Gorilla Glue is one of the strongest adhesives on the market and has endless uses. Whether you are gluing an object back together or using it on your latest project, getting Gorilla Glue on your skin can be tough to get off. Most people want to know how to remove Gorilla Glue from the skin.
Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane mix adhesive; using solvents won’t always get it off your skin. If you act fast, you can wipe it off with a wet rag dipped in oil. If it’s dry, use oil and a pumice stone to remove the glue. You can also use a mixture of oil and sea salt as an exfoliating scrub.
I was using Gorilla Glue not too long ago for a project, but I was lucky enough to wear gloves at the time.
A friend was not so fortunate and had to remove some Gorilla Glue stuck on his fingers.
He had no idea what to use, so I researched all the ways that have worked for others and wanted to share that information.
How To Remove Gorilla Glue From Your Skin
If you have Gorilla Glue on your skin, you need to act fast, or getting it off will be longer and more challenging.
Originally Gorilla Glue is a water-activated glue that expands when moisture is added and forms a waterproof barrier when the glue is dry.
Gorilla Glue for wood is a water-based adhesive made from PVA. It dries to a water-resistant finish that can be sanded and painted.
Getting these strong adhesives off your skin can be challenging, but here are a few tried and tested methods.
You can try to remove the glue using solvents like rubbing alcohol or acetone.
However, we will look at more natural ways that won’t dry out or cause damage to your skin but are still effective.
Removing Wet Or Tacky Gorilla Glue From Your Skin
If you are lucky enough that the glue is still wet or tacky when you realize you have some on your skin, you can easily remove it.
There are two methods to remove wet or tacky Gorilla Glue.
Method 1
The first method uses a wet cloth, vegetable oil, and a kitchen sponge.
Step 1
Take a clean damp cloth and dip it into some vegetable oil.
Step 2
Gently wipe the surface of the glue and skin till you get as much of the glue off as possible.
Step 3
Use something with an abrasive surface like a pumice stone or the scouring side of a kitchen sponge dipped in the same oil to remove the remaining glue.
Method 2
The second method uses paper towels, warm water, and dish soap.
Step 1
Firstly, take a paper towel and wipe as much glue as possible.
Step 2
Then take some dish soap and, using rubbing motions, rub some dish soap into the skin while keeping the skin under warm water to remove the rest of the glue.
Step 3
If you still have some glue residue on your skin after using the dish soap, use sugar or salt and a few drops of water to gently exfoliate the skin. It should remove the remainder of the Gorilla Glue from your skin.
Step 4
Your hands will be dry at this point so take care to use a moisturizer to avoid damage to your skin.
Removing Dried Gorilla Glue From Your Skin
If you have dried Gorilla Glue on your skin, there are a few ways to remove Gorilla Glue from your skin.
Remember that Gorilla Glue is made from a polyurethane blend. Not all solvents will work to remove the dried glue from your skin. While dried-on glue might not be quick and easy to remove, you can get it off with patience.
Here are a few methods that work.
Method 1- Using Oil And Scrubbing To Remove The Glue
This first method uses oil, a pumice stone, and scrubbing to remove the glue.
Step 1
Rub vegetable, olive, or baby oil on the affected skin and rub it in circular motions so the glue starts to soften up.
Step 2
As soon as the glue becomes softer, use a pumice stone to rub the glue on the skin gently. Be careful and work gently, do not rub too hard as it might cause abrasions on the skin.
Step 3
As soon as some of the glue loosens up, add a few more drops of oil. Then, rub the oil into the glue and skin underneath to get the remaining glue off your skin.
Step 4
When all the glue has come off, wash the affected skin in warm soapy water and moisturize it.
This will avoid the now sensitive skin becoming dry and cracking.
Step 5
If the skin becomes too sensitive to continue, stop and wait until the area is less sensitive. While you wait, keep the skin oiled so the glue won’t dry again.
Waiting around 30 minutes and repeating steps 1-3 will ensure the Gorilla Glue is removed from your skin in no time.
Method 2 – Using Citrus To Remove Gorilla Glue
This method works well but should not be used if you have sensitive or cracked skin. You can use oranges, limes, or lemons, but lemons are the most effective.
Step 1
Slice up some lemons or citrus fruit and squeeze the juice into a bowl.
Step 2
Rub the lemon juice onto the skin with the glue on it. Rub in circular motions, and the glue starts to disintegrate.
Because lemons and other citrus fruits are acidic, the acid in the fruit causes a reaction in the glue that breaks it down.
It will start to come apart and be easily removed.
Step 3
Repeat steps 1 and 2 if the lemon juice did not remove all the glue first.
Be careful not to repeat the process too many times, as the acid of the lemon may start to irritate your skin.
Step 4
After all the glue has been removed from the affected skin, wash the lemon juice off with warm soapy water.
If your skin is irritated by lemon juice, rinse it under cold water, then moisturize with a lotion that contains no perfume. Perfume may exacerbate the stinging.
Method 3 – Use A Homemade Mixture To Remove Gorilla Glue
In this method, you will need to make a mixture you can use to remove the Gorilla Glue from your skin.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Washing soda/soda ash (5-10%)
- Liquid Soap (0.3-2%)
- Warm water to fill the bowl
Step 1
Mix all the ingredients and add the mixture to the affected skin. Use a sponge dipped in the mixture to gently rub at the glue.
Step 2
The glue should come off as the warm water and detergents start to work.
Be gentle when rubbing the skin so you don’t cause abrasions.
You should stop for around 30 minutes when your skin becomes too sensitive. Keep the area in warm water so the glue doesn’t dry.
Step 3
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all the glue has been removed.
Step 4
Your skin will likely be tender and sensitive, so you should wash the soap off with cold water and moisturize your skin.
Tips When Working With Gorilla Glue
We all know glue can be dangerous when it gets on your skin, so here are some tips that will help you keep the glue on your project and off of your skin, and other helpful tips.
- Before you work with Gorilla glue, ensure you have oil, hot water with dish soap, and a clean cloth on standby to get the glue off before it dries and hardens.
- When you spill glue, wipe it up immediately using a damp cloth.
- Wear old clothes (long sleeves and pants) and rubber gloves when working with Gorilla glue so there is less chance it will get onto your skin.
- If you have sensitive skin, try waiting a day or so between trying different methods of removing the Gorilla glue to give your skin a rest and prevent damage.
- You can use different things to exfoliate your skin when it has Gorilla Glue, like sugar, salt, or a pumice stone.
- Remember to warm up the area with the glue on so it removes easier.
Conclusion
When accidentally dripping Gorilla Glue on your skin, you must act fast to get the glue off without damaging your skin. Warm up the area with warm water and use the method you prefer.
Gorilla glue can be tough to remove the first time, so you can take breaks between using and removing the glue, so you don’t damage the skin.
It’s vital to moisturize your skin when you are done, as it will dry out.
