You have plans to go out, and you put on your best outfit. Your hair is looking good, and you just finished your eyelash application when you look down and notice that there’s eyelash glue on your blouse! It’s happened to the best of us, but now you’re wondering – how can I get this eyelash glue off of my clothes? Well, don’t fret just yet. It is a bit of a sticky situation, but getting eyelash glue on your most beloved articles of clothing won’t ruin them for good.
With a few common household items, there are several different methods you can use to get eyelash glue off of clothes. From simply using soap and water or olive oil on a fresh spill to an adhesive remover, such as Goo Gone, or eyelash glue remover itself, you can safely get eyelash glue off your clothes.
Keep reading to discover 9 different methods you can use to get that sticky eyelash glue off of your clothes so they look as good as new, as well as what to do if you happen to get eyelash glue on your carpet or an upholstered item in your home.
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Will Eyelash Glue Wash Off Clothes?
Thankfully, it is safe to say that an eyelash glue spill on your clothes doesn’t mean you have to get rid of them just yet. Eyelash glue is a super sticky adhesive. It is designed to keep lash extensions in place for hours to weeks at a time. So when a drop gets on an article of clothing it’s not as easy as simply wiping it off with a tissue, and changing outfits and throwing the stained item in the washing machine isn’t going to do the trick on its own either.
It might take a little bit of elbow grease, even more so if the eyelash glue has already had time to dry completely. But with a few items you probably have sitting in your cupboard at home, you can get that pesky glue stain off your clothes.
How to Get Eyelash Glue Off Clothes: 9 Methods
You can get eyelash glue off of your clothes using any of the 9 proven methods described below. These methods can work with multiple types of adhesives including the ever-popular Duo eyelash glue, as well as both black or transparent types. Although you may have to try a couple of different techniques in order to succeed and restore your fabric to its original state.
You should also always consider the fiber content of the fabric you are treating and be cautious using certain methods so that you don’t end up damaging your clothes.
1. Soap and Water
If you have a spill that you notice as it’s happening, you can effectively remove it with soap and water. Unfortunately, this is only the case if the stain is very fresh, if the stain has been left to dry this method is not likely to be sufficient. Another advantage of this method is that it should be safe to use on almost any type of fabric.
- Wet the fabric with water and lather with soap, rubbing the affected area between your fingers until all of the glue has come out.
- Rinse out the soap, and hopefully all of the glue, with warm water and allow to dry.
2. Freeze with Ice
It may come as a surprise, but ice can prove to be a helpful tool when trying to remove eyelash glue from your clothes. This is another method that will work best on a stain that has not yet completely dried. The sooner you can apply the ice the better, as it is believed that freezing the glue as it’s working can help stop the adhesive properties that make it stick so well.
- Rub ice on the glue stain until it is sufficiently frozen.
- Gently scrape frozen glue particles with your fingernail or the edge of a spoon, being careful not to pull too hard and damage the fabric, until most or all of the glue has been removed.
If the stain leaves any glue residue on your clothes you can follow by employing the method above, washing with soap and water, until the entire stain has been removed.
3. Olive Oil
A completely natural method utilizing something that you most likely already have in your kitchen is using olive oil to remove the glue stain from your clothes. Oil helps dissolve the chemicals used to make the adhesive in eyelash glue, which is how it can help remove it from fabric as well. Just remember, a little goes a long way, you don’t want to remove the eyelash glue just to end up with discoloration on the fabric or an oil stain in its place.
- Apply a small amount of olive oil to the affected area and gently massage it between your fingers.
- Once the eyelash glue has dissolved, blot the area with a dry cloth and wipe off as much oil as you can.
- Now your garment is ready to be laundered as usual. You can also hand wash with soap and water immediately to ensure that the stain has been completely eliminated.
4. Goo Gone
Goo Gone is another product that you may already have lying around the house, and if not it is readily available at almost any supermarket or drugstore. Goo Gone is an adhesive remover that dissolves glue and other sticky substances from many surfaces, fabric being one of them.
Be sure to read the specific product instructions before applying the substance to your clothes.
- If the glue is still wet, remove any excess by wiping with a dry cloth – preferably not a tissue as this can get stuck or leave a more fuzzy residue that will need to be removed.
- Apply a generous amount of Goo Gone directly to the affected area on the garment and rub with your fingers until the glue begins to dissolve.
Alternatively, you can apply the Goo Gone to a dry cloth and use this to blot and rub the eyelash glue stain until it begins to dissolve out of the fabric. - Once all of the glue has been dissolved, wash with soap and water to remove the Goo Gone, or simply toss your garment in the laundry to be washed and dried as usual!
5. Vinegar
If you are wary of using a chemical-laden adhesive remover such as Goo Gone or worry about the possibility of leaving an oil stain with olive oil, another all-natural, chemical-free method you can use to get the eyelash glue out of your clothes is vinegar.
