Removing hot glue is easy, but it depends on your working material. Hot glue behaves differently on wood than on fabrics, for instance.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to remove hot glue from different materials, including:

• Fabric
• Plastic
• Glass
• Carpet
• Wood
• Other hard surfaces
• Skin

Keep reading to find out how to remove hot glue from all materials!

How to Remove Hot Glue from Fabric?

I have two solutions for removing hot glue from fabric. All of them work, but you may want to experiment and see which is best for you.

1. Freeze the fabric

The first solution to removing hot glue is to freeze the fabric.

That’s because hot glue in its liquid form is almost impossible to remove completely. Only when it’s dry can it be removed easily.

Follow the steps below to remove hot glue from fabric:

• Place the fabric inside the freezer for 30 minutes. This will make the glue spot solid, making it easier to scrape off. Remember not to agitate the glue spot when putting it in the freezer. You don’t want to glue to seep into the fabric;
• Remove the fabric from the freezer;
• Use your fingers or a knife to peel the hot glue off the fabric. The glue will be solid enough and won’t seep into the fabric if you touch it.

That’s it. This is the simplest solution to removing hot glue from fabric.

2. Use isopropyl alcohol

The second solution uses isopropyl alcohol to loosen the dry glue from the fabric.

You’ll need isopropyl alcohol, a toothpick, and a cotton swab.

Follow the steps below to remove the hot glue from the fabric:

• Use the cotton swab to apply a little alcohol to the fabric. You need to see if the fabric reacts adversely to the alcohol. If it doesn’t, continue;
• Let the glue dry and try not to agitate the fabric;
• Use a toothpick to check the consistency of the dried glue. If no glue transfers to the toothpick, then the glue is dry enough;
• Soak a cotton swab into 70% isopropyl alcohol;
• Rub the cotton swab around the spot of glue on the fabric until the glue starts coming off;
• Once it starts coming off, peel off the glue with your fingers or a butter knife
• Clean the fabric with a damp cloth to remove residual glue and alcohol.

The isopropyl alcohol will dissolve the glue and negate the stickiness property, making it easy for you to remove it by hand.

How to Remove Hot Glue from Plastic?

To remove hot glue from plastic, you’ll need vegetable oil / white vinegar, a spatula/knife, and soap.

There are two methods for removing hot glue from plastic:

1. With vegetable oil

This method uses vegetable oil and a cloth to soften the glue so you can remove it.

Follow the steps below to remove hot glue from plastic using vegetable oil:

• Let the hot glue dry for 20-30 minutes before continuing;
• Pour some vegetable oil on the dry, hot glue until the area is saturated;
• Wait for 3-5 minutes, and then use a cloth to wipe off the dry glue from the plastic;
• Clean the area with soap after you’re done.

The oil will make the glue malleable and easy to remove. It’ll also negate most of its stickiness.

2. With white vinegar

White vinegar and a spatula are the second methods of removing hot glue from plastic.

Follow the steps below to do this:

• Let the glue dry off for 20-30 minutes;
• Pour white vinegar on the glued area until it’s saturated;
• Wait for 3-5 minutes before using a spatula to pry off the glue from the plastic surface;
• Move slowly to remove all the glue in one go.

White vinegar is very acidic and destroys the bonds between the glue particles. Hot glue also becomes less sticky when soaked in white vinegar.

This allows you to remove it with a spatula!

How to Remove Hot Glue from Glass?

To remove hot glue from glass, I have 5 ways you can do it:

1. Use rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or lighter fluid

This first solution is also the simplest one.

You’ll need rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or lighter fluid. Have a scraping tool and a cloth nearby, too.

Follow the steps below to remove hot glue from glass:

• Let the glue dry off for 20-30 minutes;
• Apply rubbing alcohol/nail polish remover / lighter fluid on the glued area liberally;
• Wait for 3-5 minutes for the solvent to seep into the glue;
• Use a cloth or a scraping tool to remove the glue from the glass surface;
• Do this in slow motions, so you don’t scratch the glass;
• Repeat this process if the glue persists.

This method is quick and doesn’t require to take too much time. It also works in most cases.

2. Use spray lubricant or paint thinner

This solution is very similar to the previous one.

But you’ll be using either spray lubricant or paint thinner. The way these substances work is that they seep into the glue and destroy its bonds.

Follow the steps below to remove the hot glue from the glass:

• After the glue is dry, spray with the spray lubricant or paint thinner on the glued area;
• Wait for 3-5 minutes for the solvent to penetrate the glue;
• Use a rag or cloth to wipe off the glue from the glass surface;
• Put some force into it if the glue doesn’t come off easily;
• You can also apply more spray lubricant or paint thinner to quicken the process.

If this doesn’t work, move to the next solution!

3. Use white vinegar or commercial degreasing agents

You can use any degreasing agent to remove grease, motor oil, and other sticky residues.

White vinegar is also very good at removing hot glue from glass.

Follow the same steps as above, and you should finish quickly.

If these 3 solutions don’t work for you, you’re dealing with a very strong blob of hot glue.

This method will also work if you need to remove nail glue from your clothes.

4. Use a razor blade or utility knife 

Using force always works when dealing with thick and dry glue.

For this, you’ll need a razor blade or a utility knife, a solvent, and a rag.

