Gorilla Glue is a super strong glue used for more permanent fixes. While it can be a pain to get out of your clothes and off your hands, luckily, there are a few easy fixes you can apply when the glue gets stuck on something it shouldn’t!
Gorilla Glue is a moisture activated polyurethane-based adhesive, so typical solvents such as acetone do not work well for removal. To painlessly remove the glue from the skin, apply a small amount of vegetable oil. Accidental glue on surfaces such as glass or metal can be removed using a scraper.
Different surfaces require different techniques to remove this potent adhesive. To keep everything clean and intact, and keep yourself safe, follow these easy steps carefully to get this super-strong bonding adhesive off of your hands and everything else.
How to Get Gorilla Glue Off Your Hands & Everything Else
The most common places for accidental contact are on your skin, glass, metal, fabric, tile, and wood.
How to Remove Gorilla Super Glue from Skin
Gorilla Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Unlike the polyurethane-based original, it doesn’t require moisture to activate. If your skin is sensitive, take care when removing the substance from it.
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- First and foremost, if the glue is still wet, use a dry cloth to remove as much of the glue as possible.
- Never pick at the dried glue; doing so can cause tears in the skin, which will make it more painful to remove and more susceptible to infection.
- Next, apply a generous splash of cooking oil to a paper towel and rub against the dried glue. This application may take 5-8 minutes, depending on how large of an area is affected.
As you can see in the video above, from the time she began removing the glue at 5:57 until 11:06 It took about 5 Minutes, without tearing the skin or staining it.
What to do if Your Fingers Get Stuck Together
If you suddenly find that your fingers are stuck together, remember to stay calm. Don’t try to pull your fingers apart if the glue has dried. Pulling your fingers apart can damage your skin and lead to stitches or a permanent scar.
Instead, use a pen or pencil to roll against the bonded area, applying gentle pressure to help break them apart.
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- Next, dissolve the glue. Acetone may help dissolve the bond and is found in most brands of nail polish remover. It will take several minutes for the adhesive to dissolve, so soak your hand in acetone or hold a cloth or cotton ball soaked with acetone on your skin.
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- Once the glue softens, exfoliating will help get the last bits of dried glue off your skin. If you don’t have an exfoliating cream or lotion, it’s easy to make a homemade one. Combine salt, sugar, or ground coffee with some cooking oil such as coconut or olive, and scrub around your hands before washing them.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Glass
Luckily, because glass is not porous, it’s one of the easiest surfaces for removing a sticky substance.
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- First, soak the glue in acetone (simple fingernail polish) by holding a cloth or cotton ball on the affected area of the glass for fifteen to sixty minutes. Check every ten minutes or by scraping your fingernail over the dried stain. It should start to loosen and flake away.
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- Once the glue has softened, you can use your fingernails, or a washcloth dipped in vegetable oil to gently scrape it away. Since glass can scratch easily, avoid using abrasives and hard scraping
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Metal
Removal of accidental adhesive stains is considerably more manageable if you act fast. The longer it dries, the more difficult it is to remove.
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- Soak the glue spot in acetone, and apply fine-grit sandpaper to smooth away the glue once it has softened. Since metal is a durable material, you can also use something to scrape or chisel away at it.
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- If there is paint on the metal, using acetone will remove the color along with the glue. On painted metal, you can try to apply heat. To do so, apply heat using an iron, a torch, heat gun, or a steam cleaner. Gorilla glue is effective up to about 215 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you can raise the temperature to around there, the glue should melt. Avoid using high temperatures as they can release toxic gas.
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- Once the adhesive has softened in the heat, use a cloth to wipe away the excess.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Fabric & Clothing
The best way to remove the substance off of fabric is to have it dry cleaned. However, if this isn’t an option for you, there is a way to get that glue off at home.
- First, let the glue dry thoroughly. If you try to wipe it away when it’s wet, the glue will spread and soak into the fabric. This just creates a bigger mess, so make sure the glue is fully dry before the next step.
- Once dry, use your fingers to pick and scrape away the glue. Be gentle, so you don’t stretch or tear the fabric.
- You can also try acetone or lemon juice to soften the glue on lighter colored fabric.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Wood
If you’re using Gorilla Woodglue on wood, the glue should wipe right off when it’s still wet. But once it dries, it soaks into the wood and can be harder to remove.
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- Do not use acetone or paint thinner to get dried adherent off of wood surfaces.
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- A putty knife style scraper or chisel can be used on tough spots to remove the excess glue. Apply with gentle pressure to scrape off any excess, then use fine sandpaper to smooth the wood out.
How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Tile
Wait until the glue dries, then use a trowel or putty knife to scrape any excess glue from the tile.
Additional Glue Removal Techniques
Some crafters swear by hydrogen peroxide to remove any remaining residue. Hydrogen peroxide works best for removal from skin, rather than objects. Simply rub your hands with hydrogen peroxide like you’re washing them and then choose one of the following solutions to remove all traces off of your skin.
SOS pads or aluminum dish scrubbers work well to remove the brown stain residue that is commonly left behind. Lather hands with a bar of soap or a bit of Dawn dish soap, then gently scrub the stains with the SOS pad.
Lemon oil is another way to remove glue on smaller spots. Don’t put lemon oil directly into your skin, dilute it with an oil such as coconut. On other surfaces just drop some of the oil onto the glue and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then use a rag to scrub away the residue.
Goo Gone is a common solution for removing glue and sticky substances. While this is an option to try, be sure to read the package for warnings and instructions. Do not use the Goo Gone original on your skin. There is a specific type of Goo Gone that contains less harsh solvents and is safer for the skin.
Do not use baking soda to remove any polyurethane adhesive from the skin, as the combination of the two creates an exothermic reaction. In other words, it gets HOT and could cause burns.
Is Gorilla Glue Toxic?
If removal from your skin takes place quickly, there shouldn’t be any damage. However, it is inadvisable to leave the product sitting on your skin.
The product is dangerous to inhale, an irritant to eyes and skin, and has been known to cause gastrointestinal blockages when consumed by pets or children alike.
If Gorilla Glue gets in your eyes, flush your eyes thoroughly with water, and seek medical attention. The original product bottle should give you all the information you need about medical concerns and what to avoid.
There are a few risk and safety statements attached to the use of the glue. Risk and safety statements are used to label dangerous chemicals and compounds in products. This product contains R20, R36/37/38, R42/43. Because of these risk statements, there are special risks attributed to dangerous preparations and substances.
When used in accordance with the directions on the label, all forms of Gorilla glue are perfectly safe to use around the home.
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I’ve had to remove gorilla glue a few times.
A towel dampened with acetone or isopropyl alcohol may be used to remove uncured Gorilla Super Glue. Several applications may be required to completely remove the glue. If you are removing cured Gorilla Super Glue from the surface of your project, soak the bonded area in warm, soapy water or acetone.