A miracle substance, used for food preparation and with endless cleaning capabilities, it should be no surprise that vinegar can also be used to safely get glue out of your clothes.
The many advantages of using vinegar include that you most likely already have it in your cupboard, it is inexpensive and readily available if you don’t, and it’s an all-natural product that can be used on almost any type of fiber. The method of using vinegar to dissolve the glue on your clothes is also simple and easy.
- Apply the vinegar to the affected area. An easy way to do this is to fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray the fabric until it’s soaked, or use a q-tip for small areas.
- Let the vinegar-soaked fabric sit for at least 30 minutes – ideally closer to an hour.
- Optional – rub the vinegar-soaked area with a dry cloth, in a circular motion until the glue particles loosen and can be removed.
- Wash and dry as you normally would. This should leave you with a glue-free garment that’s as good as new!
When using the vinegar method, it is important to use distilled white vinegar to avoid the possibility of stains that may come with using other types of vinegar with color and tannins, such as apple cider or red wine vinegar.
6. Fabric Softener
Using fabric softener and a spray bottle is another quick and effective way to break down eyelash glue and remove its pesky stain from your clothes.
- Using a 1:1 ratio, mix liquid fabric softener and hot water in a spray bottle – the heat of the water will help dissolve the fabric softener for more even distribution.
- Spray the fabric softener mixture onto the eyelash glue stain. Don’t worry about being generous with your application; you want to make sure that the entire affected area is covered thoroughly. You can also blot the affected area with a sponge after spraying to ensure that no part of the stain has been missed.
- Allow the solution to sit on the fabric for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the garment thoroughly until the solution – and the glue! – are removed from the fabric.
7. Eyelash Glue Remover
If you are using eyelash glue to adhere your eyelashes at home, chances are you may already have an eyelash glue remover on hand as well. If you don’t, it’s an easy item to pick up next time you’re at the drugstore.
Eyelash glue remover is made for just this purpose, removing eyelash glue! This is a product that is made specifically for dissolving the substance you’re trying to remove from your clothes, so why not let it do its job on the fabric?
Like some of the other methods, using eyelash glue remover works best on stains that are not yet dry, but with a little extra effort, it can also be successful even after it has dried.
- Soak a cotton ball or pad with eyelash glue remover and apply it to the affected area.
- Dab and blot the glue-stained area until the glue breaks down.
- Repeat as necessary until no stain remains.
For extra stuck-on adhesive or a stain that has dried completely, it may be necessary to allow the eyelash glue remover to sit on the affected area for a few minutes before being able to gently scrape the residue off of the fabric. Just remember to be gentle so that you don’t damage the fabric of your garment.
8. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is another common item found in most homes. Generally used as a disinfectant or cleaning agent, it can also be an effective tool for dissolving eyelash glue.
Rubbing alcohol can get the glue removal job done, but as a substance that has bleaching properties, it must be used with caution, especially when it comes to dark or brightly colored fabrics. Rubbing alcohol can also react negatively to certain synthetic fibers, such as acetate and acrylic, which is another reason it is important to work with care.
When using rubbing alcohol on clothing it is always a good idea to do a test on a small patch in an unobtrusive area to ensure that the fabric isn’t going to react negatively and leave you with damaged fibers or unwanted blotches or discoloration. If everything looks good with your test patch, you can move on to removing the glue stain from our clothes.
- Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and apply it to the affected area.
- Dab and blot the stained area until the glue dissolves and comes loose.
- Wash and dry the garment as usual.
If you are working with a fabric made of one of the fibers mentioned above and have no other option but to use rubbing alcohol, you can dilute it into a substance with a ratio of 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water in hopes that this will eliminate any damage. Even when diluted, remember to test your fabric before moving on to the main area.
9. Acetone
No products found.Acetone is a colorless solvent that is used to dissolve other substances or materials, which is why it can be an effective tool to get a glue stain out of clothes. Acetone is found in common household items such as nail polish remover and paint thinner, but you can also find acetone as a pure substance on its own.When working with acetone, it is important to follow any specific product instructions and always use caution as it is a very flammable chemical. Breathing in large amounts of acetone can cause certain health risks as well, and it can also be an irritant if you get it in direct contact with your skin.
As with any strong chemical, acetone can react negatively to certain fibers, specifically plastic containing synthetics such as acetate and modacrylic, and can also cause damage to natural fibers such as silk and wool. Acetone can have a bleaching property, similar to that of rubbing alcohol as well, and if not in its pure form it is also possible for acetone mixed with other chemicals to leave a stain of its own. This is why it’s best to use acetone in its pure form when using it for stain removal.
When using acetone it is crucial to know both what type of acetone you are working with, as well as the content of the fiber you will be applying it to. For these reasons, it is best to test a small area of the garment before working out the stain you initially set out to remove, so you don’t end up with even more damage than you started with.
