How to Remove Iron Glue Stains

Iron glue (main ingredient cyanoacrylate) is the collective name for all kinds of quick-drying glues, known for their ability to glue everything from fingers to objects in seconds. Luckily, there are ways to remove glue stains from any surface you don’t want.

Table of Contents

Remove glue stains from the skin

Try removing the glue first (for non-sensitive skin). Sometimes just doing this step is enough to remove the glue, especially when the glue is only on one finger and not two fingers together. However, you need to be very careful, and if you feel pain or skin peeling, stop immediately.

Wait for the glue to dry into a thin, hard layer before peeling it off. Do not touch the wet glue.
Use clean fingers or tweezers to pinch the edge of the dry glue and slowly peel it off the skin. Stop when the glue seems difficult to peel off or causes pain.

Soak the glued skin. Soaking in warm soapy water may be enough to loosen the glue from your hands. Pour warm water into a bowl and add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of mild liquid soap. Soak the glued skin for about 30-60 seconds, then try to peel off the softened glue. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If the glue can’t be removed, try using a spatula or spatula to scrape over the glued skin to loosen the glue.
Note that you may need to do it several times to be successful.
You can also try using lemon juice instead of water, or use a solution of 1 part lemon juice to 1 part water. The acid in lemon juice can help corrode the glue.

Try white gasoline. If you have sensitive skin, you can soak the glued area in white gasoline and try peeling it off. Repeat again if the glue has not come off.

Use acetone. This is best suited for removing glue on more tolerant skin types – sensitive skin can become irritated or dry with this method. You also need to remember that acetone should never be applied to an open wound. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Soak the skin in warm soapy water as soon as possible. This step will help soften the glue. A little extra vinegar can also help. If that doesn’t work, pat it dry and move on to the next step.
Use nail polish remover that contains acetone. You need to use a product that contains acetone, because acetone softens the cyanoacrylate. Rub this solution on the glue, and you should see the dried glue begin to peel off. Be careful not to use a cotton swab, as it can react violently with cyanoacrylate (fuming or catching fire). ^{[3] X Research Sources Poulter, S., (2004), <i>Modern Adhesives, A Fundamental Approach</i>}
Wait for it to dry, then use a nail file to remove the glue. Be careful not to file the entire skin. If you have a lot of glue on your hands, you can rub it with a pumice stone dipped in warm water.
Let the glue peel off on its own. The glue will turn white but will be painless and will eventually come off on its own.

Try margarine. For sensitive skin, a little grease may be more effective. Rub a little margarine on the glued skin and repeat until the glue can be removed gently.

If you don’t have margarine, you can use olive oil instead. The oil will react with the glue and loosen the bonds. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use laundry soap. Mix laundry soap (any brand will do) with hot water. If you only need to remove glue on an area as small as a finger, you only need ¼ cup of soap mixed with hot water.

Scrub and soak for about 20 minutes to loosen the thick glue.

Use salt. A paste of salt and water may have enough friction to rub off the glue. Put 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of salt in the palm of your hand.

Add a little water to the salt to make a paste.
Rub the mixture in your hands for about 30-60 seconds.
Rinse off the mixture.
Continue scrubbing but do not add water.
Repeat until the salt has dissolved. Hopefully the glue will come off too.

Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline cream). Wash hands and glued skin in hot soapy water.

Apply a lot of Vaseline cream on the glued skin.
Use a nail file to file the glued skin for about 1 minute or rub until the glue comes off.
Repeat again, then wash and dry your hands.

Remove glue from eyes

Soak the glued eyelids together in warm water. Dip a soft cloth in warm water and gently place it over your eyelids, then rinse your eyes thoroughly. Put gauze on your eyelids and wait patiently. After 1-4 days, your eyelids will naturally open. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Don’t try to open your eyes. Let time help you heal.

