How to Get Super Glue Out of Clothes

Co-authored by Gino Colucci

Last Updated: September 25, 2022

Superglue on clothing is no reason to worry because it can be cleaned off with some acetone and a good rinse. Though different fabrics will react differently to superglue, most should be fine if you first let the glue dry and then break it down by soaking with acetone. After that, a deep rinse should get the rest of the residue off. Before doing anything, though, you should check the tag on your clothes to see the proper care recommended to make sure you don't add further damage to the garment.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Scraping the Glue Off

1
Take delicate fabrics to a professional dry cleaner. Scraping, acetone, and washing may work for most fabrics, but it can destroy delicate fabrics. Luckily, dry cleaners own products that can safely remove the glue from your fabric.^{[1]
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- Check the care label on your fabric. If it says that it must be dry cleaned, then take it to a dry cleaner.
- Delicate fabrics include sheers, lace, and silk.
2
Let the glue dry on its own. Be patient and let the glue dry. If you try to tackle the glue while it is still wet, you'll only make things worse. Do not attempt to speed the process up with a dryer, or you will permanently set the stain into your garment.^{[2]
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3
Soak the stained area in iced 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, then add enough ice cubes to make it cold. Dip the stained area into the water for a few seconds, then pull it out. The iced water will have caused the glue to harden.^{[3]
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4
Scrape as much of the glue off as possible. Place the garment on a hard surface, then scrape the glue off with your fingernail or the edge of a spoon. You won't be able to get all of the super glue off, but you should be able to get most of the larger chunks off.^{[4]
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- Skip this step if the fabric is loosely-woven, such as knits or delicate muslin, or you'll risk tearing it.
5
Take a look at the affected area and decide if you need to continue. Sometimes, all you need to do is scrape the glue off. If large pieces of glue are still stick to the garment, you will need to move onto the next step: acetone.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Soaking the Glue in Acetone

1
Test the garment with acetone in an inconspicuous area. Soak a cotton ball with 100% acetone, then press it against an inconspicuous area of the garment, such as a hem or seam. Wait a few seconds, then pull the cotton ball away.^{[5]
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- If you don't notice any discoloration or disintegration, you can proceed with the tutorial.
- If you do notice any discoloration or disintegration, stop, rinse the area with water, and take the garment to a dry cleaner.
- Use acetone in a well-ventilated area.
- You can buy acetone in hardware stores. If you don't have acetone available, nail polish remover should also work.
2
Press a cotton ball soaked in acetone against the stain. Soak another cotton ball with more 100% acetone. Press it against the stain, making sure that you avoid the other parts of the garment. This will help minimize potential damage.^{[6]
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- You can also use a piece of white fabric instead of a cotton ball. Do not use colored or patterned fabric.^{[7]
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3
Wait for the glue to soften, then pull the cotton ball away. Check on the glue every few minutes. How long it will take for the glue to soften depends on how much glue there is, the exact chemical makeup of the glue, the fabric, and so forth. It can take anywhere from 3 to 15 minutes.^{[8]
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4
Scrape the softened glue off. Once again, use your fingernail or the edge of a spoon to scrape the glue off. You may not be able to get all of the glue off, which is fine. The key to removing super glue safely is to take it slowly.^{[9]
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- Do not use your fingernail if you are wearing nail polish. The area is soaked in acetone now, which can dissolve the polish and stain the garment.
5
Repeat the acetone process, if needed. While powerful, acetone can only remove the upper layers of the glue. This means that you may have to repeatedly soak and scrape the stain off. If you still see large chunks of glue, soak another cotton ball in acetone and repeat the process.^{[10]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Washing the Garment

1
Apply a laundry pre-treatment stain remover. Once most of the stain is gone, apply a laundry pre-treatment stain remover to the garment. Massage the product deep into the stain, then rinse the stain with cold water.^{[11]
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2
Wash the garment using the cycle and temperature on the care tag. This will remove any final residue. Most garments can be washed in warm or cool water. If your garment no longer has the care tag, use cool water and a gentle cycle.
- If you do not have time to do the laundry, wash the affected area with cool water and soap. Rinse the area, then pat it dry with a towel.
3
Wash the garment again if the stain remains. If the stain is very light, another run through the washer may be all that is needed. If the stain is still visible, you may need to repeat the acetone treatment.^{[12]
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- Do not put the garment into the dryer if the stain is still there. You can air-dry the garment, however.
4
Dry the garment once the stain is completely gone. The safest option is to allow the garment to air dry, but you can use a dryer if you are absolutely certain that the stain is gone. If you notice any residue after washing the garment, do not put it in the dryer, otherwise you'll set the stain.^{[13]
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- If there is any residue, put it through the washer again. You can also repeat the acetone treatment, or take it to the dry cleaner.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

Where can I find inexpensive acetone?

Community Answer

You can find 100% acetone in nail polish remover. Most bottles cost from $1 - $3 from your local Walmart, Dollar General or Target.