Super glue is known for being strong and highly difficult to remove. But while you might think that spilling super glue on a precious item of clothing or your favorite work desk means that it’s forever, there are common household ingredients that remove the glue quickly and safely. Is vinegar one of them?
Actually, vinegar can remove super glue, but it’s not as effective as more potent products such as acetone or store-bought glue removers. However, vinegar contains acetic acid that breaks down super glue ingredients.
In this article, I’ll explore removing super glue with vinegar. I’ll also explain why vinegar works well to eliminate glue, and what types of vinegar are the most effective. Keep reading to learn more.
Which Vinegar to Use?
When removing super glue with vinegar, make sure you use distilled vinegar. It has a highly acidic nature that breaks down the glue’s strong bonds. Since it’s clear, it won’t cause stains.
Though not as effective as stronger products, vinegar is a good choice for removing super glue from materials or surfaces because it’s not harsh or damaging to many fabrics. Simply mix it with water and dab it onto the super glue stain.
Here are three methods to try if you need to remove super glue.
Method 1: Soak a Cotton Ball in Vinegar
You should soak a cotton ball in vinegar before applying it to the surface that’s been marred by the super glue. Then:
- Dab the vinegar-soaked cotton ball on the super glue spill.
- Leave the vinegar to work for a few minutes.
- Rinse the area.
- Use a putty knife to scrape off and loosen the glue.
Method 2: Add Vinegar to Soapy Water
If you’ve left the super glue on a surface or item of clothing for too long and it’s hardened, it will be more challenging to remove. Soaking a cotton ball in some vinegar and applying it to the item might not be enough. You might have to soften the super glue first.
You can do this by mixing some vinegar with a bit of warm, soapy water in a bowl. Then, soak the affected surface in this solution.
Method 3: Use Vinegar to Remove Stickiness
Sometimes after you’ve removed the glue from fabrics, you might end up with a sticky residue. Vinegar works well to remove this. You just have to mix it with liquid dish detergent and water, then follow these steps.
- Soak a paper towel in the cleaning solution.
- Gently rub the paper towel on the sticky area. Note that you might have to use a white cloth instead of a paper towel if the paper’s fibers keep breaking off and getting onto the fabric.
- Let the solution work on the material for about five minutes. Leave the cloth or paper towel in place as it works.
- Remove the cloth or paper towel.
- Check for any super glue residue. If there is residue, scrape it away with a knife.
Items You Can Safely Use Vinegar On
Although many strong ingredients and products, like acetone, can disintegrate super glue, using them isn’t always convenient. Sometimes powerful ingredients can damage the surfaces or materials afflicted with super glue.
Since vinegar is gentler, it won’t damage your delicate items. An example is leather. Vinegar works well to remove super glue that’s spilled onto the leather. However, you might need to wait longer for it to work than if you put acetone on the super glue. You can also work it into the surface or material more vigorously to make it work faster.
Other materials or surfaces on which you can use vinegar include:
- Plastic
- Glass
- Clothing
When to Avoid Using Vinegar to Remove Super Glue
Although vinegar is gentle and safe for various surfaces and materials, it’s not ideal for everything. For example, you should avoid using vinegar on carpets because of its smell, which can linger in your living space for a long time.
Another material you shouldn’t clean with vinegar is aluminum. This is because vinegar can dissolve aluminum because of its acetic acid, especially if you use it for extended periods or very regularly, so you must be careful.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve spilled vinegar on a surface or material, you might not have a strong ingredient or chemical in the home to remove it. Or, perhaps, you have them but don’t want to use them on delicate surfaces.
Either way, vinegar can work well, and you can use it in different ways to get the job done.
