How to get Gorilla Glue Off Clothes

Gorilla glue is a commonly used bonding material in home improvement, craft, and repair projects.

However, it can be pretty frustrating when you spill glue on your garment while performing your DIY tasks. Don’t worry; we have the answers to the question, “how to get gorilla glue off clothes?” in this article.

All About Gorilla Glue

What is gorilla glue?

Gorilla glue is a bonding product made from polyurethane formula that activates when mixed with water. It forms a powerful bond to almost any material, making it a popular solution for DIY projects and repairs.

What’s special about gorilla glue?

This type of glue expands three times into the materials creating a firm bond. It does not incur any damage when exposed to the elements since it is 100% waterproof. Gorilla glue is also temperature resistant making it ideal for bonds that go through hot and cold temperatures.

Where can you use gorilla glue?

Gorilla glue was placed in the spotlight recently when a woman sprayed it on her hair. It proved to be a wrong move since it led to surgery. Gorilla glue is excellent for repair and craft projects, not for hairstyling.

This extra-strong bonding material is made to fuse wood, stone, metal, glass, ceramic, plastic, and paper.

How does gorilla glue work?

As we’ve mentioned, gorilla glue is made from polyurethane adhesive that needs water to be activated. It also depends on the chemical reaction with hardeners that contain chemicals such as isopropyl alcohol and silane.

To use effectively, you need to apply moisture on one side of a material and the glue on the drier side. This method will create a stronger bond.

What is the history of gorilla glue?

Gorilla glue was first used in Indonesia by furniture makers to fuse teak wood. The waterproof material was ideal for outdoor use and can withstand extreme temperatures. Soon, the company discovered that their strong glue could bond with other materials.

Get to know more about gorilla glue with this video:

How to Peel Off Gorilla Glue From Clothes Without Using Any Products

If you accidentally spill some gorilla glue on your clothes, there’s no need to throw your garments away. There are some steps that you can do to remove the nasty stain on your favorite fabrics. The key to eliminating the glue is to deal with the stain immediately.

To help you get started, here are some hacks for getting gorilla glue off clothes.

Step One: Air Drying

• Peeling the glue off while it is still wet is a complete no-no. It will only make stain removal harder. However, while drying the glue is your goal, it would be best not to use dryers or fans. Speeding up the process will only make the glue permanently stick to your clothes.
• Allow the stained garment to airdry for 10 to 15 minutes before doing anything about it.
• Avoid touching the glue with your fingers. You may use an old butter knife or any blunt tool to check if the glue is all dried up. Make sure that the gorilla glue has solidified entirely before proceeding to the next step.

Alternative Step: Ice Bath

If you don’t have enough time to wait for the glue to dry naturally, you may use ice to speed up the process safely. All you need is to do is to follow these simple steps:

• Fill a large bowl with water.
• Add enough ice cubes to make the water very cold.
• Dunk the stained part of the garment in the ice bath.
• Remove the fabric after ten seconds.

Step Two: Scraping

Now that the glue has dried off, it’s time to peel it off the fabric using these steps:

• Lay down the cloth on a hard and level surface such as a kitchen counter or a table.
• Scrape the dried-up glue with the handle of a spoon, a butter knife, or your fingernail. Make sure to peel the glue from the edge rather than from the middle.
• Please take note that you may not be able to peel off most of the glue. This method aims to remove the larger chunks to make the succeeding processes easier to do.
• Remember to skip this process if the affected fabric is woven or knitted. You might end up destroying the whole material. You may send the garment to professional cleaners for further assessment and treatment.

How to Remove Gorilla Glue From Clothes With Household Products

Acetone

Acetone is a chemical that can dissolve substances such as varnish and paint. This solvent is also a common ingredient in most nail polish removers. You can also remove gorilla glue stains from clothes.

Here are the steps:

1. Before you begin, test a hidden area in your garment first. This step will check if the acetone will leave a stain on your fabric. It would be best to use 100% acetone for the best results.
2. Moisten a cotton ball with the solvent and dab it on the hidden spot. Leave it for five minutes.
3. Check the test area for any damage or discoloration. If there’s none, you may proceed to the next step.
4. Get a new cotton ball and soak it in acetone or nail polish remover.
5. Use it to apply the acetone to the gorilla glue-stained fabric. Leave the cotton ball on the stained area for 5 minutes.
6. After the prescribed time, remove the cotton ball and wipe the stained area with a clean, damp cloth.
7. Do the process again until there are no more traces of glue.

Lemon

Lemon is a citrus fruit that adds a zesty flavor to salad dressings, pies, drinks, and cocktails. Aside from brightening up dishes, lemon is also a popular all-around household cleaner and stain remover, gorilla glue stains, included.

Try these following steps for a more natural approach to gorilla glue stain removal.

1. Squeeze half a lemon into a small basin or a bowl.
2. Soak a cotton bowl in the lemon juice and apply it to the stained part of the fabric.
3. Leave the cotton bowl for five to ten minutes.
4. Moisten another cotton ball and gently rub the affected area using a circular motion.

How to Wash Clothes Stained with Gorilla Glue

Now that you have removed as much glue as you can using the mentioned processes, it’s time to wash your clothes. Here are the instructions on how to effectively clean your gorilla glue-stained fabric.

Step One: Pretreatment

1. Dip an old but clean toothbrush into a gentle liquid detergent.
2. Lightly scrub the stained area.
3. Try to use alternate strokes to remove chunks of glue left on the fabric.

Step Two: Washing

1. Check your clothing’s care label to know the right temperature and amount of soap that you need to use.
2. Make sure that there is no more hardened glue left on the fabric. The rough chunks of adhesive may damage your clothes and render them unusable.
3. Program your washing machine using the instructions on the care label. It would be best not to mix the stained clothes with other garments.
4. Dunk the clothes in the washer and wait for the wash and spin cycle to finish.

Step Three: Drying

1. As much as possible, air drying is better than machine drying when dealing with treated clothes.
2. Install a clothesline outdoors if you still do not have one. Make sure that the line is clean and free from dust or dirt.
3. Hang the garment and secure it with a clothespin. You may also use a hanger as an alternative.
4. Pay attention to the weather condition. You may check the weather app to know if there is a possibility of rain. You may hang the clothes indoors using a drying rack if there is.

Step Four: Dry Cleaning

If the affected fabric is silk or satin, washing them on the machine is not a good idea. You may remove the chunks of glue using the methods we mentioned above, but you need to bring them to professional cleaners for washing.

Before heading to the cleaners, check the fabric label first to see if it can be dry cleaned. Keep in mind that using the wrong techniques, temperature, or products may damage your clothes further.

Safety Precautions

1. Use rubber gloves when performing stain removal methods. Acetone can quickly dry and sting the skin, so it would be best to protect your hands.
2. Wear a face mask to protect yourself from acetone fumes. This stain remover has a strong odor which may trigger allergies or other reactions.
3. Dispose of used cotton balls properly. Please place them in a small garbage bag. Then, tie the bag securely before putting them in a trash bin.
4. Do not use a serrated knife in peeling off the glue. A blunt butter knife, a spoon handle, or a putty knife are your best bets.

Here are more tips on how to remove gorilla glue from fabrics:

Conclusion

Gorilla glue is a helpful bonding material that can effectively repair broken items or create new decorative pieces. However, accidentally spilling even a few drops on your clothes may cause problems.

The good news is, there are ways to save your most precious clothes from permanent glue damage. Just follow the steps we’ve mentioned on how to get gorilla glue off clothes.

With lots of patience and a bit of luck, you can remove the nasty stain and wear your clothes as if nothing happened.