13 Nov 2024
Super glue sure does come in handy, it’s very fast-acting and just so…. super! But what if you get it stuck on your clothes? How can you clean it properly and get it out of the fabric without leaving a mark?
The secret to success lies in how it reacts to moisture, which is everywhere.
super science.
Once super glue touches water, its molecules stick together into long chains. This is what makes it so strong. Those chains turn into a thick, hard plastic-like net which stops the glue from moving, and that’s when it sets solid.
Super glue works on almost anything because there’s always some water around, even in the air. It even sticks to our skin since that also contains water (plus lots of tiny cracks and grooves for the glue to grab onto)!
So what should you do if you’ve accidentally spilt super glue onto your clothes?
keep calm.
First of all - don’t panic. Accidents happen but don’t worry because with just a few simple steps the super glue will be removed from your clothes. Our easy-to-follow step by step guide is all you’ll need for success.
Here’s what to do:
1. let the super glue dry.
First things first - don’t rush! Let the glue fully dry. It seems wrong but it's really important to let the liquid set. It will make removal much easier.
2. scrape.
Once the glue is completely dry, grab a spoon. You can then use the edge of the spoon to gently scrape off the bigger chunks of glue. Sometimes, that’s all you need to do and the mark will be gone! But if not...
3: the acetone test.
Acetone is basically nail polish remover! And if your clothing is still stained despite removing any excess solid glue it could well be the answer to your problem. First you need to test on a little hidden area of your clothing just in case the fabric reacts in some way to the acetone.
4. apply direct.
If the fabric appears safe, soak a cotton ball with the acetone and gently dab it onto the glue stain. Leave it to work its magic for a bit.
5. wash.
It’s a good idea to then apply some smol stain gel onto the mark before putting the clothing into your washing machine and washing according to your garment label instructions with a smol laundry capsule or smol laundry liquid.
And that’s it! Your clothing should be good as new. Crisis averted!
N.B. If your garment is particularly delicate and you have spilled super glue onto it, take it to the dry cleaners instead to protect it from further damage.
