To remove super glue from metal, there are several household items you can use, such as:
- Acetone
- Vinegar
- Homemade scrub
- Petroleum Jelly
- Lemon Juice
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate type of glue. This type of glue creates the strongest bond when moisture is present. This means that it bonds quickly to the surface it is applied to.
When in contact with moisture, super glue will create a strong bond by forming a tight connection with the surfaces you are gluing together.
Super glue can dry as quickly as a few minutes, and the bonding takes place instantly, but the full bonding time can take up to 14 hours.
Our detailed descriptions in this guide will show you how to implement each method to remove super glue from metal.
Acetone
If you do not have a pure acetone product, you can swap it for an acetone-based nail polish remover.
If you have both, stick with pure acetone as this element will help dissolve or break apart the hardened super glue stain on the metal.
The items you will need for this method:
- Acetone (or acetone-based nail polish remover)
- Cotton balls or a clean rag
- Toothbrush or grit sandpaper
- Soapy warm water
- Clean cloth
Follow these steps to remove super dried glue from metal with acetone:
- Soak a cotton ball or a clean rug in acetone
- Place it over the glue on the metal
- Let it sit there for a few minutes
- Repeat this step until the super glue becomes soft and pliable
- Soak the bristles of the toothbrush in acetone
- With a circular motion, scrape the super glue away
- If the toothbrush isn’t as effective, grab the grit sandpaper
- Use the scraper to remove the adhesive from the metal
- Once all the super glue is removed, clean the area with warm soapy water using a clean cloth
Depending on how much super glue needs cleaning up, this process may take a while. Once the adhesive is loosening or breaking apart, you are on the right track.
Acetone is one of the most effective materials for removing super glue from metal. It can also cause skin dryness if you use it without gloves, so make sure to moisturize your hands with hand cream.
Vinegar
The acidic element of vinegar can help soften the dried super glue. Vinegar doesn’t usually work as fast as acetone, so you must be more patient with the process.
The items you will need:
- Vinegar
- Cotton call or a clean rag
- A scraper
- Warm soapy water
- Clean cloth
Follow these simple steps to remove glue from metal using vinegar:
- Soak the cotton ball or clean rag in vinegar
- Place it over the super glue and let it sit there until the cotton ball or rag is starting to dry out
- Soak a new cotton ball (or the rag) in vinegar, place it back on the rag to cover it, and let it sit there
- You may need to soak the glue for a minimum of 1 hour
- Then, using a scraper, scrape off the adhesive until fully removed
- Clean the surface with warm soapy water and a clean cloth
Every time you use a scraper to remove hardened super glue, you must do so with caution to avoid scraping the surface.
Once you get close to the surface, try using a toothbrush to scrub off the rest of the adhesive.
This method also works for removing super glue from plastic.
Homemade scrub
You can create a highly effective scrub with two household ingredients to help you get the glue off metal.
You will need:
- Coconut oil
- Baking soda
- Bowl
- Toothbrush
- Sandpaper
- Clean cloth
- Warm soapy water
The following steps will show you how to create the scrub and how to apply it to remove the hardened super glue:
- Mix one part baking soda with one part coconut oil until you get a consistent paste
- Scoop a generous amount of the paste with the toothbrush
- Rub the paste into the glue
- Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes
- Use sandpaper (finer grade) to remove the glue
- Once you get very close to the surface, be careful not to scrape the surface – you may choose to switch to a toothbrush to scrub the rest of the adhesive
- Use a clean cloth and warm soapy water to clean the surface
Baking soda and coconut oil have properties that can dissolve the bond super glue create and help loosen its grip on the metal.
Rubbing Alcohol
You may mix the rubbing alcohol with a little water or use it on its own. If you would like to try mixing it with water first, use one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water.
