This method will work to remove small amounts of dried industrial adhesive at a time. Be patient and keep working away at the dried glue until you have removed as much as you can, then you may need to use another method to get rid of any remaining residue.
If scrubbing with the solvent doesn’t seem to work right away, press the rag soaked with solvent against the residue and leave it sitting for 5-10 minutes, then try scrubbing it again. If the glue is on a small portable object, like a piece of pipe or something like that, you can also soak it in a tub of solvent for up to a full day to dissolve the glue. You can try other solvents like paint thinner, isopropyl alcohol, or mineral spirits as well. Acetone might ruin the surface or change its color and, depending on the situation, it might still not be strong enough to remove industrial glue.
Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for these types of industrial adhesive removers before using them and follow any specific recommendations. These substances contain powerful chemicals that can be harmful to your skin or if inhaled or ingested. If the residue still doesn’t come off after your first attempt with the industrial glue remover, apply the remover again and let it sit for 1 hour. Try scrubbing it with a sponge or scraping it with a putty knife after the hour has passed. Be extra careful when removing residue from plastic, and make sure the remover won’t damage the finish of the color of the surface.
This method can work to melt and soften some types of industrial adhesives when you are worried that scraping the surface too much or applying a solvent or glue remover to it will cause damage. If you don’t have a heat gun or hair dryer, you could also try pouring boiling water on the surface. Just be sure the surface can handle the heat and moisture before you try this.
If you accidentally glue your fingers together and try to rip them apart, you might end up pulling the skin off and causing yourself more pain and a bigger issue. Staying calm will allow you to address the situation appropriately and remove the glue.
In the unlikely event that you accidentally glued an eyelid or your mouth shut, do not under any circumstances try to pry or rip them open. This will just cause a bigger injury, so get medical help right away.
For example, if you got glue on your fingers, a small bowl is large enough to soak the area in. If you got adhesive on an area that is trickier to submerge, let’s say your forearm, then you will need something much larger like a bucket.
Acetone can dry out your skin, so it’s a good idea to apply some body moisturizer or hand lotion to the affected area after you have removed the glue. If the residue is coming off, but you can’t remove it all after the first attempt, repeat this process as many times as necessary until it is all gone.
Do not use these types of solvents on sensitive areas or near your eyes and mouth. They contain chemicals that can be very harmful if ingested or cause high levels of irritation on sensitive skin.
You can use the techniques in this method to remove industrial glue from any type of fabric, such as clothing or upholstery.
If the glue is on a particularly delicate type of fabric, like lace or silk, skip this step so you don’t accidentally stretch or tear it.
Glue generally comes off in layers, so be patient and keep applying more acetone to try and remove as much of the adhesive as you can. Keep in mind that you might not be able to get 100% of it off. If the fabric is fairly durable, such as thick upholstery on a couch or another piece of furniture, you can also try using an old toothbrush to scrub the affected area with acetone.
It’s best not to dry the fabric until the glue is completely removed to avoid setting it into the fabric further. If you can’t get it all off, hang the fabric to air dry rather than drying it in a machine using heat. This way, the glue may continue to come out with repeated washing. You can try pre-treating glue stains by rubbing laundry detergent or a specific pre-treatment product into them if regular washing doesn’t do the trick.
