Who has never needed to make repairs or glue broken objects using superglue? Generally, when some ornaments, mugs, potted plants, or other household utensils are damaged, many people like to resort to glue. But when handling this product, it is quite possible that you end up spilling a little on your clothes and not know how to remove it.
The Most Effective Technique To Get Super Glue Out Of Clothes
We at Tender Touch Laundry have prepared this article on how to remove glue from clothes leaving the fabric intact and undamaged.
Scraping The Glue
Scraping and applying the acetone, and washing the fabrics afterward can work on most fabrics, but it can also destroy the most delicate ones(Delicate fabrics include silk, lace, voile, and satin). Luckily, laundromats have products that can safely remove glue from your clothes.
Waiting For Some Time
Be patient and wait for the glue to dry on its own. Trying to remove it while it is still wet will only make the situation worse. Avoid the use of a hairdryer or any similar device to speed up the process, as doing this will permanently set the stain on your clothes.
Soaking In Ice Water
Soak the affected sot in ice water if you are in a hurry, the glue should only take 15 to 20 minutes to dry. If you can’t wait that long, fill a bowl with water and add enough ice cubes to chill the liquid. Soak the stained area in water for a few seconds and remove, you can also apply a fabric softener. The ice water will make the glue harden for removal.
Scraping It Off With Hands
Scrape off as much glue as you can. Place the garment on a hard surface and scrape off the glue using your fingernail or a spoon. Always note that you won’t be able to get all the substance out this way, but at least you’ll remove the larger pieces.
You can skip this step if the fabric is lightweight or soft material.
Acetone Immersion
Test the acetone on clothing in a hidden area. Soak a cotton ball in pure acetone and press it evenly over the affected area, such as a seam or hem. Wait a few seconds before removing the cotton.
If you don’t see any fading while applying this particular method, then you’re still on track, otherwise, rinse the area with water and take the fabric to a professional dry cleaner.
To continue, press a cotton ball soaked in acetone against the stain, soak another cotton ball with pure acetone and squeeze it against the stain. Try to avoid other parts of the garment to lessen the chance of damage.
You can also use a piece of white fabric instead of a cotton ball but do not use colored or patterned fabrics.
Wait until the glue softens and move the cotton ball away. Always check the glue every few minutes. How long it takes to soften depends on how much glue has been able to fall off, the exact chemical composition of the glue, the fabric, and other factors. It can take three to 15 minutes.
Scraping Off The Softened Glue
Again, use your fingernail or a spoon to scrape off the substance. You may not be able to remove everything, but that is not a problem. The secret to safely removing superglue is to go slow.
Do not use your nail if you have nail polish. The area will now be filled with acetone, which can dissolve nail polish as well as stain your fabric.
While acetone is very potent and effective, it can only remove the surface layers of glue, which means you may need to repeat the process of applying and scraping. In case you’re still seeing large chunks of glue, soak another cotton ball in acetone and repeat the process.
Washing The Part
We recommend you apply a pre-wash stain remover whenever you notice that most of the glue is gone. Use a prewash stain remover on the garment, rub the product into the stain and rinse with cold water.
Wash the garment using the wash cycle and temperature indicated on the label to remove the rest of the residue. Most parts can be washed in cold or lukewarm water. If the garment no longer has a product tag, use cold water and run on the gentlest cycle.
If you don’t have time to wash your clothes, wash the affected area with cold water and soap, and rinse and dry with a towel.
Washing The Garment Again If The Stain Is Still There.
If the stain is quite minimal, another very good option is to run the fabric through the washer. And If the glue stains are still visible, you may need to repeat the acetone treatment all over again.
Do not put the garment in the dryer if you notice that the stain is still there. You can hang the fabric outside to air dry.
Dry The Garment When The Stain Is Completely Gone.
The safest option is to dry on the clothesline or you can make use of a hanger. Don’t put your fabrics in the dryer If you notice any leftover stain after washing the garment, so as not to set the stain deeper in it.
Key Points To Note
Always Wait For The Glue To Dry And Scrape It Off With A Spoon.
If the glue ends up dripping on your clothes, the first thing you need to do is wait for it to dry. However, if you try to clean the glue while it’s still liquid, it’s quite possible that it ends up spreading even more on the fabric, making the removal process difficult.
Therefore, our recommendation is to wait for the glue to dry and then use a spoon (or a dull knife) to remove what you can. But remember not to force too much so as not to damage the fabric.
How to remove super glue from clothing without acetone
Prepare A Solution Of Water, Vinegar, And Washing Powder
After removing excess glue with a spoon, you must prepare a solution of 1 liter of hot water, ½ cup of white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of washing powder. Shake the products by hand, and then let the garment soak for about 20 minutes.
Hot water helps to soften the glue and makes the removal process much easier! With a washing brush, scrub the spot of the stain (until the glue is completely gone) and, if necessary, repeat the process. Finally, just wash your clothes as you would normally do.
Many people also choose to use acetone to soften and remove the glue. To apply this technique, just soak a piece of cotton and apply it directly to the spot of the stain.
Always ensure that you test it in a little spot on the affected fabric before using the acetone on the entire clothing, this is to ensure that the product does not stain or damage the fabric.
If Necessary, Use A Stain Remover
The hot water + vinegar + washing powder solution is often an unbeatable formula for removing glue from clothes. However, if you still notice any stain on the fabric, our recommendation is to use a stain remover to finish the job.
Just apply the product on the spot, wait for about 20 minutes, rub with a brush, and then wash normally.
It is worth mentioning that the stain remover is indicated to remove stains at the end of the washing process (that is when the excess glue has already been removed). That’s because it is not as efficient to soften glue stains on fabrics, but it helps a lot in washing clothes.