How to Remove Glue

Most glues will wash off very easily when still wet. Many ‘home use’ glues and wood glues, like white glue are water based and will rinse off or come off with mild scrubbing with soap and water. If it has dried on the skin, soak in warm water or add a bit of soap to the water and let the skin soak. You can also use a bit of vinegar – this will help break up glue that has dried a bit.

For epoxies and tougher glue removal from skin, work a bit of vaseline into the glue to soften it. The glue should then be easier to peel off. There is no need to peel it to the point of tearing the skin though as any glue will eventually be sloughed off. The natural oils in the skin will repel the glue. It just can take time in some cases. Because of this you can use mineral oil(baby oil) as well. Work it into the skin or put some on a cloth and let it soak into the area. After a few minutes, you should be able to easily peel off the glue. If there is a lot of glue on the skin you may have to do this a couple of times. If you don’t have vaseline or mineral oil handy try some vegetable oil.

If there are still some left over stains on the skin after all this you can use a bit of rubbing alcohol if it is still bothering you.

Epoxy glue removal from skin: As much as I hate the stuff, hand sanitizer will actually help get epoxy off skin as long as it has not dried yet. Just take some and work it in and wipe is off with a dry cloth. It is the alcohol that is doing the trick but in sanitizers is not full strength. So, rubbing alcohol will work as well.

Most people have some skin lotion or cream about and many of these work very well. The oils in these lotions help lift the glue from the skin. With some glues this may take several applications over a few hours. Much better for the skin than many other solutions as well.

Other successful solutions for removing epoxy glue from skin are Windex and WD-40.

If you have Super Glue on your skin or have fingers stuck together with Super Glue or Krazy Glue check out our Super Glue Section.

Once you have removed old wallpaper you have the dubious pleasure of removing removing wallpaper glue residue that has been left behind. Hopefully, the person or persons that applied it put a primer on the wallboard before applying the wallpaper paste. If so, your job will be much easier. If not, it can still be done but a bit more prep work may be needed once the old glue has been removed.

Fabric Softener Use about a 3 to 1 – water to fabric softener. Use a spray bottle and spray onto the areas of the wall that have glue residue or use a (clean) paint roller to apply. Leave for 5 minutes to soak into the glue. If it is soft enough you may be able to wipe off the glue with a wet sponge. Alternatively, you can work it off with a scraper. Use a 5″ putty knife as a narrower one may dig into the drywall. Repeat as necessary. Make sure to wipe off any excess moisture with a towel or cloth then let air dry.

As far as how long to leave the liquid to soak in: don’t leave it so long that it soaks into the wallboard paper. The best way to prevent this is to work a small area at a time. Once you know how long it takes you to scrape an area or wipe off the glue, you can spray the next section so that it is ready and there is no down time.

If the wall was primed before the wallpaper was applied your job will be much easier. If not some of the glue may have soaked into the fiber. In this case you may create some gouges that you will need a skim coat for before painting or re-wallpapering.

When you clean the wall with water before letting it dry, use a clean sponge and clean water rinsing the sponge often.

Once you have removed the majority of the wallpaper glue there may be some small bits still left – use some sandpaper to sand off these remaining bits.

There are commercial products that you can purchase at the hardware store for wallpaper glue removal but before you try one of these you can try undiluted fabric softener on the tougher spots.

If you are looking for techniques for removing super glue check out our Super Glue Section. 

In removing sticker glue or glue residue from plastic containers or bottles: use pretty much any kind of oil that you have handy – cooking oil is fine or you can use WD-40 if you have it handy. Apply a drop and work it in and the glue should peel off pretty easily. Then just wash normally. Rubbing alcohol can be used as well if it is a bit tougher. Most of the time soap and water will do the trick.

There are more powerful degreasers and there is always acetone. Acetone however can damage or fade some plastics so it is wise to test this on the material that you are going to use it for.

If you have glue that has spilled inside your car on plastic or vinyl, or you have taken something apart and need to remove the glue from the plastic before reattaching, then first of all try this: if it is a water based glue(you may not be able to tell by looking) then lay a cloth over the area that has been dampened with soapy water. Let it sit on the glue for a while(30 minutes to lots more depending on the glue) to soak in. A good idea is to place some plastic over the cloth to keep the moisture from evaporating. Then you should be able to just peel the glue off. If it is fairly thick you may need to apply the soapy water a couple of times to soak in enough.

Again, rubbing alcohol is also an option. Work it in with a clean cloth or bit of cotton. Once it has softened then peel it off with your fingers.

Afterwards just wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.

Generally, when removing wet adhesive from plastic, try to blot instead of wipe. Otherwise you may just smear the glue onto other areas.

Different kind of adhesive tapes can leave a mess when used. The worst by far I have found is duct tape. Try not to use this stuff on a surface that you may want clean afterwards. To remove duct tape glue off plastic a couple of the best materials are WD-40 and lighter fluid.

