How to Get Rid of Glue Stains on Fabric and Carpet
Clay is the home workhorse that has helped us out of countless congestions. From giving us the opportunity to salvage items we thought were broken forever, to implementing some of our pandemic craft projects, glue gets the job done. But at the same time, what makes it so useful – its adhesive properties – can also cause some damage if it gets on your clothes, carpet, or other fabric surfaces in the house.
The good news is that just because a project ends up with an adhesive stain – in addition to what you’ve just repaired and / or machined – doesn’t mean the painted surface is damaged. Over the years, we’ve looked at many ways to remove glue from various surfaces and materials, but the good people at The Spruce have done one better and have created a detailed glue removal guide, including a helpful infographic . Here are some of the highlights.
Glue Removal Basics
If you find that some glue spots are harder to remove than others, it’s not your imagination. Because adhesives are designed for a specific purpose, the composition of the adhesive is not the same, which makes some adhesive stains particularly resistant. The Spruce’s guide walks you through the removal of seven different types of glue and adhesives:
- Commercial adhesives
- (Finger) nail glue
- Glitter glue
- Hot glue
- Rubber glue
- Super glue
- School glue
What you need
Before proceeding with the extraction process, first collect the following supplies:
- Dull knife or plastic scraper
- Freezer or ice bag
- Thinner or stain remover
- Heavy Duty Washing Powder
Glue Disposal Guide
Each section of the guide details how to remove that specific type of glue or glue, including the type of detergent you will need and the ideal water temperature to wash it. In some cases, the same cleaning process works for carpets and different types of fabrics. In other cases, there are separate instructions for fabric and carpet removal.
And for quick reference, The Spruce has this infographic :
Of course, you will run into stains when the bond between the adhesive and the fabric is too strong to break. But otherwise, these tips should help.