First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Glue on skin: soak in warm soapy water and gently pry it apart with a spoon or bar of soap.
- Never pull glued skin apart, and never use acetone or paint strippers on skin.
- Glue on fabric: let it dry fully, then lift off as much as you can with a dull knife.
Super glue on fabric is one of the hardest stains to treat once it cures, and it bonds within seconds of touching the cloth. The gentlest approach is a slow soak in cool water, tamped and repeated until the glue softens, and it works best on washable fabric. Expect a slow job, since a set spot can take several rounds before anything lifts.
Check the care label before you start on super glue out of clothes, and test any remover on a hidden seam first. Dry-clean-only items belong with a professional cleaner rather than a soak at home. For a spot that has dried hard, an adhesive remover made for glue is the next thing to try, not anything harsher.
7 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knife or the edge of a plastic cardlifts cured glue off the fabric without cutting the fibers
- Cool water and a bowlfor the soak that softens the glue slowly
- Soft brush or spoonto tamp the spot during the soak (not for silk or wool) (opens Amazon)
- Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergentfor the final pretreat before laundering (opens Amazon)
- Pure acetonefor fabric that is not acetate, triacetate or modacrylic, after a hidden-spot test (opens Amazon)
- Cotton swabsto apply acetone at the glue's edge, using as little as possible (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloth or wet spongeto blot away softened glue and flush the spot (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
How to get super glue out of clothes
Step 1 of 6
Let the glue dry, then scrape
Don't work on wet glue; wait until it has dried fully before you touch it. Once it's dry, lift off as much as you can with a dull knife or the edge of a card, working gently from the outside in.
Step 2 of 6
Soak and tamp in cool water
Soak the glued area in cool water so the glue starts to soften. Then tamp the spot with a soft brush or a spoon so the water reaches the glue underneath.
Tip. Keep the water cool throughout, since hot water can set stains.
Careful. Don't brush or tamp silk or wool; rubbing damages silk and agitation felts wool.
Step 3 of 6
Repeat until the glue softens
Keep repeating the soak and tamping until the glue softens and starts to dissolve. Then flush the spot with water and blot it with a wet sponge to lift away what has loosened.
Tip. Give it several short rounds and check the glue between them, rather than one long scrub.
Step 4 of 6
Test and dab acetone carefully
If glue remains and the fabric is not acetate, triacetate or modacrylic, test acetone on a hidden seam first. Then dab it on with a cotton swab, starting at the edge of the glue and working inward, using as little as possible. Blot the softened glue with a cloth and repeat as needed.
Step 5 of 6
Pretreat with detergent and launder
Rub heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent into the spot and let it sit. Launder as usual, and use cool water if the care label doesn't say what temperature is safe.
Tip. Work the detergent in with your fingers from both sides of the fabric.
Step 6 of 6
Check before the dryer
Make sure all the glue is gone before the item goes near high heat. Look at the spot in good light, and repeat the soak if any glue is still there.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for super glue
Look for a super glue remover whose label names fabric as a safe surface, and skip any product whose label doesn't.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
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
Super Glue on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
You'll know the soak is working when the glue softens and starts to lift away from the fibers. If it stays hard after several rounds, move to the acetone swab only if the fabric allows it.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
White shirts and whites
White cotton and linen can take the full method, and chlorine bleach is allowed on them as a last step once everything is rinsed out. Use it only after the glue is gone, and always dilute it first, because undiluted bleach can weaken the fabric.
Don't leave whites in a bleach solution for a long time, since over-soaking can cause yellow stains that won't come out. Rinse thoroughly before the item goes in the dryer.
Colors and denim
Jeans and colored cotton take the same soak and detergent steps, but keep the water cool so the stain doesn't set. Test acetone on an inside seam first, and don't use chlorine bleach on any item that isn't colorfast.
Work the acetone in small amounts and check the swab after each pass, so you can stop if color comes off the fabric.
Silk and wool
Silk and wool take only the gentle parts of this method: a cool-water soak, with no brush, spoon or rubbing. Skip acetone entirely and use a detergent without enzymes, since enzyme detergents aren't safe on either fiber.
Don't put silk or wool through the washing machine to finish the job, because agitation makes wool felt and shrink. If the glue is still there after a few soaks, take the item to a professional cleaner rather than pushing harder at home.