Once you know how to safely work with acetone, you can apply it to your clothes, if they are made of the right kind of fiber, to help get rid of that stain.
- Soak a cotton ball or swab in No products found. and apply to the affected area.
- Gently dab the stained area, rubbing the glue loose as it is dissolved by the acetone.
- If the swab absorbs too much glue to be effective, soak a new swab and continue with the same method until all of the glue has been removed.
- After the stain has been removed, you can wash your now glue-free item as usual.
How to Get Dried Eyelash Glue Out Of Clothes?
Once the eyelash glue has already dried and set into your clothes it can become even tougher to remove, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Employing some of the methods in the list above, such as soap and water or freezing with ice, aren’t likely to get the stain out of your clothes, but with a bit more effort many of the methods will still get the job done.
If you’re looking for a natural method, give vinegar or olive oil a try. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to successfully remove all of the dried-on glue, but the work you put in should return your clothes to their pre-glue-spill status.
If you’re looking for a method that isn’t all-natural but might work quicker, Goo Gone or eyelash glue remover used in the methods above should do the trick.
As a strong solvent, acetone may be the best choice to remove an extra tough glue stain that has already dried, as it will use its chemical properties to dissolve the hard-to-remove dried glue. Just remember that acetone can be tricky since it reacts negatively with synthetic fibers. It is important to know what your garment is made of and to test a small area before you use it to work out a stain in the middle of your shirt.
How to Remove Eyelash Glue From Other Surfaces
It may be less common to have an eyelash glue spill on something other than your clothes but it’s definitely not unheard of. If you’ve already read the 9 methods for removing eyelash glue above you will have a leg up if you find yourself needing to get eyelash glue out of upholstered furniture or carpet.
1. Upholstery
Since you can’t toss your couch into the washing machine, it is advisable to work out an eyelash glue stain on upholstered furniture as soon as possible. It’s definitely preferable to do so before it has dried, this will make removing the stain much easier.
Most of the methods described above can be used on upholstery as well as clothes, but it is important to know what your couch is composed of so you don’t choose a method that will damage the fabric itself.
If you can get to the stain right away, try soap and water or use vinegar, which is safe to use on most fabrics, it will be a relatively easy way to remove the glue and ensure that your furniture will keep its original integrity. You may have to repeat a couple of times to completely remove the stain.
Since it’s much more difficult to wash a large piece of furniture, it would be preferable to choose a method that doesn’t require a lot of rinsing or washing to remove residue.
If the glue has been allowed to dry or you must employ a stronger chemical method, just make sure that you test an area on the upholstery that is not visible before attempting to remove the stain.
2. Carpet
If you spill eyelash glue on your carpet the first thing you should do is remove as much excess adhesive as you can using a dry cloth. Even if the glue has dried you should gently try and remove the stuck-on pieces. Next, try one of the methods below to dissolve and remove the rest of the glue:
Vinegar
- After wiping or blotting off the excess glue, soak a cotton ball in distilled white vinegar and dab the stain repeatedly until the glue breaks down and can be removed completely.
- If it is an especially tricky stain, let the area soak in the vinegar for at least 15 minutes (or longer) before continuing to work out the stain.
Rubbing Alcohol
- Wipe or blot away as much excess glue as possible.
- Dampen a cloth or cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab onto the affected area, pressing into the carpet as necessary to penetrate as deeply as the glue has gone.
- Rub the area until the glue has dissolved. If it seems like the glue won’t budge, it may be necessary to allow the area to soak for 10 to 15 minutes before being able to work the glue out completely.
- Rubbing alcohol’s bleaching properties can potentially leave carpet discolored so it is important to test a spot that won’t be noticed prior to using it in a visible location.
Acetone
- Remove as much of the glue spill as you can before dabbing with an acetone-soaked cotton ball.
- Allow the acetone to dissolve the glue and continue to rub the area to get as much glue out as possible.
- Follow up by blotting with a wet towel to pick up additional adhesive and any excess acetone.
- Acetone is a harsh chemical that can damage many different types of fibers so it is imperative to test an out-of-the-way area before applying it to a visible spot on your floor. If you notice the acetone reacting negatively with the carpet stop using it immediately.
Conclusion
There are many methods you can use to safely get eyelash glue out of your clothes, most of which take only a few supplies that can be found in almost any household. While it is always easier to get a fresh glue stain out than one that has been left to dry, with so many different options to help remove a glue stain from your clothes you shouldn’t have to worry the next time a drop falls on your dress.
Who knew the same ingredients used to make your salad dressing can be applied to remove a glue stain from your shirt?! Have you had success removing eyelash glue from your clothes using any of the methods or techniques described here? If you know another good method or you’ve learned something useful to try next time let us know in the comments below!