Follow the steps below to remove hot glue from glass:

• Stick the razor blade under the glue portion and try cutting it parallel to the glass surface;
• Do it in a smooth motion and take care not to scratch the glass;
• After you remove the large portion of glue, apply a solvent, let it soak into the residual glue, and then wipe it with a rag;
• Eliminate the glue with a rag and then wash with water to clean the glass surface.

If not, even if this works, use the last method.

5. Use steel wool and soapy water.

This is the hardest approach to removing hot glue from glass.

If nothing else works, then this will. You’ll need steel wool and soapy water for this.

Follow the steps below to eliminate the hot glue from the glass surface:

• Soak the steel wool in soapy water;
• Rub the glue portion without touching the glass;
• Use small motions and apply firm pressure on the steel wool;
• You may need to apply some solvent after dealing with the bulk of the hot glue residue;
• Wipe with a rag and wash with water afterward.

One of these solutions will work for removing the hot glue from your glass project.

How to Remove Hot Glue from Carpet?

If hot glue gets on your carpet, there are two ways to remove it, depending on whether the glue is fresh or dry.

1. If Glue is Fresh – Scrape it.

The first solution works on hot glue freshly spilled on the carpet.

You’ll need a flat-edged object like a knife or spatula to clean it.

Scrape the hot glue from the carpet in one quick motion. Do it in an upward motion because otherwise, the glue might fall off the spatula/knife back on the carpet.

After you remove all the glue, clean the knife so that the hot glue doesn’t damage it.

2. If Glue is Dried – Iron it.

If the glue patch is older and you can’t scrape it off with a knife, you can use a hot iron and a piece of fabric to remove the hot glue.

Follow the steps below to do this:

• Place a piece of fabric over the dried hot glue (the glue will be transferred to this piece of fabric);
• Take the hot iron over the fabric but don’t move it. Just press on the fabric in a downward motion and apply pressure; 
• As you do this, the glue should transfer from the carpet to the fabric;
• Repeat these steps if you can’t get all the glue out at once.

This should remove the hot glue from your carpet!

How to Remove Hot Glue from Wood?

Removing it is easy if you’ve spilled hot glue on the table or another wooden surface. I have two solutions for you:

1. Use a putty knife to remove the hot glue from wood

The first solution requires a putty knife, a hairdryer, and a hot towel. 

Follow the steps below to remove the hot glue:

• Let the hot glue dry for 10-15 minutes;
• Maneuver the putty knife at the base of the glue spill and;
• Use the hairdryer to warm and soften the glue while, at the same time, pushing the putty knife between the glue and the wood;
• Lift the putty knife with the glue on it while using a hot towel to cover the putty knife. This is so the glue doesn’t fall from the putty knife.

You should wear protective gloves when doing this because hot glue will burn your skin instantly.

2. Use acetone or rubbing alcohol.

Acetone / rubbing alcohol is great at disintegrating glue of any kind, including hot glue.

You’ll need acetone, cotton swabs, and a rag for this solution.

Follow the steps below to remove hot glue from wood:

• Let the glue patch dry for about 10-15 minutes;
• Drop some acetone on the wood and watch what happens. If the wooden surface is varnished or coated, the acetone might harm the varnish;
• If the wood isn’t damaged, soak a cotton swab in acetone and walk it around the edges of the glue spill;
• Dab the entire hot glue spill in acetone using the cotton swab;
• Wait for 1-2 minutes, and then use the rag to wipe off the glue OR use a putty knife to separate the glue spots from the wooden surface.

You won’t need to use a lot of acetone unless the glued surface is large. Usually, a small amount of acetone works wonders.

How to Remove Hot Glue from Hard Surfaces?

The best way to remove hot glue from hard surfaces is with isopropyl alcohol:

• Use isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol will dissolve the glue and remove its stickiness. This makes it easy to remove with a rag or a spatula.

Dab the glued area in isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab or a paintbrush, and then wait for the glue to become soft.

Then, try removing the glue with your fingers by pinching it from the edges. If it doesn’t detach from the surface, try using a putty knife.

If necessary, apply more isopropyl alcohol to soften the glue more.

Finally, take another rag and wash the hard surface with water to remove all glue residue.

If your hard surface is varnished wood, don’t use too much isopropyl alcohol because it might damage the wood.

How to Remove Hot Glue from Skin?

If hot glue gets on your skin, prepare for a painful experience.

You’ll need to react fast, so follow the steps below to remove the hot glue from your skin:

• Put cold water on the hot glue or use an ice cube to run along the glued area;
• Wait until the hot glue hardens, and then try peeling it off using your fingers;
• If it’s very painful, hold your hand under cold water for several minutes and use isopropyl alcohol or acetone to remove the hot glue;
• Use an antibiotic for pain in the burned area and, if necessary, seek medical assistance.

When working with hot glue, you should always wear long-sleeved clothes and protective gloves.

A pair of protective goggles are also recommended.

Conclusion

To summarize, you can remove hot glue with several tools and techniques:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• A putty knife and cotton swabs dabbed in acetone
• By freezing
• Spray lubricant or paint thinner
• White vinegar
• Steel wool
• Vegetable oil

The efficiency of these methods depends on the material you’re working with.

If you want to remove hot glue from fabric, freezing and isopropyl alcohol are your best bets.

But to remove hot glue from glass, spray lubricant, paint thinner, or white vinegar is better.

Good luck!