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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Home and Garden
Housekeeping
Stain Removal
Adhesive Stains
Removing Glue
How to Get Gorilla Glue off Hands Download Article Co-authored by Alessandra Mendes
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Approved
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Removing Dry Gorilla Glue
|
Removing Tacky Gorilla Glue
|
Video
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Tips
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Warnings
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Alessandra Mendes. Alessandra Mendes is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleaning Glow. With ten years of experience, Alessandra and her team specialize in providing residential cleaning services in the San Francisco Bay Area. All members of the Cleaning Glow team have completed thorough background checks. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 26 testimonials and 80% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 841,624 times.
Gorilla glue is one of the most difficult glues to remove, as it cures quickly and strongly. Exfoliation and oil are the key to removing it once it dries, but it may not be 100% successful. Stronger gorilla glue products or glue that has had time to fully cure may need to be left to slough off on its own, but this should not cause harm as a one-time occurrence.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Removing Dry Gorilla Glue
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1 Exfoliate. Use a knife-sharpening stone, pumice stone, or other gritty or rough material to scrub your skin. Use a strong but slow motion to avoid tearing your skin, and alternate by rubbing with your fingers to prevent friction burns. Attempt this for several minutes, then move on if the glue shows no sign of balling up or peeling off.[1]XResearch source
If nothing else is available, use a scrap of wood or a thick index card.
2 Apply oil. Rub one of the following oil-based materials onto your hands for several minutes:
Hand lotion, olive oil, sunflower oil, or baby oil are all gentle on skin. Increase the effectiveness by heating it for about 10 seconds in the microwave, and/or by mixing in a pinch of salt to add friction.
Lip gloss, lip balm, petroleum jelly, nonstick cooking spray, or oil-based makeup removers are additional options. Also Argan oil with raw Shea oil is a very good solvent.
Polyglycol body lotion may be extra effective.[2]XResearch source
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3 Scrape with a blunt edge. Use a blunt butter knife or your fingernails to scrape away at the edge of the glue, while it is still oily. Avoid sharp blades, which may "succeed" by cutting off your protective outer layer of skin.
4 Rub with citrus. Some people report success when rubbing slices of lemon or lime on the glue, or rubbing with a citrus oil or skin-safe citrus-based cleaner.[3]XResearch source
This method may sting if the gorilla glue or exfoliation has caused dry, cracked, or torn skin.
5 Scrub with a homemade mixture. Wipe off your hand of the previous ointment, then track down the ingredients for a potentially more effective mixture. Industrial users of MDI, the bonding ingredient in Gorilla Glue, use the following mixture to clean up spills:
Washing soda / soda ash (5 to 10%)
Liquid detergent (0.2 to 2%)
Water (add to reach 100%)
6 Wait for a few days. The glue will wear off along with your regular skin replacement, with the stain fading completely in about four or five days. Waiting is recommended over using harsh chemicals, which are often ineffective and may damage skin.
Keep your hands moisturized with lotion during this wait, as gorilla glue can cause dry or cracked skin.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Removing Tacky Gorilla Glue
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1 Wipe off tacky glue with a dry cloth. Wipe with a dry cloth or paper towel as soon as the glue spill occurs. If you catch it within a couple minutes, you may be able to remove all the glue.
2 Wash with soap. Gorilla glue hardens when in contact with water, so this won't be 100% successful unless you catch the glue immediately. Wash with soap and plenty of water.[4]XResearch source
Bar soap will provide additional friction, but liquid soap may be more powerful. If using liquid soap, consider dish-washing soap instead of hand soap, unless you have sensitive skin.
Try cleaning the area with hydrogen peroxide to break down the glue.[5]X Expert Source Alessandra MendesCleaning SpecialistExpert Interview
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Tips
To remove the glue from skin, wet a dryer sheet and massage into skin. It will be gone in about 30 minutes. Thanks Helpful 54 Not Helpful 14
Store a box of disposable gloves next to your gorilla glue to jog your memory during the next craft project. Thanks Helpful 61 Not Helpful 24
It is a good idea to put a protective cover under where you are using the glue - this protects the surface! Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 7
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
I used the scubby part of a sponge on wet hands before the glue dried. This worked well but left some that dried. I then used baking soda on wet hands and just scraped with my nails and the dried glue came right off!
Keep a bottle of mineral oil next to the sink. Rub onto the glued areas, then wash well with soap and water.