Dry-clean-only items
If the care label says dry clean only, skip the washing machine and the dryer, and take the item to a professional cleaner. Tell them it has super glue on it so they can choose a method suited to the fabric.
Don't use an oxygen booster on dry-clean-only fabrics, since product warnings say to keep it off them. A cool-water soak with no brushing is the most you should try at home before you call a cleaner.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old super glue that has fully cured in fabric is one of the hardest stains to treat, so don't expect it to lift in one soak. Start with the cool-water soak and keep repeating it, since the glue softens slowly over several rounds.
If the glue has dried hard, a longer soak than an acetone swab allows usually works better, because acetone dries off too quickly to keep the glue soft. Use acetone only on fabric that allows it, and only after a hidden-spot test.
If the item has been through the dryer, the heat may have set the glue further, so don't put it back in until the spot is clear. If the glue is still there after several soaks, a dedicated glue remover is the next thing to try, following its label on fabric. Some cured glue may still not come out completely, so stop before you damage the fibers.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on super glue?
If you want to avoid acetone and nail polish remover, the cool-water soak followed by a detergent pretreat is the route, and it works without any solvent, though it's slow. Stick to the cool-water soak and detergent pretreat, and be wary of other remedies for this glue.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer until the glue is gone.
Heat sets stains, and a hot dryer can turn a half-removed glue spot into a permanent one. Check the spot after it has air-dried, and only then decide whether the dryer is safe to use.
Don't use acetone on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic.
These fabrics dissolve in acetone, so a swab that looks harmless can ruin the garment. If you can't tell what the fabric is, stick to the soak and detergent steps.
Don't scrape with a sharp blade.
A dull knife or the edge of a card lifts cured glue, while a sharp blade is likely to cut the fibers. Go slowly and work from the outside of the glue inward.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
Acetone evaporates before the glue softens.
Loctite notes that super glue may need a longer soak than acetone allows. A dedicated glue remover can work better in those cases.
The fabric is acetate or modacrylic.
Skip acetone completely and repeat the cool-water soak-and-tamp rounds as many times as needed.
A stiff patch remains after washing.
Air-dry, then go back to the soaking and tamping, or another careful acetone round on safe fabrics.
Glue is still wet on the fabric.
Leave it alone until it has fully dried. Scraping wet glue spreads it.
When to call a professional
If the item is silk, wool, an heirloom or dry-clean-only, or the glue won't come out after several soaks, take it to a professional cleaner. Tell them it's super glue so they can choose a method that suits the fabric.
Questions
Does acetone or nail polish remover remove super glue?
Yes, pure acetone dissolves super glue, and it is the fastest option on hard surfaces. On fabric, use it only after the soak has failed, on a hidden seam first, and only if the fabric is not acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. Use pure acetone rather than an oily nail polish remover.
Is crazy glue removed the same way as super glue?
Yes. Crazy glue and other cyanoacrylate glues are the same kind of product as super glue, so the same steps apply. Start with the cool-water soak, repeat until it softens, and use acetone only on fabric that allows it.
What works on glued metal, glass or wood?
Pure acetone dissolves super glue on hard surfaces, so apply it with a swab, starting at the edge and working inward. Test a hidden spot first, since acetone can damage some finishes, and keep it off wood finishes, lacquered furniture and vinyl floors. For glued wood furniture, see our Wood Furniture guide.
Do alcohol or commercial removers work on super glue?
Alcohol isn't a reliable choice for cured super glue, so don't count on it. If the soak and acetone fall short, a dedicated super glue remover is the product type to try, following its label for fabric.
Is it safe to use acetone with cotton swabs?
Yes, a cotton swab is the right way to apply acetone, as long as you use as little as possible. Ventilate the room well and keep solvents away from open flames, pilot lights and sparks.
Will acetone harm painted walls or furniture?
Painted surfaces need a test first, because acetone can damage some finishes. Try a hidden spot, and if the paint holds, work on the glue with a swab only, keeping the solvent off the paint around it.
What is the right approach for leather?
For leather, don't soak it or apply acetone yourself. Take the item to a professional who cleans leather and ask about the glue before anything is tried.
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.