Accidentally getting fabric glue on your clothes can be such a hassle. This material is hard to remove, and identifying the type of fabric glue is crucial to determine the appropriate removal method. Continue reading to learn how to remove fabric glue from clothes.
By Steaming
One effective way to remove fabric glue from clothes is by steaming the area. However, before this process, you need to ensure that the fabric can handle heat well and not continue if it can’t tolerate high temperatures. [5 Steps To Steam Clothes Like Pro]
All you need to do is direct the steamer to the area where the fabric glue was accidentally spilled and steam the area for two to three minutes. The steam will help loosen the fabric glue’s adhesive and slightly moisten the fabric fibers.
Once the glue and fabric are both loosened, you can easily separate them and remove all the fabric glue from the cloth.
All that’s left to do is pop the cloth into the washing machine and let the machine do its work to clean the fabric. Your clothes will look good as new after all of these steps.
Dry-Cleaning
Since fabric glue cannot be removed by simply using water and soap, the best way to remove any stain is to send them to dry cleaning.
This process uses chemicals that can break down the fabric glue without damaging the cloth. However, you should know that doing it once may not finish the job.
One of the best reasons to go with dry cleaning is that it works on any fabric. The only thing you need to do is get your clothes and bring them to a dry cleaning expert.
Most of the time, the clothes are left for a day or two before you collect them. Taking your clothes to a professional dry cleaner is the right way to go to make sure that the fabric glue can be removed entirely.
Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is widely used for various cleaning purposes and is effective in removing fabric glue from clothes. That’s why there’s no question that it’s also a great fabric glue remover from clothes.
This can easily remove stains and detach adhesive from any fabric. You just need to know how to use it with other materials for better cleaning properly.
For this process, you will need baking soda, coconut oil, and optionally a toothbrush for more thorough application. The first step is to create a mixture by adding two tablespoons of baking soda for every tablespoon of coconut oil. Mix well until it’s thoroughly mixed.
Start the application by using your fingers to apply the mixture to the affected area. You can also use a toothbrush to apply it quickly and scrub it simultaneously.
Then, let it sit for 15 minutes before washing the cloth, just like you always do. The clothes will undoubtedly come out looking brand new.
Using Dry Cleaning Fluid
If you want something that you can do at home while getting the best results, you can also buy dry cleaning fluid and do it by yourself.
Note that this can only be done for durable fabric types, so you must check this first. You can continue with this process once you’ve double-checked that the cloth is made out of durable fabric.
You can do this process in two different ways. First, you can buy the whole dry cleaning kit that can be bought online or in stores.
Alternatively, you can purchase just the dry cleaning fluid, as it is effective in removing the adhesive from fabric glue. This fluid will also help remove fabric glue from hard-to-reach areas.
You’ll need a small piece of rag and a dry cleaning solution for this process. Just soak the rag and gently dab it on the fabric glue area. Continue dabbing it until the fabric glue is completely removed.
Using Vinegar
If you’re dealing with a small amount of fabric glue on white clothes, vinegar can be an effective solution. You’d need paper towels and a toothbrush to use vinegar.
Start by soaking the paper towel with vinegar and placing it on the fabric glue stained cloth. Let it sit for five minutes.
Once five minutes are up, scrub the area with the toothbrush. Do not remove the paper towel on top since it will help get the adhesive faster. Repeat the process until all fabric glue is removed and leave it to dry. Then you can typically wash it like you regularly do.
Using Nail Polish Remover
Another thing that you can use to get rid of fabric glue from clothes is acetone or nail polish remover. However, if you use this, make sure that your cloth is white because acetone can take out a fabric’s color, just like nail polish. Also, ensure that the fabric won’t dissolve with acetone.
One more thing that you should know before using acetone is that it leaves stains on clothes when left to dry for so long. You’ll need a few cotton balls for this process.
Dampen the fabric glue area with small amounts of acetone using the cotton balls. It should be washed immediately once the fabric glue is gone.
Since the acetone tends to evaporate quickly, the chances are that there will still be a stain left behind, no matter how small it is. If this happens, here’s how you can remove it. Start by preparing the things you’ll need, such as white cloth, dish soap, and cold water.
The first step is to create the solution that you’ll use to get rid of the stain. Add a tablespoon of dish soap for every two cups of cold water and mix it thoroughly. Once the solution is done, grab a white cloth and start applying the solution to the stained area.
Continue dabbing the stain until it’s all gone. After that, you need to rid all of the solutions from the cloth by rinsing it with cold water before hanging it out to dry. The stain should be removed entirely before rinsing it out and hanging to dry.
By Scraping It Off
If some time has passed and the fabric glue has already become hard on the cloth, there can be a possibility that it can be scraped off completely. Before you do this for your cloth, make sure that it’s durable enough and it won’t get damaged by doing so.
All you need for the process is something to scrape off the glue, which can be a spoon or a dull knife. If there are huge clumps of glue on the cloth, you may need something different, like a sharp knife. Just make sure that you won’t damage the cloth once you’re done.
Gently scrape off the hardened fabric glue by wedging the scraper’s end to the bottom of the clump. Carefully push it until all of the glue has been removed. Repeat it if there is still an amount of glue left on the cloth.
Related Questions
By now, you should be knowledgeable on the many ways to remove fabric glue from clothes. In this section, we will list down some of the most frequently asked questions related to the topic. Check it out to see if some of your questions might be here too.
Can fabric glue be removed by washing off?
Technically, if the fabric glue is still fresh, it can be washed off with a lot of patience. However, if it’s already dried out, you may have difficulties removing it.
Can fabric glue be removed from Cotton?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from cotton. The easiest way to do so is by placing tissue paper above and below the area and ironing it. Then, spray some stain remover before popping it in the washing machine with hot water.
Can fabric glue be removed from Nylon?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from nylon. The most effective way to do so is by rubbing alcohol on the area. If it doesn’t work that well, you can use nail polish remover or scrape it off with a dull knife.
Can fabric glue be removed from Polyester?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from polyester materials. The most common ways to remove it are pouring hot water over it, scraping it off, and using acetone or nail polish remover.
Can fabric glue be removed from Wool?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from wool. The best method for this material is the nail polish remover since it can handle challenging stain removals.
Can fabric glue be removed from Chiffon?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from chiffon. However, you can get rid of it most effectively by using steam heat on the chiffon material that has fabric glue.
Can fabric glue be removed from Denim?
Yes, fabric glue can be removed from denim. Most people use nail polish remover to remove any adhesive from denim materials since they’re primarily durable.
Summary
To sum it all up, there are many ways to remove fabric glue from clothes that you can choose from. So even though fabric glue is a bit difficult to get rid of, you won’t run out of options while doing so.
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.