Finger nail polish works great for removing Gorilla glue from hands and fingers.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Alcohol, acetone, or other solvents are not recommended. These can remove your natural skin oils, which can increase the strength of the glue bond. Although soaking your hands in these solvents can be effective, repeated contact can cause skin or organ damage. Thanks Helpful 38 Not Helpful 22
Repeated gluing can wear through your hard outer layer of skin. This can result in increased sensitivity and pain from temperature and touch. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 35
Using baking soda and vinegar is not recommended, as it can finish the curing process and make the glue bond stronger.[6]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need
Soap or detergent
Baby oil or other skin-safe oil (polyglycol is best)
Half of a lemon or lime
Blunt butter knife
Soda ash (washing soda)
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Co-authored by: Alessandra Mendes Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Alessandra Mendes. Alessandra Mendes is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleaning Glow. With ten years of experience, Alessandra and her team specialize in providing residential cleaning services in the San Francisco Bay Area. All members of the Cleaning Glow team have completed thorough background checks. This article has been viewed 841,624 times. 5 votes - 80% Co-authors: 28Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 841,624 Categories: Removing GlueArticle SummaryX
To get dried Gorilla Glue off your hands, first try using a pumice stone or a knife-sharpening stone to scrub off the glue. If that doesn’t work, rub hand lotion, olive oil, or petroleum jelly onto your hands for several minutes. Then, use a butter knife or your fingernails to scrape off the glue. Alternatively, run slices of lemon or lime on the glue to see if that takes it off. For really stubborn glue, mix a solution that’s about 10% washing soda, 2% liquid detergent, and 88% water, and scrub your hands with it to remove the glue. For information on how to remove Gorilla Glue that’s still tacky, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Joseph Fruge
Dec 29, 2017
"I was able to remove Gorilla Glue off with castor oil and tea tree oil. I applied with a small green dish scrubber and gently rubbed it all over and continued scrubbing lightly until the majority of it was gone. Not sure if these items are harmful to the skin, but it was an experiment that seemed to work. "..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Alessandra Mendes Cleaning Specialist Co-authors: 28Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 841,62480% of readers found this article helpful. 5 votes - 80% Click a star to add your vote
Joseph Fruge
Dec 29, 2017
"I was able to remove Gorilla Glue off with castor oil and tea tree oil. I applied with a small green dish scrubber and gently rubbed it all over and continued scrubbing lightly until the majority of it was gone. Not sure if these items are harmful to the skin, but it was an experiment that seemed to work. "..." more
Dylan O'bryan
Apr 16, 2017
"This is how my story started. I was trying to fix something and I got the Gorilla Glue on my thumb and pointer finger. I was trying to find something to clean it and figured it wouldn't help, so I searched how to get the glue off. This article helped me get it off. Thank you so much!"..." more Rated this article:
Elizabeth Boepple
Jul 20, 2017
"I had gorilla super glue (gel) on the pads of my fingers. I combined your method (1) with (2), using a pumice stone on castor oil and got excellent results. My fingers are nicer than they were before I glued them. I shall continue the procedure without the glue the next time!"..." more
Suzy M.
Dec 23, 2019
"I had Gorilla Glue on two fingers and couldn't get it off. After I read this article, I used an emery board to file off what little I could. Then I rubbed olive oil into those spots and used an emery board with the oil. This removed all of the glue!"..." more
Roger Traviss
Aug 16, 2017
"WD40. Yep, good old WD40. Spray generously directly on hands, rub briskly for a few minutes until it feels as though glue is removed, wash off using a good soap, dish washing liquid, and warm water. Gone. "..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Alessandra Mendes Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Alessandra Mendes. Alessandra Mendes is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleaning Glow. With ten years of experience, Alessandra and her team specialize in providing residential cleaning services in the San Francisco Bay Area. All members of the Cleaning Glow team have completed thorough background checks. This article has been viewed 841,624 times. 5 votes - 80% Co-authors: 28 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 841,624 Categories: Removing Glue Article SummaryX
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1 Exfoliate. Use a knife-sharpening stone, pumice stone, or other gritty or rough material to scrub your skin. Use a strong but slow motion to avoid tearing your skin, and alternate by rubbing with your fingers to prevent friction burns. Attempt this for several minutes, then move on if the glue shows no sign of balling up or peeling off.[1] 
2 Apply oil. Rub one of the following oil-based materials onto your hands for several minutes: 
3 Scrape with a blunt edge. Use a blunt butter knife or your fingernails to scrape away at the edge of the glue, while it is still oily. Avoid sharp blades, which may "succeed" by cutting off your protective outer layer of skin. 
4 Rub with citrus. Some people report success when rubbing slices of lemon or lime on the glue, or rubbing with a citrus oil or skin-safe citrus-based cleaner.[3] 
5 Scrub with a homemade mixture. Wipe off your hand of the previous ointment, then track down the ingredients for a potentially more effective mixture. Industrial users of MDI, the bonding ingredient in Gorilla Glue, use the following mixture to clean up spills: 
6 Wait for a few days. The glue will wear off along with your regular skin replacement, with the stain fading completely in about four or five days. Waiting is recommended over using harsh chemicals, which are often ineffective and may damage skin. 
1 Wipe off tacky glue with a dry cloth. Wipe with a dry cloth or paper towel as soon as the glue spill occurs. If you catch it within a couple minutes, you may be able to remove all the glue. 
2 Wash with soap. Gorilla glue hardens when in contact with water, so this won't be 100% successful unless you catch the glue immediately. Wash with soap and plenty of water.[4] 
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