First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Check the glue's packaging for removal instructions; many makers print them.
- Harden the glue with ice or cold water, then scrape it off gently.
- Blot from the edges toward the center to keep the spot from spreading.
Shoes can pick up glue from several adhesives, and each one needs its own remover, so check the packaging and the care tag before you wet anything. Water works with care, but chlorine and heat are ruled out, and suede and leather each need their own handling. Old or dried glue takes longer to lift, so give it time rather than force.
Fresh glue from sneakers or white shoes comes up best when you work it gently and don't scrub the upper harder than you need to. Yellow marks left after the first pass usually need a second light go rather than more pressure. If a glue smell hangs on once the spot is clean, let the shoes air out completely before you wear them again.
Before you start
What shoes & sneakers can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid3
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Ice or cold waterHardens the glue so it lifts instead of smearing.
- Dull knife or spoonLifts hardened glue without pushing it deeper into the fabric.
- Soft-bristled brushRemoves loose dirt and works the baking soda paste. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid soapLifts the rest of the residue in cool water. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaMakes a paste for white or light shoes. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloths and a dry microfiber towelDab the spot and blot away moisture without rubbing. (opens Amazon)
- Crumpled newspaper or a shoe treeHolds the shape while the shoes dry. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Check the care tag first
Look at the care label or tag and follow it over any general advice. If it says dry clean only, skip every wet step and use only a dry-cleaning agent.
Step 2 of 7
Harden and scrape the glue
Press ice or a cloth soaked in cold water against the glue until it stiffens. Then lift the hardened bits off with a dull knife or spoon, working lightly so you don't push the glue deeper into the fabric.
Step 3 of 7
Brush off loose dirt
Use a dry, soft-bristled brush to lift loose dirt and dust from the area. Brush gently, especially on knit yarn, so it doesn't snag.
Step 4 of 7
Test a hidden spot
Dampen a cloth with the same cool water and mild soap, then dab a hidden area such as the inside of the tongue. If dye transfers to the cloth, stick to spot cleaning and keep water off the rest of the shoe.
Step 5 of 7
Dab the stain with soapy water
Dampen a clean cloth with cool water and a little mild soap, then gently pat or dab the stain from the edges toward the center. Pat again with a fresh damp cloth to lift the soap away.
Careful. Hot water can affect the dye on mesh, so keep to cool water.
Step 6 of 7
Paste white or light shoes
On white or light shoes, mix equal parts baking soda and water into a paste and brush it onto the glue spot with a soft brush. Skip this on darker shoes unless the hidden test showed no color change.
Step 7 of 7
Blot and air dry fully
Blot with a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to lift moisture and dirt, and don't rub it dry. Then air dry completely at room temperature for at least 8 hours, stuffing the shoes with crumpled newspaper or a shoe tree to hold their shape.
Careful. Dryers and heat can deform shoes and set the glue in place.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for glue on shoes & sneakers
Match any commercial glue remover to the adhesive, since casein glue, airplane glue and rubber cement each need a different remover. Test it on a hidden spot first and follow the label directions.
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 shoes & sneakers, 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. 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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The spot is working when the glue lifts in flakes and the cloth stops picking up residue. If the mark gets darker or dye starts to come off, stop and return to spot cleaning only.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your shoes & sneakers
Shoes
The steps above fit most shoes, so this card only covers what changes. If the upper is leather, brush gently and don't scrub hard, since hard scrubbing can damage it.
On knit or woven uppers, keep the brushing light so the threads don't pull loose, and blot instead of wiping.
Jordans
Jordans often have a leather or leather-look upper, so those areas need the lightest touch. Brush them gently and don't scrub hard, even when the glue looks stubborn.
Keep the cloth damp rather than wet on stitched or padded areas so the soap doesn't soak in. Once the glue is gone, let the pair air dry fully before you wear them again.
Sneakers
Sneakers usually mix mesh, knit and leather panels, so check which part the glue landed on before you wet it. Brush mesh and knit lightly, since both can snag.
Keep the cloth off the rubber sole unless glue has landed there. Then dab the same way as the main steps so the soap doesn't spread.