Let the tears flow naturally if glue sticks to the eyeball. The glue will absorb the protein in the eye within a few hours, and the tears will wash away the glue. You can use warm water to wash your eyes if it doesn’t cause discomfort. ^{[6] X Research Source}

You may experience double vision (seeing one object in two). Relax in a safe place until the glue comes off and washes away.

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Go see a doctor. You should really see a doctor if glue gets near your eyes or gets in your eyes. The eye area is very sensitive and should be checked by a doctor to make sure there is no lasting damage. Tell your doctor what happened and have him check to make sure everything is back to normal.

Remove glue from lips

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Quick action. Lips stuck together from glue is not a laughing matter.

Pour a bowl of warm water. Dip your lips in the water and submerge your lips in the water. Soak for about 1-2 minutes. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Try to keep saliva in your mouth. Push the saliva into the lips from the inside.

Saliva will help moisten and soften the glue from the inside of the mouth, while warm water will work from the outside.

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Peel off the glue carefully to separate the lips. Wait until the entire surface of the lips is moist and use this method to try to separate the lips, remember not to pull! You may cause further damage to your lips if you do.

Move your lips back and forth while soaking in warm water. If favorable, your lips will gradually separate from each other.

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Eat and drink normally. The saliva will eventually remove any remaining glue, but be sure not to swallow. Let’s spit it out.

Don’t worry about swallowing liquid glue, because the glue will solidify as soon as it comes in contact with saliva.
The remaining adhesive will come off in 1-2 days. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Remove glue on smooth surfaces (wood, metal, stone)

Try removing the glue first. Use your finger or fingernail to peel off the glue. If so, you can continue. If not, move on to the next step.

This solution usually works with most smooth surfaces, including wood, metal and stone. However, you should not use this method on glass or plastic.
Always test on an inconspicuous part of the surface first to make sure it’s not damaged, especially if you’re using abrasive or corrosive materials like acetone. If the test site is unharmed, you can continue.

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Soak the adhesive surface. Mix dish soap with warm water, then soak a rag in the soapy solution. Apply a rag to the glue and leave it for a few hours. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You may need to cover the rag with cling film to keep it moist.
Try scraping the glue again when the glue has softened.

Try using an acetone nail polish remover. Finished wood surfaces run the risk of flaking with the glue if you pull the glue up, so you need a gentler solution. Concentrated acetone solution can also damage some metal and stone surfaces if you are not careful. ^{[10] X Research Sources}^{[11] X Research Sources}

Dip a clean rag in acetone or nail polish remover. You can use a toothbrush – but remember not to use it to brush your teeth afterwards!
Rub the damp rag onto the glue stain. For small glue stains, place your finger on the rag and rub in a circular motion. For a larger stain, grab a rag with a larger area in contact with the stain to scrub.
Use a silicone spatula or plastic spatula to lift the adhesive back up. Hopefully the acetone will help lift the edge of the glue, and it will be easier for you to thread the trowel underneath to continue to remove all of the glue.
Wash the adhesive surface with warm soapy water to remove the acetone. For wooden furniture, polish the wood surface with beeswax or olive oil after removing the glue.

Use lemon juice. If you don’t have an acetone nail polish remover or want a milder solution, you can use lemon juice. Apply lemon juice to the glue with the same action.

Use a toothbrush specifically designed for household cleaning to rub a small amount of lemon juice onto the glue stain. Rub the lemon juice in a circular motion until the glue comes off.
Similarly, you can remove glue stains with rubbing alcohol.

Try mineral oil. Mineral oil can remove glue stains if the wood surface is not painted. Oil the rag and rub it over the glue until the glue comes off. Wash off the oil with warm soapy water and finish by polishing the wood surface.

This method is very effective for unpainted wood surfaces.

Sand to remove glue. In some cases, sanding the adhesive surface is the best option. Apply tape around the glue stain to protect the outside area of the glue, then use sandpaper to rub the glue off. Restore the sanded area with oil, varnish or paint, depending on the original finish on the wood surface.