The items you will need for this method:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Clean rug or cotton ball
- Fine-grade sandpaper
- Warm soapy water
- Clean cloth
These are steps you need to follow to remove super glue from metal with rubbing alcohol:
- Soak the clean rug or cotton ball in rubbing alcohol (or the rubbing alcohol and the water mix)
- Place it over the dried glue to fully cover it
- Let it sit there for about 5 minutes
- You may repeat this step until the glue starts to soften
- Use fine-grade sandpaper to scrape away the glue (you may also try a razor blade to remove the glue gently)
- Once the super glue is removed from the metal, clean the surface with warm soapy water using a clean cloth
If the super glue is hard to withdraw from the metal, repeat the above steps several times.
Rubbing alcohol can also get super glue off car paint.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum Jelly is one of the other effective methods that can help remove super glue from metal, and we’ll tell you exactly what you need to do.
First, prepare the following items:
- Petroleum Jelly
- Cotton swab
- Toothbrush
- Warm water
- Soap
- Clean cloth
Once you have all the necessary items, follow these steps:
- Scoop up a generous amount of petroleum jelly with a cotton swab
- Using a circular motion, rub the petroleum jelly well into the glue
- Scoop another layer of petroleum jelly with the toothbrush
- Use a circular motion to scrub the adhesive while applying pressure to it
- This should loosen the glue
- Keep using the toothbrush to remove all the super glue
- With a clean cloth and warm soapy water, clean the surface of the metal
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice, thanks to its acidity, can cause dried super glue to come off metal. You can use a lemon or squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl to remove hardened super glue from metal.
The items you will need:
- Lemon
- Toothbrush
- Scraper
- Warm soapy water
- Clean cloth
Follow these easy steps:
- Cut the lemon in half
- Place the lemon over the glue (with the side that has been cut) and rub it into the adhesive using a circular motion
- Once the juice is all squeezed out, grab the other half of the lemon and repeat the same
- Use a toothbrush to scrub the glue away
- If the toothbrush isn’t quite doing the job, swap it for a scraper
- Scrape the glue off the metal (being careful not to scratch the surface)
- Clean the surface with warm soapy water using a clean cloth
If you prefer squeezing the lemon juice into a bowl (or already have lemon juice), soak a cotton ball in the lemon juice.
Place it over the glue and let it sit there. Repeat this until the glue starts to loosen up. Then follow the rest of the steps from above.
Lemon juice is also good for getting super glue out of the carpet.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This may come as a surprise, but Hydrogen Peroxide can loosen super glue that has dried and hardened on metal.
The items you will need:
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Clean cloth
- Scraper
- Warm soapy water
- Another clean cloth
Follow these easy steps to remove the hardened super glue from metal:
- Soak the cloth in hydrogen peroxide
- Cover the glue with it and leave the cloth there for 5 minutes
- Soak the cloth in hydrogen peroxide again
- Cover the glue and let it sit there for another 5 minutes
- Use a scraper to lift the glue gently, without scraping the surface
- Clean the surface with warm soapy water using a cloth
Hydrogen Peroxide has oxidifier effects. This may cause a negative reaction and could damage the surface of the metal.
Before applying this method on a bigger surface of the metal, find a more hidden spot of the metal. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide on a small surface and wait to see if it causes any negative reaction.
Conclusion
Several methods can help remove super glue from metal. And the best part is that you can use items already found in your home.
This guide showed you the steps you need to take to get rid of dried super glue off metal with the household items that work best, such as:
- Acetone
- Vinegar
- Homemade scrub
- Petroleum Jelly
- Lemon Juice
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Before removing glue from any surface, one golden rule is to test your chosen method on a hidden area to ensure that there won’t be any unwanted reactions.
When using a scraper, only apply gentle pressure to avoid scraping the surface, especially when removing glue from stainless steel.
We recommend using a glove to protect your hands regardless of your preferred method. Some of these items could cause your skin to dry.
If the dryness is severe, this could lead to further damage or unpleasantries, such as cracks.
Once you are done removing super glue from metal, wash your hands with warm water and soap.
When your hands are dry enough, apply a hand lotion or cream to moisturize your skin. You may need to re-moisturize a couple of times to keep your hands from being dry.
