How To Remove Gorilla Glue From Skin Safely & Easily

Capable of drying in a flash, there’s literally nothing that this glue can’t fix. You may have seen some Gorilla glue disasters on TikTok and reels since it has been in buzz lately. And that is why it is risky to use, especially when you’re a clumsy person.

If you are a frequent user of this glue, it’s essential to stay alert and know about the cures if you have any spilling accidents. Once spilled, it dries within a blink of an eye and is tough to get rid of.

We have put together this informative guide, which will come in handy if you somehow get gorilla glue on your skin. We’ll talk about several methods and small tricks to get you through it.

Without further ado, let’s get right into it!

Gorilla Glue 101

The authentic formula for this trademark water and temperature-resistant wood glue was first used back in the 1990s. It is a versatile adhesive and can be used on a range of surfaces, including wood, stone, ceramic, foam, concrete, glass, and more. The glue tends to expand three times its original volume after curing and changes to a tan color.

Although it triples over after drying, the glue is not recommended for filling gaps. The original formula is hundred percent pure and doesn’t contain any fillers or plasticizers. Despite being suitable to apply on several surfaces, the manufacturers advise not to use it on rubber and polyethylene.

After developing the original product, the company diversified a little and produced more adhesives like gorilla construction glue, gorilla tape, gorilla wood glue, and many more. The possible hazards of using the glue are skin and eye irritation, allergic skin reaction, and breathing difficulties on inhalation.

Why Is It Dangerous?

We discussed all there’s to know about this superglue in detail. Now, we’ll move on to its potential dangers. Its super sticky adhesive bonds make it a menace for the skin. Once spilled, it gets lodged inside the skin pores and cannot be removed easily. This blocking of pores won’t allow your skin cells to breathe and will ultimately lead to dead skin.

It is important to remove the blot before it gets the time to dry. Gorilla glue has a fast-drying formula, and it will be a huge pain to remove after setting. The waterproof nature of the adhesive is a boon while using it on projects but simultaneously creates a lot of problems in case of accidental spilling.

The water-resistant composition of the glue doesn’t allow the water molecules to come directly in contact with the adhesive. As a result, vigorous washing with water is futile for removing it. But don’t you worry, we know a lot of tricks to get rid of it, and we are now going to share them with you.

How To Remove It From Skin?

First and foremost, do not panic because it’s alright, silly accidents happen all the time, and we’ve got your back. There will most likely be two scenarios. First, the glue is still wet, and you have just enough time to get it off. Second and worse, it has already dried and hardened.

When It’s Still Wet

It is a rare chance that you’ll be able to remove the glue while it’s still wet, but there’s no harm in knowing and being prepared. You’ll have to trust your reflexes and be really quick for this.

When you are working on any project or doing anything that involves the use of Gorilla glue, as a rule of thumb, keep some paper towels, napkins, or dry cotton cloth nearby. In case of spillage, try to wipe off the glue as much as you can from the skin while it’s still soft and gooey.

The next step will be washing it off using soap and water. Take a generous amount of soap and lather it on the skin. We recommend using liquid soap since soap bars create friction, and we don’t want that.

If you can keep some soap and a basin full of water around while working, then it’s perfect; you’ll be able to get it off even quicker. Most likely, there’ll be some residual glue even after washing thoroughly. Exfoliate your skin using some salt or sugar. Exfoliation opens up the skin pores, and the adhesive will leave the skin.

So much vigorous washing will leave your skin dry, so make sure that you moisturize your skin well. But that said, remember not to overdo it! The glue will eventually come off with more washes. Overdoing will only damage your skin further.

Let’s move on to discuss ways to remove the glue when it has dried on the skin.

When It’s Dried

If the glue has already dried, don’t worry. There are lots of easy ways to get it off without damaging or irritating your skin.

The Citrus Method

For this method, you can use any citrus fruit. Limes, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc., all will work well. Easy and affordable, this technique is hundred percent organic, and you won’t have to use any chemical products. The vitamin C and acidic juices of the citrus fruits break down the adhesive forces of the glue and remove it from the skin.

Slice the fruit in half and squeeze out its juice in a bowl. Dab some nectar on some cotton, or simply use your finger to apply it to the affected area. After a few minutes, you’ll notice the glue disintegrating. Repeat it as many times as you need to until it’s effective.

Once you get rid of the glue, wash the area under some warm and soapy water to remove the residual juice. If your skin has been a little damaged, the acidic nature of the fluid will sting a little. Wash your skin until it stops stinging.

The Scrubbing Method

You can ward off the glue by using things that are very easily available in the house. You can rub it off using some coarse sugar or salt, or you can go for a pumice stone. Pumice stone is an effective and traditional tool for scrubbing. However, if you have sensitive skin, then this method is not for you.

