How to get nail glue and super glue out of clothes

Step by step: how to get nail glue and super glue out of clothes

Safety first. Acetone and rubbing alcohol are flammable. Work in a ventilated room away from flames and heaters, wear gloves if you have sensitive skin, and never put a solvent-damp garment in the dryer. If super glue bonds your skin to the fabric, do not pull; soak the area in warm soapy water until it releases.

1. 1

   Let the glue harden

   Do not rub wet nail glue or super glue; it spreads into more fibers. Let it set for a few minutes until it is hard. A hardened blob is easier to lift off in one piece.

2. 2

   Scrape off the excess

   Lay the garment flat and gently scrape the raised glue with a dull knife or the edge of an old card. Flex the fabric to crack the glue loose. Stop if threads start to pull.

3. 3

   Test acetone on a hidden seam

   Dab a little acetone nail polish remover on an inside seam with a cotton swab, wait 1 to 3 minutes, then press a white paper towel on it. If no color transfers and the fabric does not soften or pucker, you can use it on the stain.

4. 4

   Dab the glue with acetone

   Put a folded paper towel under the stain. Dab acetone onto the glue with a cotton swab, working from the outside edge toward the center so it does not spread. Keep it damp for a few minutes until the glue turns soft or gummy.

5. 5

   Lift the softened glue

   Pick the loosened glue off with tweezers or scrape it gently with the dull knife. Repeat the acetone and lifting until no more comes away. A thin, stiff patch may remain on thick glue spills.

6. 6

   Pretreat with detergent

   Rinse the area with cold water, then cover the spot completely with liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for 20 minutes. Work it in gently with your fingers.

7. 7

   Wash and air dry

   Wash the garment on the hottest setting its care label allows with your usual detergent. Air dry it and check the spot. If any glue or stiffness remains, repeat the acetone step before the garment ever goes in the dryer.

How to remove each type of glue from clothes

Match the method to the glue: solvents for super glue and nail glue, soaking for school glue, and cold for hot glue. Tide’s glue guide points out that most nail glues use cyanoacrylate, the same adhesive as super glue, which is why acetone is the go-to.

Which fabrics should not get acetone?

Do not use acetone on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. The University of Georgia Extension warns that acetone damages these fibers, and on acetate it can turn the fabric to froth almost instantly. Acetate shows up in linings, satin blouses, formal dresses and some scarves, so read the fiber content first.

• For acetate, silk, wool and anything labeled dry clean only, scrape what you can and take it to a dry cleaner. Tell them it is cyanoacrylate glue.
• For spandex blends and dark colors, try rubbing alcohol first; it is gentler than acetone but works more slowly.
• For glue on a soft surface that is not clothing, such as a couch or carpet, test even more carefully, since you cannot wash it afterward. Our sticker residue guide covers gentler adhesive removers.

What if the super glue will not come out?

Sometimes it will not fully come out. Super glue that has soaked deep into a thick weave can bond to the fibers themselves, and the University of Georgia Extension’s stain guide lists super glue as a stain it cannot remove. You can usually soften and lift the raised part, but a faint stiff patch may stay.

If two rounds of acetone and a wash do not shift it, stop before you thin the fabric. On a valued item, a dry cleaner may have stronger spotting solvents. On everyday clothes, a patch, an iron-on applique or turning a shirt into a work shirt are honest options.

Mistakes to avoid

• Rubbing wet super glue with a tissue, which spreads it and can glue the tissue to the shirt.
• Using acetone on acetate linings or satin, which can melt the fabric.
• Skipping the hidden-seam test on colored clothes.
• Tossing the garment in the dryer before the glue is gone; heat makes it harder to remove.
• Scraping hard with a sharp blade and cutting or pulling the threads.