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Last Updated on November 25, 2023 by bluefuze
Gorilla glue can be amazing, but can put you in a sticky situation if it gets on your skin. Let’s learn How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Skin (and Other Surfaces)!
Gorilla Glue is one of the market’s strongest adhesives. It’s a polyurethane glue that works with any type of surface, and its strongest point is that it dries out, forming a bond super quickly via a chemical reaction. This process is called the glue’s curing, and that’s precisely why it’s hard to remove it from any surface.
In this article, we’ll tell you how to remove Gorilla Glue from skin, clothes, and glass.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Skin
A good adhesive is one that has a fast curing time; that is, it dries up fast and hardens within a few seconds—great news for the thing you’re fixing, but very bad news if you’re in a situation where the glue is on your skin!
There are two possible scenarios here, either the glue is wet on your skin -you’re lucky- or the glue has hardened and dried on your skin already.
Removing Wet Glue from Skin
If you have wet Gorilla glue on your skin, you should act immediately and try to wipe it off with a towel or a cotton cloth. Time is of the essence here; you need to remove the biggest amount of glue before it dries.
Then, use liquid soap and water to wash the residue. You should do this step when there’s no more tacky glue on your skin because water will dry out the glue. Liquid soap is better than bar soap in this case so as not to add friction. Dishwashing soap is your best bet here.
After doing your best washing your skin with soap and water, grab some sugar or soap and rub them into your skin as a means of exfoliation. This should remove the last bits of residue on your skin.
Moisturize after this cleansing session, as it’ll definitely dry out your skin.
Tip: Always have a piece of cotton cloth and a basin with water and liquid soap nearby when you’re using Gorilla glue. This way, you’ll be able to act upon any glue-on-skin situation instantly.
Removing Dry Glue from Skin
Now that you’ve probably missed the glue spot on your skin while it was still clammy, you’ll need to deal with a stubborn dry blob of Gorilla glue on your skin. No worries. There are plenty of ways to do so.
Acetone
Acetone is the primary chemical compound in nail polish removers and paint thinners. Arguably, it’s the best way to remove Gorilla glue residue from skin and other surfaces.
First, soak your skin in warm soapy water for ten minutes to loosen the glue. Then, apply acetone to wet skin. You can either soak the area in acetone -if possible- or use cotton balls that are soaked in acetone and apply them to your skin. You need to apply an ample amount.
Either leave your skin soaked in acetone for around 15 minutes or reapply acetone in circular motions if you’re using the cotton balls technique. You should stop when the glue starts to loosen and come off.
Wash your skin and hand thoroughly with soap and water after this and moisture heavily using lotion, as acetone will dry your skin.
Scrubbing
Instead of acetone, you can try a mechanical exfoliation method using a physical exfoliator (like sugar or salt) or, even better, a pumice stone. Beware that this method is harsh on the skin, so it’s a no for people with sensitive skin.
To follow this method, you’ll need to soften the glue first. Apply some baby oil to the affected area and rub in a circular motion for a few minutes. Then, grab your pumice stone and start rubbing gently and increase the intensity as you go.
Your scrubbing movement should be strong but slow. Don’t go too far, as this might result in skin abrasion.
Once the glue starts coming off, start rubbing it with your hands till you remove it. Wash your hands and moisturize when you finish.
You can also make a homemade exfoliator using one cup of coarse sea salt, half a cup of coconut oil, and a few drops of any essential oil of your choice. Mix the ingredients in a bowl and then scrub them onto your skin as you do with soap. It’d be better to cover the area with baby oil first.
To avoid this situation altogether, we’d advise you wear gloves while working with Gorilla glue.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Hands
If it’s a small spot, you can remove it completely while it’s still tacky. Wiping it off with a dry cloth towel might resolve the situation. Don’t add water at this point because it actually strengthens the glue’s bond.
