Super glue helps us fix broken items almost daily. However, removing it off surfaces can be a pain when it dries or cures. In this situation, you often try to figure out how to remove super glue from plastic and other surfaces.
Removing super glue from a plastic surface can seem like a problem, but it becomes an easier task if you have a couple of methods at your disposal. With some methods entailing household items, the cleaning becomes easier and inexpensive.
Pick the right method and supplies, follow the procedure, and observe the outlined precautions for better results.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic
To remove super glue from plastic, dampen a cloth with warm water and lay it over the superglue for 30 minutes. Then soak the glue with diluted vinegar or vegetable oil and let it work on the glue for a few hours as the glue moisten. You can also blot it up with acetone or rubbing alcohol. Once clean, wipe the surface clean with a damp towel.
What is Super Glue?
Super glue, an adhesive invented in 1942 by a doctor named Harry Coover, is a cyanoacrylate adhesive used in households and industries. It is sturdy and compatible with almost every surface, for instance, plastic, wood, and glass.
Super glue comes in liquid or gel forms, and they are resistant to high temperatures and low temperatures, making them applicable for both quick indoor and outdoor fixing.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Household Items
Household items such as soap, rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, vinegar, and baking soda come in handy when removing super glue from plastic.
Before employing the household items, pull off as much glue as you can with your fingers. Most of the super glue will lift off, leaving behind some residue.
If your fingers aren’t doing the work, scrape off with a razor or sand the surface. Then apply your favorite method to remove the super glue remnants.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Soapy Water
Using warm soapy water isn’t the most applicable method, but it does the trick when you want to remove super glue from plastic.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Grease-fighting dish soap
- Water
- Plastic wrap
- Clean rag
- Towel
The Steps
Step 1: Add grease-fighting dish soap to a small bowl of warm water.
Step 2: Dip a clean rag in the solution, then lay it over the super glue stain.
Step 3: Let it sit for 3-5 hours as the super glue softens. As you wait, rewet the cloth to prevent it from drying up.
Step 4: Blot the surface until the glue lifts into the rag.
Step 5: Once clean, wipe the surface clean with a damp towel.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing/isopropyl alcohol contains ingredients that break down adhesive bonds, making it a better choice when dealing with super glue stains.
Rubbing alcohol is mild but stronger than warm soapy water.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- Clean cloths
- Microfiber towel
- Dish soap
The Steps
Step 1: Place a soft cloth moistened with warm water over the plastic surface to soak the glue stains. Let it soak for 30 minutes as the glue softens before removing the fabric.
Step 2: Moisten a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol.
Step 3: Rub it over the glue stains. It softens the glue, making it slacken its grip on the plastic surface. Rewet the clean cloth as you continue rubbing.
Step 4: Blot it away with a clean cloth once the glue has softened.
Step 5: Dampen a clean cloth with warm soapy water and wipe the area to remove rubbing alcohol and glue residue.
Step 6: Wipe the surface dry with a microfiber towel or let it air-dry outdoors.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Acetone
So far, acetone is famous among DIYers as the best super glue remover from plastic. However, acetone reacts with some plastics, so test in an inconspicuous area of the plastic to guarantee safety.
For safety, don’t let acetone stay on the plastic surface for too long.
If you don’t have pure acetone, use nail polish remover because it contains acetone as one of the ingredients.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Acetone/nail polish remover
- Water
- Soft cloths
- Cotton ball
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Dampen a soft cloth with warm water and place it over the glue-stained surface.
Step 2: Let the glue soak for 30 minutes. This allows the glue to soften.
Step 3: After 30 minutes, moisten a cotton ball with acetone and gently rub it over the glue until it lifts off into the cotton ball. Rub in circular motions while applying some steady pressure.
Step 4: Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth to remove glue and acetone residue.
Step 5: Rinse with warm water and dry the surface.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Baking Soda and White Vinegar
Apart from using pure products, DIYers have found that mixing baking soda and white vinegar produces an excellent glue remover paste.
It works on various surfaces like plastic and clothing.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Water
- Dish soap
- Bowl
- Gloves
- An old toothbrush or scouring pad
The Steps
Step 1: Mix equal white vinegar and baking soda parts in a bowl and stir until it forms a thick paste.
Step 2: Spread the paste over the surface. Ensure the glue stain is covered completely.
Step 3: Let the paste work on the glue for 1 hour as the glue bonds weaken.
Step 4: Buff the glue away in circular motions with an old toothbrush or scouring pad. Continue buffing until you remove all of the glue.
Step 5: Repeat the process if necessary to achieve the desired results.
Step 6: Once clean, wash the surface with warm soapy water to remove the homemade glue remover residue and the strong smell of vinegar.
Step 7: Dry the surface
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Oil
Vegetable, coconut, and olive oil work well on super glue stains because they possess ingredients that weaken the glue bonds.
Combine with baking soda for better results.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Baking soda
- Blade
- Dish
- Dish soap
- Gloves
- Oil (vegetable, canola, olive, or coconut oil)
- Rags
- Soft cloth
- Water
The Steps
Step 1: Mix equal parts of oil and baking soda in a dish. You can use either vegetable, olive, canola, or coconut oil.
