How To Remove Glue From Any Surface: Metal, Plastic, Skin and More

Whether you’re in the middle of a DIY project, repairing a broken mug, removing wallpaper, or doing art and craft with the kids, glue has a way of getting where it shouldn’t. Unfortunately, when glue sticks, it really sticks, and often becomes such a hassle to clean up.

Sticky wood glue leaking out from between joints, hard drops of superglue on glass or plastic, smears of dried adhesive on your favorite shirt, or that pesky sticky residue left behind after removing a sticker - all of these problems can leave you frustrated and feeling like you’re out of options.

Worse yet, using the wrong method to remove the glue can cause even more damage: scratched glass and plastic, faded fabric, holes in your drywall - these are things we certainly want to avoid!

Luckily, removing glue doesn’t have to be a struggle. By using the correct method from the start, and employing just a little patience, you can effectively get rid of glue from almost any surface - mostly with things you probably already have around the house. 

Below we’ll cover how to remove glue from (almost) any surface! So if you’re stuck in a sticky situation, we’re here to help.

How to Remove Glue from Plastic

If you’re repairing something made from plastic, often sticking two pieces together causes glue to leak out from the seams. In these cases we end up with hard drops of glue to remove. Additionally, when removing stickers from plastic packaging, a frustratingly sticky residue is typically left behind. Let’s look at how to tackle both of these problems.

Hard glue:

• Put a few drops of dish soap on hardened glue and let it sit for an hour or so to soften it up.
• Gently scrape off the softened glue with a rubber or plastic scraper (metal tools may scratch the plastic).

For really stubborn glue:

• Replace the dish soap with rubbing alcohol or an acetone-free nail polish remover and repeat the process.
• Make sure to test on a hidden spot to ensure it won’t damage the plastic.

For sticky residue:

• Apply an oil-based product like cooking oil or petroleum jelly to the residue and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Wipe away with a warm, damp cloth.

How to Remove Glue from Wood

Most of the time when we’re removing glue from wooden surfaces, the wooden item is something important - like a table, or a wall. In these cases we need to be extra careful to protect it.

Before it dries:

If wood glue is leaking before it dries, wipe it off with a cloth soaked in soapy water. 

When it’s starting to get sticky:

• Put a small amount of white vinegar on the sticky wood glue and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Rub gently with a damp cloth to remove the residue.

When it’s completely dry:

• Conservatively apply acetone to the glue with a cotton ball and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Use a scraper to scrape away the glue after it has softened.
• Clean solvent away thoroughly with a damp cloth.

How to Remove Glue from Concrete

Glue adheres very well to concrete thanks to its porousness, so removing it can be a tough task. But with a little effort, even this is possible.

Scrape off what you can:

Use a hard, sturdy plastic scraper or putty knife to remove as much of the glue as you can.

Soften the rest:

• Pour warm, soapy water on what remains and leave it for 10-15 minutes to soften it.
• Then scrub with a very stiff brush or scrubbing pad.

For stubborn glue:

• For really tough glue that won’t go away, use a commercial adhesive remover or acetone.
• Apply the solvent directly to the glue, and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.

How to Remove Glue from Metal

Removing glue from metal is actually quite simple, as this durable material can handle much rougher techniques. The only thing you need to be careful about is scratching it.

Scrape off what you can:

• Use a scraper or razor blade to remove what you can.
• Try to use clean, straight motions.

Soften with with acetone:

• Pure acetone works wonderfully on glue stuck to metal surfaces.
• Simply dab it on with a cotton ball, wait a few seconds and rub it off.

Polish the surface:

• After removing the glue there may be some scratch marks left behind.
• Use a metal polish to restore the surface’s shine.

How to Remove Glue from Fabric

Often when working with glue we end up with some of it on our clothes. Thankfully, many water-based glues are very easy to remove from fabric.

Brush off what you can:

• Use a brush to gently get rid of as much dried glue as you can.
• Be gentle so as to not stretch the fabric.

