How To Remove Glue Stains - Good Housekeeping

Maybe your like

Help - you were repairing a broken vase and you accidentally got glue on the carpet! Don't panic. It probably feels like the tacky, leftover adhesive will be stuck on forever but it’s possible to remove even the most stubborn residual stickiness —as long as you know what to do. Here are three ways to get glue off your carpet or clothes without ruining them, according to the experts.

How to remove glue from your clothes or carpet

The most important thing is to act quickly. Gently scrape off the glue with a blunt knife and paper towels. Then, depending on the type of glue, follow the advice below.

How to remove takeaway stains

How to remove different types of glue

All-purpose household adhesive Dab the affected area with acetone (nail polish remover) until the glue has dissolved. Launder, where possible, or gently rinse with cold water.

Contact adhesive This type of glue hardens on contact, so you must act fast. Treat as for all-purpose adhesives.

Epoxy resin This consists of a glue and a hardener. Once epoxy resin has hardened, it is almost impossible to remove. Use acetone (nail polish remover) or methylated spirits to remove it before it sets.

Paper adhesive and latex glue Pick off the glue residue first. For carpets, dab the stain with a liquid detergent solution but do not over-wet. Rinse and blot dry. For fabrics, wash as normal.

Superglue For carpets, sponge the area with warm, soapy water to dissolve the glue - you may have to do this several times. Do not over-wet. Blot afterwards to dry. If this doesn't work, try dabbing the area with nail polish remover, but test a hidden area of the carpet for colourfastness first. For washable fabrics, dab with nail polish remover to dissolve the glue (having tested for colourfastness), then machine-wash as normal.