Step 2: Stir the solution until it completely combines, then spread the solution over the super glue-stained surface.
Step 3: Let the solution work on the glue for 15 minutes before scrubbing the surface with a clean damp rag.
Step 4: Grab a razor and scrape off the stubborn glue residue.
Step 5: Once clean, moisten a soft cloth with warm soapy water and wipe clean the plastic surface.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is an ideal super glue remover from plastic because it contains citric acid. The acid breaks down the glue bonds making the glue stains soft and easy to wipe away.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Water
- Soft cloth
- Lemon
- Cotton swab
The Steps
Step 1: Cut a lemon into two halves.
Step 2: Rub them over the stained surface, ensuring the glue is saturated with lemon juice.
Step 3: Let the juice work on the glue for 20 minutes. The glue softens during this period.
Step 4: Rub gently with a cotton swab to lift the glue off the surface. You may be required to repeat the process a few more times to remove all the glue.
Step 6: Once clean, wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Commercial Products
Sometimes you may fail with homemade and household adhesive removers. When you find yourself in such a situation, use commercial adhesive removers such as Goo Gone, paint thinner, or nitromethane components.
While working with these commercial products, follow the instructions displayed on the product’s label.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Goo Gone
Although Goo Gone is best known for removing sticker residue, it also works well on super glue residue.
You will need:
- Goo Gone
- Blade
- Rag
- Water
The Steps
Step 1: Apply Goo gone over the stubborn super glue stains
Step 2: Let it sit for 3-5 minutes as the glue loosens.
Step 3: Scrub the surface with a moist rag in circular motions until the glue lifts off into the rag. You can also scrub the glue residue with a blade once they have loosened.
Step 4: Rinse the surface and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Nitromethane Component
Nitromethane component is a common de-bonding agent that you can access in any hobby shop within your neighborhood.
It is less harsh to plastic surfaces, making it ideal when removing super glue from plastic. A small amount will incredibly do the trick.
The Supplies You Need
- Nitromethane component
- Soft cloth
- Water
- Cotton ball
The Steps
Step 1: Dampen a soft cloth with warm water and place it over the super glue stain.
Step 2: Let it sit for 30 minutes as the glue soften. Then remove the soft cloth.
Step 3: Squeeze out enough Nitromethane and spread it over the glue stain.
Step 4: Gently rub the Nitromethane over the glue stain with a cotton ball until it lifts off.
Step 5: Wipe the surface with a damp clean, soft cloth to remove glue and Nitromethane residue.
Step 6: Rinse the surface and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Super Glue from Plastic with Paint Thinner
Paint thinner is somehow the big gun and the last resort if you can’t remove super glue from plastic using any other method because it is a strong chemical.
You will need:
- Paint thinner
- Cotton swab
- Blade
- Gloves
- Towel
The Steps
Step 1: Start with safety; wear protective gear such as rubber gloves and masks to avoid skin irritation or breathing complications. Work in a well-ventilated area.
Step 2: Test paint thinner is an inconspicuous area of your plastic surface to avoid potential damage.
Step 3: Sprinkle a small amount of paint thinner over the super glue.
Step 4: Moisten a cotton swab with a paint thinner, then rub it over the super glue in circular motions. Continue rubbing as you add more paint thinner to remove all the glue stains.
Step 5: Scrape off the remaining residue with a blade.
Step 6: Once the surface is super glue-free, clean it with a damp towel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remove dried super glue from plastic?
Scrape off as much as possible with a blade, then use Acetone or Rubbing alcohol to remove dried super glue residue from plastic.
You’ll need;
- Rubbing alcohol or acetone
- Rag
- Water
- Cotton ball
The Steps
Step 1: Dampen a cotton ball with acetone or rubbing alcohol.
Step 2: Blot at the superglue until it softens.
Step 3: Wipe away the softened glue with a clean rag.
Step 4: Rinse the surface and allow it to dry.
Can vinegar remove super glue from plastic?
Vinegar removes super glue from plastic.
You’ll need
- White vinegar
- Credit card or spatula
- Water
The steps
Step 1: Pour enough amount of white vinegar over the glue stains
Step 2: Let it sit for a few minutes as the glue softens
Step 3: Scrape off the glue with a spatula or credit card
Step 4: Once clean, wash the surface with warm soapy water. It removes glue and vinegar residue as well as the strong smell of vinegar.
Step 5: Rinse and allow to dry.
Is super glue plastic?
Plastic glue belongs to a broader class of glues that also encompasses super glue (cyanoacrylate) because it bonds well with various plastics. In addition, multipurpose glue (polyvinyl acetate), epoxies, and model cement also fall under the same classification as plastic glue.
Bottom Line
Now you know what to do after messing your plastics with super glue. But, the best way to remove super glue from plastic is to wipe it off quickly before it dries up. Otherwise, be ready to try most of the methods suggested until you get super glue off your plastic.
Household items such as acetone, rubbing oil, and cooking oil will remove fresh and light super glue stains, whereas commercial adhesive removers such as Goo Gone and paint thinner act as the big guns to lift off stubborn super glue stains.
Happy cleaning!