Take it to the sink:

• Run the glued area under running water and rub it with your fingers until it washes away.
• Apply some dish soap if needed.

How to remove super glue from clothes:

• Apply a little acetone (nail polish remover) to the glue with a cotton ball.
• Let it sit for a few seconds, then rub away.
• Rinse the clothes with water before adding to the wash as normal.
• Be sure to patch-test the acetone first to make sure it won’t damage the color of your clothes.

How to Remove Glue from Skin

Getting glue on your hands can be incredibly frustrating, as it seems like it will never come off. However, there are a couple of simple solutions to this problem.

Wash with soap:

• Start by washing your hands with soap and hot water to get rid of as much as you can.
• If soap isn’t doing the trick, dish soap may work better.
• Use a fingernail brush to scrub off what you can under the water.

Dry, peel, and rub:

• After washing your hands, let them dry thoroughly.
• Gently peel or scratch away any of the larger areas of glue that you can.
• Rub the areas of glue with a dry hand to create friction which can help it come away from your stick.

Want an easier way?:

• Laundry detergent is great at removing stubborn glue from skin.
• Mix 1/4 cup of detergent with 3/4 cup of warm water.
• Rub the solution on your hands for 30-60 seconds and then wash with warm water.

How to Remove Glue from Glass

Like metal, glass is hard and durable, so it’s a fairly simple process. But again like metal, we have to be very careful of scratching it!

Removing wet glue from glass:

• If the glue is still wet, you need to be careful not to spread it around and create a larger mess.
• Use a scraper, an old credit card, or a firm piece of cardboard to scrape away as much as you can.
• Aim to get under the bulk of the glue with each scrape.
• Wipe away the remaining residue with a cloth soaked in warm soapy water.

Removing dried glue from glass:

• Apply a little rubbing alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover) to the glue with a cotton ball.
• Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then use a firm rubber or plastic scraper to scrape away the glue. 

Removing glue residue from glass:

• A degreaser, such as you would find in an automotive store for removing engine oil, is perfect for this stubborn residue.
• Simply apply to a cloth and rub the residue away.

How to Remove Glue from Leather

Removing glue from leather isn’t as straightforward as the other surfaces, and there are fewer options. Leather can also be fragile, so we need to be very careful not to scratch, crack or fade the surface.

Test first:

• Before using any method, test on an inconspicuous area of the leather to make sure it won’t cause damage or discoloration.

Do what you can:

• Use something dull, like a spoon, to gently scrape away as much as you can.
• Apply warm, soapy water to the area and let sit for a few minutes.
• Wipe away what remains with a damp cloth.

Use a targeted product:

A glue remover, particularly one that is specific to leather, may be your only choice if the above steps didn’t work.

Protect the leather:

After you’ve removed the glue, apply a leather conditioner to re-moisturize and protect the leather.

How to Remove Glue from Drywall

We often need to remove glue from drywall when we’re removing wallpaper. Perhaps the wrong type of glue was used when the wallpaper was initially applied, or it has been there so long that it has hardened beyond the typical removal methods. In any case, we need to be quite careful to avoid damaging the important surface.

Use elbow grease:

• Use a hot, damp cloth and dish detergent to scrub away as much glue as you can.
• For more stubborn areas apply vinegar or dish soap, let sit for a few minutes, and scrub away.

Use a wallpaper steamer:

• Run the steamer over the drywall to soften the glue.
• Use a stiff brush to scrub off as much as you can.
• Use a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water to wipe away the residue.
• Go over the wall with the steamer for a second pass to soften any residue you may not see.
• Wipe down the walls with a damp sponge.

After removal:

Patch any holes in the drywall, sand, prime, and paint (or apply a new wallpaper, if that’s what you’d prefer!)

There are a lot of similarities between the methods of removing glue from different surfaces, but there are also many subtle differences. To ensure you don’t scratch, gouge, discolor or break the item you’re trying to clean, make sure you’re using the right glue removal method for the material you’re working with.

We hope this has helped, and we hope you never have to deal with removing stubborn glue again!