped off cleanly.
- Dull knife or spoonLifts hardened glue without pushing it deeper into the fabric.
- Paper towels or clean white clothsAbsorb the glue and solvent as you work. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergentPretreats what is left before the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Prewash stain remover or dry-cleaning solventLoosens solvent-type adhesives like rubber cement. (opens Amazon)
- Non-oily nail polish remover with acetoneLoosens airplane glue or household cement that remains, after a test. (opens Amazon)
- Rubber glovesProtect your hands from solvents. (opens Amazon)
- Oxygen bleachRemoves the final traces in the wash on fabrics that can take it. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
How to get glue out of clothes
Step 1 of 6
Harden the glue and scrape it
Hold an ice cube in a plastic bag over the glue, or apply cold water, until the glue firms up. Then scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife or spoon, working gently so you don't push it deeper into the fabric.
Tip. Scrape from the edges toward the center, not across the spot.
Step 2 of 65 minutes
Soak water-based glue like school glue
Soak the garment in cold water for 5 minutes and pick off any glue that loosens. Repeat until no more comes off. If the glue has already hardened, soak it in warm water for 30 minutes to soften it before you scrape again.
Tip. Water-based craft glues and PVA-type glues follow the same steps, but follow the package if it says otherwise.
Step 3 of 6
Lift solvent-type adhesive onto towels
For rubber cement and other solvent-type adhesives, lay the stain face down on paper towels and sponge the back with a prewash stain remover or dry-cleaning solvent. Change the towels as they pick up glue, then let the spot dry.
Step 4 of 615 minutes
Loosen airplane glue that remains
Test a hidden spot first. Then cover what's left of the airplane glue or household cement with a pad dampened with a non-oily nail polish remover containing acetone, and keep it moist for 15 minutes. Loosen the glue with a spoon as it softens, then flush the spot with dry-cleaning solvent.
Careful. Work in a well-ventilated room away from open flames and pilot lights, and don't smoke.
Step 5 of 620 minutes
Pretreat whatever is left
Pour liquid laundry detergent over the stain and leave it for 20 minutes. You can saturate the stain with a prewash stain remover instead, then rinse the spot with water.
Tip. Rinse out every solvent and acetone before you add any bleach.
Step 6 of 6
Wash hot, then check before drying
Launder in the hottest water the care label allows. If the label allows chlorine bleach, add it to the wash last, after everything is rinsed out; otherwise use oxygen bleach, which can remove the final traces. Check the spot before drying, and repeat the steps if any glue or stain remains.
Careful. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar, alcohol or other removers.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for glue
Look for a prewash stain remover or a dry-cleaning solvent for solvent-type glue, and a non-oily nail polish remover with acetone for airplane glue. Check the label to confirm it's non-oily before using it on fabric.
Goo Gone Goo & Adhesive Remover Spray Gel
Goo Gone Original Adhesive Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Glue on every material
Floors4
Kitchen & bath4
Carpet & rugs1
Car3
Leather & suede2
Shoes & accessories2
Clothes & laundry1
Other3
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The spot is clear when the fabric feels smooth and nothing is tacky when you touch it. If anything still feels sticky, repeat the steps before the item goes anywhere near the dryer.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
On white cotton or linen whose care label allows chlorine bleach, you can add it to the wash for remaining school-glue stains, but always dilute it. For a spot treatment, mix 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach with 1 tablespoon water, apply it with a dropper for no more than 2 minutes, and flush with water.
Rinse out every solvent and acetone before any bleach goes on, and don't soak the item longer than needed, since over-soaking can leave yellow stains that won't come out. Never use chlorine bleach on wool, silk, spandex or rust stains.
Colors and denim
Test colors first by dabbing a drop of the cleaner on an inside seam and waiting before you treat the whole stain. Use warm water rather than hot unless the care label clearly allows hot, and skip chlorine bleach unless you know the dye is colorfast; oxygen bleach is the safer choice.
If the care label is missing, don't guess. Stick to the cold soak and liquid laundry detergent, and check for any glue before the item goes in the dryer.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk and wool need the gentlest treatment. Don't rub or brush the stain, since rubbing damages silk, and agitation makes wool felt and shrink. Skip chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach and enzyme detergents, and keep the water cool rather than hot.
Use only a small amount of detergent on the spot and rinse gently, then lay the item flat to dry away from heat. Never put a textile heirloom in a washing machine, even on a gentle cycle.
Dry-clean-only items
Dry-clean-only items can't take the water steps, so skip the cold soak and the washing machine. Use only a dry-cleaning agent on the spot, or take the item to a dry cleaner and tell them what glue it is.
