Super glue is amazing when you need to fix things, but if it gets to the wrong place, it can easily turn into a nightmare. Luckily, we have some tricks up our sleeves to solve these kinds of situations. Read on to find out all you need to know about super glue stains and how to get rid of them from your favourite pair of jeans, your sweater, or your clothes in general.
Super glue stains on clothes
At first glance, a super glue stain can seem like a very serious issue, but, surprisingly, it’s much easier to deal with than you’d think. Super glue is similar to nail glue, so the dissolving process is quite similar and can be done with simple tools that you might have at home. There’s no need to panic, just follow our step-by-step guide to clean super glue from your clothes.
Step-by-step guide to get rid of super glue stains on clothes
Follow these steps to remove super glue from your garments:
1
Remove excess.
With the help of a spoon or butter knife, gently scrape off the excess super glue from your fabric. Be careful not to make more of a mess with this step, as you could accidentally cause further damage to the garment. If the super glue is too hard because it has dried completely, try to remove it by soaking it in water for 30 minutes first.
2
Pre-treat.
If you have nail varnish remover that has acetone in it, you can use it to help break the super glue down. Just dab a tiny amount onto the affected area, but only if your clothes aren’t made of nylon or polyester, as acetone can be harmful to them.
3
Load.
Put your super glue-stained garment into the washer, and feel free to add items similar in colour and fabric.
4
Dose.
Use Ariel Matic 4-in-1 PODS®, Ariel Matic Front Load Liquid Detergent or Ariel Matic Top Load Liquid Detergent, and dose as usual. If you’re not sure how much laundry detergent to use, check out our handy guides for liquid detergents and PODS®.
5
Wash.
Use your usual cycle, but don’t exceed the washing temperature advised on the fabric care label.
What not to do and how to avoid damaging the fabric
We’ve got some more useful tips and tricks for the best possible results:
Take it to a dry cleaner. If you’re uncertain whether you would damage your garment while trying to remove the super glue stain, or if you’ve read the fabric care label, and it says “dry clean only”, then take it to a dry cleaner, and let the professionals take care of the stain.
Let the glue dry. If you’re trying to scrape off the glue while it’s still completely wet, chances are the stain is going to spread. It’s easier if you wait a bit for the super glue to dry, so you can get rid of it.
Keep acetone at home. If you’re a regular user of super glue, it’s useful to keep acetone or nail varnish remover that contains acetone at hand for stain situations.
How to avoid super glue stains
Wear an apron. When you’re working with super glue, wear a protective layer, like an apron, to avoid any unwanted stains on your clothes.
Look around. Always apply super glue on a clean, clear surface to avoid getting it on any fabrics.