Spilling super glue on a metal surface doesn’t have to spell disaster. Learn how to get super glue off metal and metal paint using products you already have on hand – in just 5 simple steps.
No matter how careful you are, DIY accidents happen now and again. Thankfully, there’s no need to pay for pricey super glue removers. Even the stickiest super glue mishaps can be fixed with everyday household products like acetone or nail polish remover, which dissolves the glue and other residue.
Here’s what you need:
- cotton balls or pads
- acetone or nail polish remover
- rubber gloves
- razor blade, putty knife or plastic scraper
- two clean, dry cloths
- sponge
Once you’ve grabbed your cleaning products, here’s what you need to do to get super glue off metal:
- Clean. Before you get started, clean and dry the metal surface you’re working on.
- Press. Put on your gloves, saturate a cotton ball or pad with acetone (or nail polish remover) and press it onto the metal surface until the super glue softens and becomes malleable. This might take five to ten minutes.
- Lift. Using a razor place, putty knife or plastic scraper, gently lift the loosened super glue from the metal. Take special care when using a razor blade so as not to scratch the surface.
- Wipe. Once you’ve scraped off the glue, wipe any remaining residue with the acetone-soaked cotton ball or pad. You might need to repeat steps two and three a couple of times until the glue is gone.
- Dry. Once you’re sure all super glue residue has been removed, soak the cleaning sponge in warm, soapy water and wipe over the metal surface. Then using a dry cloth, wipe the surface dry.
If you’ve gotten super glue on metal paint, for instance on cars, removal gets a bit trickier (but not impossible!). Here’s one way to remove super glue from metal paint safely, without causing damage to the surrounding paint. You’ll need:
- a bucket of hot water
- 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap
- a soft cloth
Then, follow these simple steps:
- Clean and dry the metal surface you’re cleaning.
- Combine the dish soap with the hot water in the bucket.
- Soak the cloth in the warm soapy water and rub the affected area in a circular motion to loosen the adhesive and remove super glue from metal paint.
- Repeat until the super glue dissolves.
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