There are a number of household products that will have varying effects on different types of glue. In removing glue from plastic you will often need to do this without damaging the plastic.

Here are some materials that you can try. Nail polish remover – there is a type that is basically acetone and a non-acetone type. With plastic, acetone is not your best choice. If you are going to try this, then test it and wipe it all off afterwards as quickly as you can.

Petroleum jelly, toothpaste, some hand lotions, mineral oil(baby oil), rubbing alcohol, windex, lighter fluid, WD-40,

Peanut butter – this will also remove the petroleum jelly.

Kitchen oil – pretty much any vegetable oil or ANY oil for that matter.

If you are not too worried about the ‘look’ of the finished product you can use a bit of sandpaper. For example if you have taken apart some plastic construct, and there is glue residue to be removed just sand it off. Use the sandpaper to create the edge that you need to reattach the two pieces.

If you are concerned about super glue and how to get it off check our Super glue section.

There are dozens of chemicals and solvents out there for removing carpet glue from cement or hardwood floors. I’m referring here to the yellow glue that sticks down the carpet. And trying to remove carpet glue with some kind of grider or sandpaper is just a lesson in frustration. The heat just makes a sticky mess.

Try boiling water and a good scraper. Pour the boiling water on a small section and let soak. It will soften the yellow carpet glue so that you can remove it with a sturdy scraper. Some other kind of heatlike a heat gun or even a blow dryer can soften the glue enough to make it easier to remove. Yes, you are still going to have to use some muscles. This works best for removing carpet glue from concrete or cement. If you need to remove from hardwood you will need to be extremely careful with this method as the melted glue may seep into the pores of the wood and permanently stain it.

In this case extreme cold my be a better choice. Ice or dry ice(be very careful with this) will make the glue more brittle and allow you to scrape it off more easily. Put the dry ice on the section that you are going to clean for a few minutes – do a small area at a time. Use a good strong, scraper.

If the glue is a brownish color then it may be a tar based glue and can be removed with mineral spirits/paint thinner or turpentine. These will soften and help remove this type of carpet glue.

Remove Gorilla Glue Epoxy from Carpet: Acetone, mineral spirits and soap and water will not work well on the fabric of a carpet. If uncured, use Isopropyl Alcohol to soften then scrape or pick off with your fingers.

For removing Krazy Glue or super glue try our Super Glue section.

In removing sticker glue or glue residue from plastic containers or bottles: use pretty much any kind of oil that you have handy – cooking oil is fine or you can use WD-40 if you have it handy. Apply a drop and work it in and the glue should peel off pretty easily. Then just wash normally. Rubbing alcohol can be used as well if it is a bit tougher. Most of the time soap and water will do the trick.

There are more powerful degreasers and there is always acetone. Acetone however can damage or fade some plastics so it is wise to test this on the material that you are going to use it for.

If you have glue that has spilled inside your car on plastic or vinyl, or you have taken something apart and need to remove the glue from the plastic before reattaching, then first of all try this: if it is a water based glue(you may not be able to tell by looking) then lay a cloth over the area that has been dampened with soapy water. Let it sit on the glue for a while(30 minutes to lots more depending on the glue) to soak in. A good idea is to place some plastic over the cloth to keep the moisture from evaporating. Then you should be able to just peel the glue off. If it is fairly thick you may need to apply the soapy water a couple of times to soak in enough.

Again, rubbing alcohol is also an option. Work it in with a clean cloth or bit of cotton. Once it has softened then peel it off with your fingers.

Afterwards just wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.

Generally, when removing wet adhesive from plastic, try to blot instead of wipe. Otherwise you may just smear the glue onto other areas.

Different kind of adhesive tapes can leave a mess when used. The worst by far I have found is duct tape. Try not to use this stuff on a surface that you may want clean afterwards. To remove duct tape glue off plastic a couple of the best materials are WD-40 and lighter fluid.

There are a number of household products that will have varying effects on different types of glue. In removing glue from plastic you will often need to do this without damaging the plastic.

Here are some materials that you can try. Nail polish remover – there is a type that is basically acetone and a non-acetone type. With plastic, acetone is not your best choice. If you are going to try this, then test it and wipe it all off afterwards as quickly as you can.

Petroleum jelly, toothpaste, some hand lotions, mineral oil(baby oil), rubbing alcohol, windex, lighter fluid, WD-40,

Peanut butter – this will also remove the petroleum jelly.

Kitchen oil – pretty much any vegetable oil or ANY oil for that matter.

If you are not too worried about the ‘look’ of the finished product you can use a bit of sandpaper. For example if you have taken apart some plastic construct, and there is glue residue to be removed just sand it off. Use the sandpaper to create the edge that you need to reattach the two pieces.

If you are concerned about super glue and how to get it off check our Super glue section.

Glue is not porous so most glues are quite easily removed from glass. If there a small amount it can often be scraped off with a razor or similar edge. If the glass is flat, use a straight surface like the edge of an exacto knife blade. This will help prevent scratching.

