How To Dissolve Adhesive Glue

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Glue has many useful purposes. Hot glue and household glue are good for arts and crafts. Super glue is good for permanently securing things with an extremely strong bond. Super glue is even used in forensics labs in the development of fingerprints. When using glue in a household setting, mistakes do happen. If you find yourself in a sticky situation and need to dissolve adhesive glue, rest assured. With the right chemicals, most glue–even super glue–will dissolve and disappear. Be sure to test any chemicals in an inconspicuous area before using them on the affected area.

Step 1

Dissolve water-based glue with warm, soapy water. Dip a sponge in the water, and then scrub the affected area until the glue breaks down. If the soapy water isn't enough, dip the sponge in rubbing alcohol and continue scrubbing. The alcohol breaks down the adhesive, causing the glue to dissolve quickly. Use a metal scraper to scrape the remaining glue off of the surface. Rinse the surface with warm water and wipe with a towel to make sure that all the glue is gone.

Step 2

Remove CA glues with acetone nail polish remover. CA stands for cyanoacrylate, which forms an extremely strong bond. CA glues include Krazy Glue and Super Glue. Soak a cotton ball in acetone nail polish remover, and use it to saturate the glue you want to remove. Use a metal scraper to scrape away the remaining glue.

Step 3

Harden hot glue with an ice cube. The ice will freeze the glue, allowing you to peel it away from the surface with ease.

Step 4

Remove labels from jars by soaking the jars in hot water. After approximately 30 minutes, peel off the label and scrub the remaining adhesive away with a sponge.

Step 5

Get rid of stubborn sticker adhesive on clothes by spraying it with stain remover and soaking the material in warm water for approximately one hour. Wash the items in warm water, or hot water if the fabric can tolerate it.

Step 6

Clean off Gorilla Glue with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Try to clean up the Gorilla Glue as soon as possible, because once it's dry, it forms an extremely strong bond that is hard to undo. If the glue has dried, use light grain sandpaper to scrub the adhesive away.