Remove glue on fabric

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Wash the fabric in warm water first. Rub the glue stain to remove as much glue as possible by rubbing the cloth. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Needless to say, you probably already know to be gentle with delicate fabrics – rubbing or rubbing can damage the fibers.
Dissolve a little strong laundry soap in the water to increase the effectiveness. Using 2 tablespoons (30 ml) is enough.

Use acetone to treat glue stains on natural fibers. ^{[13] X Research Source} Dampen the cloth, dip an old toothbrush in acetone, and rub it over the glue stain to loosen it. Use a spatula or blunt knife to scrape off the glue, then wash the fabric as usual. You can also pre-treat the stain as you normally would before washing.

Do not use acetone on acetate fabrics or other forms of acetate –– the fabric will bleed when exposed to acetone.
Always test on a spot before using on fabric.
Note that acetone can stain fabrics after removing glue stains.

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Take your valuables to the dry cleaners. If it’s an expensive fabric or if you can’t remove the glue yourself, take it to a professional service. Better safe than sorry!

Remove glue on plastic

Try scrubbing and removing the glue. Use your fingernails to try to pry the edge of the glue. Once you’ve picked it up a bit, continue to pick and try to peel off the surface of the plastic object. This is a bit laborious, but may be the best method.

You can also use a plastic spatula or a plastic knife to scrape off the glue without scratching the plastic surface.

Moisten the glue. Mix warm soapy water with mild dishwashing liquid.

Dip a piece of cloth or paper towel in the soapy water and wring it out so it’s just damp.
Spread a piece of cloth or paper towel over the glue stain. Cover the top with a layer of cling film to keep the environment moist and let it sit for a few hours. The glue stain will be moistened and will soften considerably.
Use a cloth dipped in warm soapy water to remove as much of the glue as possible after the cloth has been damp for several hours. Continue dotting until the glue comes off.

Remove glue on glass

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Try to remove as much glue as possible with a sharp blade. The razor blade will be very effective and will not damage the glass surface. If you want to clean a drop of glue this way, simply wash off any remaining streaks with warm soapy water, rinse with water, and let dry.

Soak stains. If the glue doesn’t peel off, soak it in warm water and try again. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Place the glass object in a bowl of warm soapy water. If you can’t soak the item, simply dip a rag in soapy water and apply it to the glue stain.
Place a layer of cling film on top of the rag and seal with tape. Leave it on for about 1-2 hours to soften the glue, then scrape off the softened glue with a spatula or blade.
Rubbing alcohol, eucalyptus oil or acetone can be used to clean up any remaining streaks. Wash the glassware and polish if necessary.

Advice

Some suitable products, such as citrus cleaners, can also remove iron glue on some surfaces, in addition to iron glue remover products on the market. Read the product label to see what materials the product can be used for.
Acetone is often found in nail polish removers. Check the label on the product bottle, as not all products contain acetone. You can then use nail polish remover to remove the glue.
Focus on the edge of the glue stain. You should hold the edge of the glue stain to begin peeling, so moistening and peeling is the preferred way to remove even the drop of glue.
If none of the above methods remove iron glue from your skin, try using turpentine. Pour some turpentine into the palm of your hand and rub it on your skin for 1 minute. Wash with soap and water, then pat dry. Most (if not all) of the glue iron will come off.

Warning

Acetone or rubbing alcohol can tarnish, peel off decals and prints, and damage many other materials. You should always be careful and try first on a hidden spot.
Think before you put a tube of glue stick or glue cap in your mouth! This is one of the most common causes of lips sticking together – people often try to unscrew the glue stopper by biting or holding a tube of glue with their mouths.
Remember not to wear cotton or wool clothing (especially gloves made of these materials) when working with cyanoacrylate products, as these products can react with each other and generate a lot of heat, which can cause skin burns, even burns. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Steps