If you have purchased a vase or something similar and are trying to remove the glue from the sticker usually just rubbing your finger over it will do. If it is a bit tougher than this try a bit of oil. Just about any oil will do – you can use something like WD-40 if you like. Work a drop into the residue and it should help lift it.

If any type of glue has just been spilled and is still wet(other than super glue), use a paper towel to soak up as much as you can. If you ‘wipe’ it will likely smear so ‘dab’ the glue with the paper towel.

If there is a lot spilled then some sort of solvent needs to be used to soften the glue. If you can get most of it off this way you can then scrape the remainder as above.

Something like craft glue should wash off fairly easily with water or soap and water.

A slightly tougher glue like carpenter’s glue or white glue, can often be soaked in warm water to soften and then be peeled off.

For an epoxy, peel off as much as you can then scrape or soften with a solvent such as paint thinner or turpentine(be very careful with these – follow the instructions, please!) – you can even try acetone if you have some. Rarely will these things damage the glass. (But do test if you can.) Place a little solvent on the glue and let it soak in. If there is a lot and you want to let is soak in for a bit, place a bit of cling wrap(Saran Wrap) over after you have applied the solvent to keep it from evaporating.

You can also try acetone(nail polish remover). This is mostly used for super glue type adhesives and occasionally works with other glue.

Start simple when you are removing glue from glass. You are more likely to break the glass with using too heavy a scraper than you are damaging from a solvent.

Once you have gently scraped off most of the residue you can apply a bit of isopropyl alcohol(rubbing alcohol) for the final clean up.

If your glass is attached to something where the solvent could spill or leak into or onto an undesired place you can try cold. Put some ice against the glue to make it brittle. Then peel it off.

Most of these techniques will work on any glazed finish: ceramics and porcelain.

If you are dealing with super glue(krazy glue, cyanoacrylate glue) and need something to remove it, then please check out our Super glue section.

You will find on this page techniques for removing wood glue, white glue, epoxy and gorilla wood glue from clothing or fabric. For information on Superglue or Krazy glue and those types of glue, look at our Super Glue section.

Remove white glue from fabric (white glue, elmers glue)

These glues are mostly water based and so are much easier to remove. First, allow the glue to dry. Gently scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife or a credit card or something similar. Try not to stretch the fabric.

To get off the rest, let it soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes. Then work a drop of liquid laundry detergent into the stain with your fingers. Rinse the fabric with cold water and let dry. If it is type of fabric that can be washed and if you put it in a machine, use cold water. If it is not the type of fabric that can be put in a machine use a small brush with water to continue to work the rest of the glue out.

Remove epoxy from fabric(acrylic)

Epoxies are two part glues. They are very strong, can be used around the house, for crafts and there are types for commercial uses. If some ends up on a shirt, blouse or other fabric, then the sooner you get to it the better (as for most glue ‘accidents’of any type). Acetone is one of better solvents for epoxy so it is best to test it on an area of the fabric that is not normally visible to see if it will damage or fade the material.

This technique involves acetone so test somewhere on the fabric first. Somewhere that will not show. Acetone can damage and fade some fabrics. Get a clean cloth and soak in acetone – you can get nail polish remover if you like or use Mister Glue’s Uncure. Lay the soaked cloth over the fabric and seal it somehow to keep the solvent from evaporating. Plastic bag, saran wrap or some other kind of cling wrap will do the trick. Leave it for a couple of to soakin. Check periodically and if the solvent has dried add a bit more. At this point you should be able to peel off the softened epoxy. Try a dry cloth or if that does not work a dull knife or hard plastic edge. Once thoroughly cleaned launder as usual.

Remove wood glue from fabric:

Great for wood but not so much for clothing. Again as with most glue stains, the sooner you get to it the better.

Here are a few different options:

Wood glue is generally water soluble so should come off pretty easily. Some will come off just by throwing in the washing machine. I suggest that if you dothis use a cold cycle. As soon as you notice the glue on the fabric rinse the wood glue stain with cool water. Most will come off with just that.

This is a technique that I have not tried and would be a bit nervous about: Put the stained part into boiling water for a couple of minutes. This should soften the glue or turn it into liquid. Generally with heat I find that it will fasten dyes and other things into fabric but there are several people telling me that this works. Another way of using heat is with an iron. Place a piece of cloth between the iron and glue and heat it up to soften the glue.

Once most of the glue has been removed you can use some white vinegar on a cloth to saturate any remaining glue. Then scrape off with a dull knife or your fingers.

For the tougher situations you can try ammonia – again test, test, test. Also, best to use gloves as ammonia can be a bit nasty.damage the fabric.

How to remove Gorilla Glue: (Gorilla Wood Glue) Again it is a water based glue and should be removed as above. If you leave these glues too long they will be tougher to remove and often leave permanent stains. If you notice the Gorilla Glue on fabric and it is still wet use cold water to rinse off.

For tips on how to remove Super Glue (Krazy glue) go to Super Glue Section.