Velvet should never be ironed, and water-based cleaners don't belong on S-coded velvet. Solvent-type fabric glue and acetone are also a job for the cleaner on these items, since the wrong solvent can ruin the fabric.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old school glue that has hardened responds to a warm soak: 30 minutes in warm water softens it, and then you scrape it and pretreat with detergent. Dried airplane glue or household cement needs amyl acetate on a pad kept moist for 15 minutes, followed by a flush with dry-cleaning solvent.
Amyl acetate is poisonous, so wear rubber gloves and keep it off plastics and furniture finishes. Super glue and epoxy usually don't come out at all, so expect partial removal at best for those.
A dryer sets the glue further into the fabric, so a stain that has already been through the dryer is harder to lift and may only fade. Treat it the same way and expect less. If glue still shows after a second round, stop and take the item to a dry cleaner rather than repeating harsh treatments.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on glue?
Most glue comes out without acetone or alcohol, using ice, a short soak and detergent. Some home fixes work only on certain glues, and others should be skipped entirely.
Works2Skip6
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer or iron it
Heat sets the stain, so a garment that goes in the dryer or under an iron while glue remains can become impossible to remove. Let it air-dry until you've checked for any glue left.
Don't use acetone on acetate or triacetate
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate and triacetate, and they are a problem for modacrylic too. Check the fabric label before any acetone step.
Don't reach for gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride
These are not solvents to use on clothing, even though they are sometimes suggested for glue. Stick to the solvents named in the steps.
Don't rub the glue into the fabric
Blot and scrape instead, since rubbing pushes glue deeper into the weave. On silk and wool, rubbing also damages the fibers.
Don't use bar soap on the stain
Bar soap sets many stains and makes them harder to remove. Use liquid laundry detergent for the pretreat instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The glue has gone hard and the knife won't lift it
Match the soak to the glue instead of scraping harder. Dried school glue softens in warm water after 30 minutes; dried airplane glue or household cement loosens under an amyl acetate pad kept moist for 15 minutes, then gets a flush with cleaning fluid.
A shadow stays after the solid glue is gone
Treat it as a residue: pour liquid laundry detergent over the spot for 20 minutes or saturate it with prewash stain remover, rinse, then wash. Oxygen (sodium perborate) bleach may lift the final traces, and you can repeat the pretreatment before drying.
The care label says acetate, triacetate or dry-clean only
Skip acetone and nail polish remover entirely on acetate and triacetate and stay with cold or warm water soaks and the 20-minute detergent pretreat. On a dry-clean-only item, use only a dry-cleaning agent or hand the piece to a dry cleaner.
When to call a professional
For dry-clean-only items, super glue and epoxy, take the garment to a dry cleaner and tell them what the glue is. Don't keep trying harsh solvents at home on delicate fabric, because a second round of the wrong product can do more damage than the glue.
Questions
Is hot glue from a glue gun hard to get out?
Put the garment in the freezer for a few hours, then scrape off the hardened glue with a table knife. After a hidden-spot test, work liquid laundry detergent into the remaining spots with a cotton swab, wearing rubber gloves, leave it for 20 minutes, and then launder.
Can super glue, epoxy or other specialty glues come out?
Super glue and epoxy usually cannot be removed, so treat them as permanent and ask a dry cleaner about the item. Rubber cement and other solvent-type glues follow the solvent steps above. Decoupage-style glue that is still wet rinses out with warm water, while dried glue needs scraping, a warm soak and detergent.
What works on fabric glue that has already dried?
Water-based fabric glue that is still wet rinses out with water or one wash cycle. Solvent-based fabric glue needs acetone while it's still wet, and a dried one may not come out completely. Check the bottle to see which kind you have.
How do you get a sticker or label adhesive off clothes?
Find out what adhesive it is first, since the package often says. If it's water-based, use the cold soak and detergent pretreat, and if it's a solvent glue like rubber cement, use the solvent step.
What do you do about a mark left after the glue is gone?
A faint mark usually means some glue is still in the fibers. Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent for 20 minutes, wash in the hottest water the label allows, and check before drying.
How do you remove glue without damaging the fabric?
Harden the glue with ice, scrape it with a dull knife, and skip hot tools. Test any solvent on a hidden spot first, and never use acetone on acetate or triacetate. On silk and wool, don't rub, and don't use chlorine bleach.
Will glue come out of clothes, and does fabric glue stain?
Most water-based glue comes out completely when you treat it before it dries and keep heat away. Wet glue is always the easiest to remove, and heat from a dryer or iron can make even a water-based stain permanent. Super glue and epoxy usually stay.
Can wood glue come out of clothes?
Yes, if you catch it wet. Rinse it with water and keep the spot wet until all the glue has been rubbed out of the fabric. Once it has dried, a mix of acetone, water and vinegar will soften it so you can scrape it off, but some wood glues, such as the II and III types, won't release from fabric once dry.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.