Take some baby oil and apply it over the glue in a circular motion. The spot should be entirely immersed in oil. Doing this will soften it down, and glue will start losing its stickiness.

Scrub the area with a wet pumice stone gently. Do not apply too much pressure because skin abrasions are the last thing you’ll want after already damaging your skin with gorilla glue.

After a while, the glue will start to flake off. Use your fingers to remove it when this happens. Carefully remove all the flakes with a light hand. When satisfied, keep the affected area under running warm water until all the oil is washed away. You can also soak it in soapy water if possible. Repeat the process until all the glue is removed.

The Vegetable Oil Method

Instead of using any toxic or aggressive material, you can also make the glue vanish using some ordinary cooking oil, almond oil, or baby oil. The method is simple, but as we are using a natural product instead of any chemical substance, it’ll take a lot of time to disintegrate the glue.

Take any oil of your choice; we suggest olive oil since it's the best for skin, and pour it on a clean cloth. Rub it where the glue has dripped on the skin for four to five minutes. Leave the oil on the area for a little while. Eventually, the glue will start peeling off. Remove all the flakes carefully by hand.

You can either wash the oil from your skin or leave it be so that it can cure the damaged skin. You won’t have to apply any other moisturizer since oil will do the job itself.

The Special Mixture Method

Straight from our grandma’s kitchen, we have a special home remedy to fight off that stubborn glue from your supple skin. What is this antidote? Keep reading to find out.

The recipe is very simple and requires just three ingredients. You will need vinegar, washing soda, and some liquid detergent and will be done within ten minutes.

Take a basin and fill it with about one and a half to two liters of water. Add three to four tablespoons of vinegar to it. Then add two tablespoons of ten percent baking soda and a few drops of liquid detergent. Mix the contents nicely until you get a homogeneous solution.

Once the mixture is ready, you can drench a cloth in it and wipe the affected area, or you can directly immerse that part in the basin. The glue will lose its hardness and get dissolved in the solution. Vinegar is acidic in nature, while washing soda is basic, and both can be a little damaging for your skin.

It is a home remedy, but it’s not one hundred percent skin-friendly as you would expect it to be, so do not leave it on the skin for too long.

The Alcohol Method

Alcohol has adhesive degrading properties and therefore is an efficient agent for dissolving the glue. Rubbing alcohol is more suited for sanitization and is skin-friendly, too, so use that instead of regular alcohol.

Take a bowl and fill it up to the brim with warm water. Add some soap to it, preferably liquid. Mix it well until bubbles appear. If you have the glue on your hand, then immerse it in the bowl for a few minutes or until you can visibly see the glue softening. For other parts, soak a clean cotton cloth in the water and rub it on the glue.

Once softened, take a cotton swab and wet it with some rubbing alcohol. Wipe the affected area with the swab until the glue comes off. Wash the skin with warm water and soap to remove the residual alcohol. Gently moisturize your skin after cleansing to avoid dryness.

The Acetone Method

Acetone is an organic ketone compound that is colorless and volatile. It has a pungent odor and is used in many products like nail paint remover, cosmetics, etc. Therefore, if you don’t have crude acetone available or have sensitive skin, you can use nail paint remover.

First, clean the affected area with soap and water and leave it wet for a while. Pour some acetone on a cotton swab or ball and brush it over the glue in circular motions. This method is quite similar to the rubbing alcohol one, except that acetone is more effective on the glue and extremely drying for the skin.

Keep rubbing until the maximum glue has come off. Rinse the skin thoroughly with lukewarm water. Acetone will leave your skin really dry, so avoid using soap or any irritating products for a while. Just put on some rich moisturizing lotion and leave it at that.

The Goo Gone Method

Goo Gone is a proficient adhesive remover that safely removes not just gorilla glue but a number of gooey messes like wax spots, markers, tar, crayons, label and sticker residues, chewing gum, etc. The original product is for surfaces only, but the topical range is safe for the skin.

Goo Gone Topical keeps the skin moist because it has an emollient in the formula. It counteracts any possible irritant in the formula and is mellow on the skin. Let us get to know how to use it.

Well, it’s simple. Just splurge out the solution on a dry towel or cotton balls and put it over the glue. Keep it like that for three to four minutes. When the glue melts down, simply wipe it off, and you’re done.

Since the product is skin-friendly, you won’t need any other preventive or curing methods. However, do wipe away the solution and put on a light salve if you have irritable skin.

The WD-40 Method

The next method is a little harsh on the skin, so turn to it only when you urgently need to take off the glue and don’t have any other options left. WD-40 is a silicone-based cleansing spray. This spray can also help you get rid of grease, sticker residue, and gum, along with gorilla glue.

