How to Remove Gorilla Glue From Skin | Tips and Tricks for Smooth Hands
Nowadays, glue sets quickly.
And this you might’ve noticed not for the reasons you hoped.
But even the most careful person slips up from time to time.
Even with gloves, it just takes a simple mishap, and you’ve got glue on your hands, arms or legs. You can also end up with Gorilla Glue on your Clothes.
But don’t worry about it:
Gorilla Glue does come off, and there are a lot of ways to go about it.
I’ll be covering these in this article.
Gorilla glue can come off in different ways. You can attempt to scrape it off with a nail filing, loosen it using a strong chemical (with caution), or use several “natural” removal techniques. Alternatively, you could wait a few days for it to come off on its own.
What To Do To Remove Gorilla Glue
Maybe you even tried to do everything by the book.
It doesn’t matter now, it’s on your skin, and it has most likely dried.
You’ve probably tried to scratch it off, but with little luck.
Don’t fret, I’ve been there.
Remember this glue is incredibly strong and is used to stick together wood.
So, it’s no wonder they’re a bit tough to remove off your skin.
Without further ado:
Here’s how to get Gorilla Glue off your fingers, hands, and everywhere else.
If It Hasn’t Dried: Get a Rag
This should be the very first thing you do.
(Though by the time you get here, it would have likely dried.)
Just wipe up as much as you can off of your skin before moving on to the next step.
Soap & Water
Start by washing your hands in a bowl or the basin with soap and cold water.
Let your hands soak for a few minutes, and then see if any glue has loosened off of your hands.
Unfortunately, if the glue has cured, it becomes moisture-resistant.
(You might also be interested in learning how to soften dried Gorilla Glue off of surfaces.)
If this is the case, you may have to move on to the next step.
Try Something Abrasive
Sandpaper could work well, or even a nail filer.
Anything that it’s a little bit abrasive that can be used to “scrape” off the glue from your skin will work.
Be careful while doing this though as you don’t want to damage your skin.
If this doesn’t work for you, or if you’d prefer to try something else, try this next suggestion:
Salt Might Work
When in a pinch, a pinch of salt might help.
(Okay, I know that was a bad joke.)
The coarseness of the salt might help remove any excess glue on your skin.
The best way to go about this is to make a paste with half as much warm water as salt.
This is a great way if you want to know how to get Gorilla Glue off your hands specifically.
Rub the paste into your hands.
Ideally, the glue will come off.
If not, keep adding salt and water if needed.
And IF this is still ineffective, then you could always try some acetone.
Careful How You Use This: Acetone
This is best used if the glue has been given a lot of time to dry.
Commonly found in nail polish remover, acetone will help to dissolve the Gorilla Glue.
Just soak a rag in acetone and hold it over the affected area for a few minutes.
It should break up and you should be able to “pick” off the glue.
If you experience any skin irritation, discontinue use and wash the area with soap and water.
Alternatively, Just Wait a Couple of Days
If all else fails just waiting a few days for the glue to come off naturally should work.
The stains that you see should diminish and disappear completely over time.
And throughout your daily activities.
Some Other Ideas to Get Rid of Gorilla Glue
Essentially, you’d do well to attempt to use anything inherently acidic as this could help loosen and remove the glue.
Lemon juice, for instance, can be used by rubbing it into the affected areas.
Otherwise, you could also try rubbing in laundry detergent.
It may require a bit of experimentation before you find what works for your situation.
You might else want to try vegetable oil.
All you need is a rag with some oil on it.
Rub it into your skin and leave it on for a few minutes.
Final Thoughts on Gorilla Glue
I Hope This Helps
Hopefully, I’ve been able to ease your concerns about Gorilla Glue.
It’s a very strong glue, so it may take a few different methods and several attempts to remove.
If all else fails, just wait a few days and it should diminish and ultimately disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Gorilla Glue come off skin naturally?
According to The Gorilla Glue Company, their glue will come off naturally over 4-5 days.
How do you get Gorilla Glue off your hands?
A nifty trick for getting Gorilla Glue off your hands is to use something like sandpaper or a nail filer to scratch it off. You can moisten the sandpaper or filer if you’re a bit worried about hurting yourself doing this. But it is very effective.
Does rubbing alcohol take off Gorilla Glue?
Rubbing alcohol might help by loosening the glue from your skin. It’s not ideal and it’s best to start with less harsh methods before using it.