Converse
Canvas uppers hold glue in the weave, so let the ice harden it fully before you scrape, and hold the knife flat.
Canvas takes the damp cloth well, but keep the cloth damp rather than wet so the soap stays on the glue spot.
White shoes
The baking soda paste is the main extra step here, so brush it onto the glue spot after the soapy-cloth pass. Yellow marks left after the glue lifts usually mean residue, so repeat the soapy-cloth pass before the paste.
Blot the paste off with a dry microfiber towel and check the spot in good light before the shoes dry. If a faint mark remains, repeat the paste on that spot only.
Canvas shoes
Canvas can take the damp-cloth steps, but it soaks up soap quickly, so rinse with a fresh damp cloth until the soap is gone.
Work the glue spot from the edges toward the center, and use the softest brush you have on the weave. If the fabric color looks different from the hidden test spot, stop and skip the wet steps.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old glue that has been on the shoes for a while is usually stiff, so start with the ice and scrape again before anything else. Work only on the spot, not the whole shoe, and keep the rest of the upper dry.
For dried airplane glue or household cement, dampen a pad with amyl acetate, hold it on the spot for 15 minutes, then flush the area well. For dried school glue, dampen only the spot with warm water and keep it damp for about 30 minutes before you scrape.
Glue that has been through a dryer is harder to lift, since heat sets it in place. Realistically, a faint shadow may stay even after careful work, and super glue or epoxy usually won't come out with these steps.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on glue on shoes & sneakers?
Plenty of household remedies get suggested for glue, but most don't match the adhesive or the shoe material. Only a few of these are worth trying; ice, scraping and mild soap do most of the work.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the glue into the fabric
Rubbing pushes soft glue deeper and spreads it across the upper. Blot and pat from the edges toward the center instead, which keeps the spot from growing.
Don't machine wash the shoes
Delicate materials can be damaged in the drum, and bulky sneakers can damage the washer itself. Cleaning by hand with a damp cloth is the approach that fits here.
Don't use bleach or harsh cleaners
Chlorine bleach has no place on shoes in this method, not even at the end, so skip it. Stick to the mild soap and cool water described above.
Don't use a strong soap mix
A high concentration of dish soap can cause discoloration or strip natural oils from the material. A little mild soap in cool water is enough for every step here.
Don't use solvents without fresh air
Amyl acetate is poisonous, so wear rubber gloves and keep it off plastics and furniture finishes. Work in a well-ventilated room away from open flames and pilot lights, and don't smoke.
When to call a professional
Most glue on shoes comes out at home with the steps above, so a professional isn't needed for the common cases. For super glue or epoxy, or for dry-clean-only items, the options narrow quickly, so check the tag and the dried glue treatment before doing anything more.
Questions
Does super glue come out of shoes?
Usually not, since super glue and epoxy cure hard and are generally permanent. Don't force a solvent onto the upper to try, because there's no safe method for shoes.
Can I use baking soda on colored shoes?
Test it on a hidden spot first, since fabric takes a paste differently from one shoe to the next. The paste step is written for white or light shoes, so on darker shoes use it only if the test shows no color change.
What if the glue smell stays after the shoes dry?
The best fix for a lingering smell is to remove every trace of glue first, then let the shoes air dry fully at room temperature for at least 8 hours. Then let the shoes air dry fully at room temperature for at least 8 hours, stuffed with newspaper or a shoe tree, and check the smell again.
Can I use vinegar on glue on suede shoes?
White vinegar is only for stubborn marks on suede, not glue, so skip it for glue. For suede-specific care, see the Suede & Nubuck guide.
Does cold help the glue come off?
Cold hardens most glue so it scrapes off cleanly, but it won't reverse the bond. For super glue or epoxy, cold won't change the outcome, since those cure hard and stay.
Should I test before I clean the whole shoe?
Yes, always. Dab a hidden spot with cool water and a little mild soap, and if dye comes off onto the cloth, keep the cleaning to the glue spot only.
Glue on other materials
Other stains on shoes & sneakers
Start from the bigger picture
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.