Spray the aerosol onto a cotton swab or clean towel and hold it over the glued area. Keep it in place for five minutes. After removing the cotton, you’ll see that the glue will start peeling off. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result. We’ll advise you against spraying WD-40 directly on the skin, so don’t rush into that.

Be very cautious while using the spray because it can irritate your skin and eyes and incite allergic reactions. Be sure not to inhale the droplets because it can lead to breathing difficulties and asthmatic triggers.

The Razor Method

If you spilled the glue on a flat part of your body and are desperate to remove it, then this is an ideal method for you. Follow it only when you are entirely sure about your shaving techniques and feeling a little adventurous.

Take some cold water in a bowl and dip the affected skin area into it. When skin is wet, put on the shaving cream and lather it a little. Once you’re happy with the foam, go ahead and shave the glue from the skin.

Pay attention to the area you’re shaving, and avoid being reckless with it. The chances of peeling off your skin are fairly high, but so is the removal of the glue flakes.

The Hand Lotion Method

This technique is for small spillages on hands and other accessible body parts. You can either use a lotion or petroleum jelly. Put on a generous amount of moisturizer on the skin and leave it at that for twenty minutes.

The glue will begin to peel off after some time. This method is simple but very time-consuming. Don’t depend on it in case of big splotches, and go for the other methods listed above instead.

How To Remove It From Fingers?

To make things even simpler for you, we decided on discussing ways to remove the glue from the fingers separately. Since most of the work is done by your creative hands, most disasters happen there, especially if you have butterfingers.

Immersing Method

Take a container large enough to dip your fingers comfortably. Fill it with any of the solutions given above. You can opt for the special mixture of baking soda and vinegar or vegetable oil; however, we suggest acetone diluted with water.

Now immerse your fingers into the container and stay like that for three to five minutes. When you are done with the dipping and feel the glue soften, try to pry the fingers apart using the other hand. If you are unable to do so, then go for another round of immersing.

After sufficient soaking, exfoliate your fingers using a scrub. You can use coarse sugar or salt for this purpose too. The glue will come off way more easily after softening. Wash your hands properly using warm soapy water and compensate for the skin damage with some medicinal cream or lotion.

Using A Pen Or A Pencil

This method is rather impulsive and will only work if you have a light coat of glue on your fingers. Squeeze a little lemon or orange juice over the bond to loosen it, then insert a pencil between the fingers and roll it forward. That’s it, yes, it’s that simple.

However, we advise not to push with too much pressure if the glue hasn’t softened out properly. Doing so might lead to painful skin abrasions, and you wouldn’t want that.

How To Remove It From Other Surfaces?

When you accidentally get glue on your skin, the stakes of getting it on other things lying nearby are high. You might spill it on your clothes, on the floor or the furniture. To err is human, to fix it, divine! Let’s get to know how to fix it!

From Clothes

Trying to remove the glue while it’s wet will only spread it further, so put on your hat of patience and sit this one out for a while. When the glue has dried, lay the cloth piece on a hard surface and try working it out using your fingers.

Use lemon juice or acetone to ease it out from the fabric and do it very gently. When you’re done, go ahead and wash the cloth with warm water and detergent, unless it is a delicate dry-clean material.

From Wood, Metal, Glass, or Floor

For all of these surfaces, we recommend using the Goo Gone or WD-40 spray mentioned above. Both of these products are effective and will help you save a lot of time and effort. When you buy a Gorilla glue, be sure to invest a little in preventive measures too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does Gorilla glue dry?

The glue starts drying the moment it touches any surface, and the little spots can dry entirely in under a minute. On surfaces with huge pores, it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to dry; however, the curing period extends up to twenty-four hours.

What’s the best technique for using Gorilla glue?

The plausible answer lies not in the technique but in practice mainly. You’ll get the hang of maneuvering the tube after using it for a while. However, you can try to handle the adhesive bottle such that the nozzle stays opposite to your hand. You can keep a hard surface below the tip at all times, a coaster or a lid, for instance.

How can we dissolve the Gorilla glue?

The glue is water and temperature-resistant, so that doesn’t work well. Other solvents like acetone, paint diluent, and isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) effectively disintegrate the adhesive bonds of Gorilla glue. If you don’t have these at your home, you can use citrus fruit juice and vegetable oil.

Conclusion

Prevention is indeed better than cure. While working with gorilla glue, it is essential to keep your preventive measures in check. We sincerely hope that this simple yet informative guide will keep you prepared for those nasty glue accidents.

We have finally reached the end of this guide on getting rid of Gorilla glue from the skin easily and safely. Now, the next time you make an error, don’t panic, take a deep breath, and follow one of our simple methodologies straightaway.

With that being said, we bid you goodbye. See you next time!

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