In case you couldn’t wipe off the glue while it’s still tacky, you should use something to dissolve dry glue from your hands with the least amount of friction so as not to dry your skin out. Olive oil is a great solution in this situation.
To give olive oil a boost, heat it for a couple of minutes in the microwave and add a pinch of salt to help with the friction. Then, rub it on your hands multiple times till the glue comes off. Again, you need to wash your hands with lukewarm water and liquid soap afterward.
If your fingers are stuck together because of Gorilla glue, you have to use acetone despite its abrasive properties. Soak your hand in a bowl of acetone for three to five minutes, then try to use your fingernails from the other hand to separate them. If this didn’t work, do it again a couple of times till glue comes off.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Clothes
Unlike the situation of Gorilla glue on the skin, you don’t want to deal with wet glue on clothes. Trying to remove loose glue from clothes will only spread it out. The first step to cure this situation is to wait for the glue to dry on its own.
Then, spread the garment over a flat surface and try scraping off the glue using your nails or a gentle scrubber. Be cautious so as not to ruin your clothes.
If the glue doesn’t come off, you might need to use acetone or lemon juice. You’d have to test it on a small piece first so because they might take off the color. Finally, clean the garment using an efficient laundry agent. It might take a couple of times for the glue traces to disappear completely.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Glass
Again, trying to wipe off a blob of wet glue will probably lead to a sticky mess of glue residue afterward. To remove Gorilla glue from the glass, we’ll need it to dry first.
The best way is to use a scraper, a plastic one. Try to get your scraper under the glue blob and pry at the glue to remove it. If this doesn’t work, move your scraper around the blob in circular motions till you get underneath and work your way out.
After you’re done, spray the area with 50:50 vinegar and water solution to remove the stains. Your glass should be clean now!
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Fabric
Removing Gorilla glue from fabric is the same as removing it from clothes. You want it to dry out, then start scraping to remove it. If your fabric isn’t sensitive to acetone, we’d recommend you soak your fabric in acetone to weaken the bond between the glue and the fabric, then try peeling it off afterward.
If traditional ways didn’t succeed, you’d probably need a special glue remover.
Gorilla Glue Remover
If scraping and scrubbing didn’t succeed in removing glue from the surface and if acetone ruins the material, you can resort to a glue removing agent product.
One of the most famous and efficient glue removers is Goo Gone Original Liquid, which is a liquid formula that relies mainly on citrus cleaning agents to remove glue, tar, wax, labels, and gum. Goo Gone is a clever way of removing a gooey mess.
Gorilla Glue’s strong suit is the fact that it’s fabric-safe; it won’t destroy your fabric’s appearance, texture, or color. Besides, it’s super easy to use. You apply it to the affected surface, leave it for a few minutes, and wipe it off. And like that, the glue stain is gone!
- Safely Restore Your Surfaces - The surface-safe formula removes the goo without harming your surface. Formulated with citrus cleaning agents and a pleasant citrus scent
- Trusted #1 Brand For Removing Gooey Messes – Try it on stickers, wax, markers, crayons, glue, tar, window decals, glitter, gum, labels and so much more
- Multiple Uses Around The House – Everything from wine glass label remover, scuff eraser, window sill cleaner, adhesive remover, tar cleaner, crayon drawing eraser, to glue remover
- Great For Teachers and Parents - Use this to remove gum, tape, crayon and sticker residue left behind by kids
- Perfect For Collectors and Thrifters - Safely remove price stickers from gifts, wine glasses, clothing, drinking glasses, used video games and much more
Wrap Up
The fantastic effect of Gorilla glue comes at a price; it’s difficult to remove from skin and fabric. Yet, it’s not impossible.
Remember to keep a piece of cotton cloth and a basin of soapy water nearby when working with Gorilla glue to act immediately in cases of accidental glue dripping. If you couldn’t, you’ll have to wait for it to dry, then scrape it off or try to dissolve it using acetone of Goo Gone.
Be sure to also check out my other posts on power tools: