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How To Get Nail Glue Out Of Clothes

Nail glue is very effective at sticking on nails. Unfortunately, it can be just as effective at sticking to other surfaces as well. One such surface is clothing, which is a common place to get nail glue. But how can you get nail glue out of your clothes? That’s exactly why I’ve created this guide.

Acetone works best to remove nail glue from clothes since it breaks down the glue. All you have to do is dip a cotton swab in acetone, dab it on the glue, then pull the glue off the fabric. But if you don’t have acetone, you can use soap and water, vinegar, and even an iron to remove it.

In this article, I’ll explain how to use each one of these products to remove nail glue from clothes. I’ll also explain how to get nail glue out of other fabrics, including furniture upholstery and carpet.

How To Get Nail Glue Out Of Clothes

Does Nail Glue Stick to Clothes?

Nail glue is a high-bonding glue, which means that it is made with a very strong adhesive. This is for durability purposes, as you want your nails to be able to last for as long as possible. Nail glue is very similar to other high-bonding adhesives, such as super glue.

With that being said, nail glue will stick to clothing, fabrics, and other surfaces the same way that super glue does. But even though nail glue can be easily removed from other surfaces, it can be harder to remove from fabrics.

This is the case because even though the texture of the fabric looks consistent, it is more of an uneven surface than glass and metal surfaces are. Those surfaces are smooth, and fabrics aren’t always smooth. This causes nail glue to adhere differently to clothes than other surfaces.

Can You Remove Nail Glue From Clothes?

Even though nail glue is harder to remove from clothes than other surfaces, it can be removed. In fact, nail glue should be able to be removed very easily as long as you use the right products. However, the key is to do it carefully to avoid more damage to the clothing.

The best way to remove nail glue from clothing is to wait until it dries. That way, the glue will harden and won’t spread anywhere else on the clothes. It can be tempting to remove the glue while it is still wet, but nail glue usually can’t just be wiped off of clothing.

If you try to remove nail glue while it is wet, it can spread the glue and even push it deeper into the fabric. If that happens, the nail glue can be very hard to remove without causing damage to the clothing.

Does Nail Glue Wash Out of Clothes?

You may assume that you can just wash any clothing with nail glue (or any other type of adhesive). But nail glue will not wash out of clothes if you put the clothing in the washing machine, regardless of if the glue is wet or dry when you put the clothing into the machine.

Remember that the key to removing nail glue from clothing is to wait until the glue is dry. Then, when the glue is dry, you’ll need to use something abrasive to break down the glue and peel it away from the clothing.

A washing machine does not provide enough abrasion to break down the glue and effectively remove it from the fabric. Instead, you’ll need to use a product that does break down the glue so that you can remove it yourself. Once you’ve removed the glue, you can wash it to remove any residue.

What Removes Nail Glue from Clothes?

Since nail glue is designed to be used on nails, the best way to remove it from clothes is with the same product used to remove nail polish and glue from nails: acetone. You can use either pure acetone or a nail polish remover with acetone in it. However, a nail polish remover containing acetone will not be as effective.

Acetone works well for removing nail glue from clothes because it will break down the glue the same way that it does nail polish. And acetone is safe to use on most clothes without damaging them. It shouldn’t leave behind a stain. However, you still want to be careful using it because it may dissolve or discolor certain synthetic or delicate fabrics.

How to Get Nail Glue Out of Clothes with Acetone

 

How to remove nail glue from clothes

If you’re going to get nail glue out of clothes with acetone, you need to know how to do it right if you want it to be effective. By following these steps, you should be able to remove any nail glue from your clothes with very minimal or no damage to your clothing afterward.

You’ll need:

  • Pure acetone or nail polish remover containing acetone
  • Cotton ball or swab
  • Toothbrush
  • Stain remover

1. Wait For the Glue to Dry

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure the glue is dry before you try to remove it. Nail glue can take up to 15 to 20 minutes to dry, just depending on how much you got onto your clothes. Remember that you don’t want to remove the glue while it is wet, as this could spread it even more.

2. Spot Test the Acetone

After the glue is dry, but before you try to remove it, you’ll want to do a spot check with the acetone or nail polish remover, just to make sure that they don’t cause any damage to the fabric.

Sometimes acetone can discolor or dissolve certain fabrics, but it shouldn’t leave behind a stain. However, nail polish remover that has other ingredients in it besides acetone could stain. No matter which one you use, you just want to make sure that it isn’t going to ruin your clothes before you use it.

To do a spot test, choose a hidden area of the fabric, such as near the collar or even inside the fabric near a seam. Dab a little bit of the acetone or nail polish remover onto that spot using a cotton ball.

Wait for 30 minutes to see if any discoloration or damage occurs. If it does, you’ll want to choose a different method to remove the nail glue from your clothing. If no damage occurs, proceed to the next step.

3. Remove the Nail Glue

Before using acetone to remove the nail glue itself, try to see if you can scrape any of the nail glue away on your own. If the glue is clearly stuck, do not try to peel it off. But if any loose glue bits can be removed, go ahead and remove them.

Next, dip a cotton ball or cotton swab in acetone, depending on the size of the glue stain. Then, gently rub the acetone across the stain to break down the glue. You may have to do this for several minutes to give the acetone time to break down the stain. Finally, dip the cotton in acetone again as necessary.

4. Scrub the Glue Away

After the acetone has had time to break down the glue, you can use a toothbrush or nail brush to scrub some of the glue away. This is where the abrasion comes in. However, you don’t want to be too abrasive because that can also damage the fabric.

Use the toothbrush to scrub as much of the glue away as you can. When no more glue is coming off, you may need to use more acetone to break down the stain some more. Then repeat the process with the toothbrush until as much of the glue as possible has been removed.

5. Rinse the Fabric

After removing all of the glue, you’ll want to rinse the fabric to remove any leftover residue from both the glue and the acetone. Then, rinse the fabric under cold water, then gently squeeze out the excess water.

6. Remove the Stain

If the glue, acetone, or nail polish remover left behind a stain, you’ll want to remove the stain before washing the fabric. You can use your normal stain removal product as long as it doesn’t contain bleach since you don’t want to accidentally discolor the area where the nail glue was. Instead, let the stain remover sit on the stain for about 5 minutes.

7. Wash the Clothing

The last step is to wash the clothing. In this case, using warm water is best if the clothing can handle it. Check the care tag first, and if warm water can’t be used, then cool water is fine. Use the detergent that you would normally use for that particular clothing.

After washing the clothing, hang it up to dry. Do not put it in the dryer, as the heat from the dryer could cause the stain to be permanently set. Let the clothing air dry, then check the stain. If the stain persists, repeat the steps above as necessary.

How Do You Get Nail Glue Off Clothes Without Acetone?

Can You Remove Nail Glue From Clothes

If you don’t have acetone or are worried about damage occurring to your clothes due to using acetone, there are other ways to remove nail glue. However, these methods may not be as effective as acetone, so you may have to repeat them more than once or use more than one of them.

Soap and Water

You can also use dish soap or laundry detergent and water to remove nail glue from clothes. However, you’ll still have to scrub the glue to get it to come off of the clothing. But if it is done right, this method can be very effective a removing the glue.

Follow these steps use this method.

  1. Fill a sink or washbasin with cold water.
  2. Add some dish soap or laundry detergent to the water, then mix it around to evenly distribute it.
  3. Place the clothing in the water and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes,
  4. Dip a toothbrush into the soapy water, or dip it into laundry detergent.
  5. Use the toothbrush to scrub the glue away, being careful not to scrub too hard so that you don’t damage the fabric.
  6. Continue dipping the toothbrush into the soap and scrubbing until you’ve removed all of the glue.
  7. Rinse the fabric under cold water to remove any soap and residue.
  8. Wash the fabric in the washing machine at the warmest temperature that the fabric can handle.
  9. Let the fabric air dry to see if the stain has been removed.
  10. After drying, repeat the above steps if necessary.

Vinegar

Let me start by saying that vinegar is not as effective at removing nail glue from clothing as acetone is. However, it is unlikely to damage fabrics, and due to the acidic properties of vinegar, it can break down the glue. Again, you will likely need to scrub the stain to remove the glue.

Follow these steps to use vinegar to remove nail glue from clothing:

  1. Soak a cotton ball in vinegar, then rub the cotton ball across the glue.
  2. Let the vinegar sit on the glue for a few minutes to give it time to work.
  3. Use the dull edge of a credit card or knife to scrape away any of the glue from the fabric.
  4. Use a toothbrush dipped in laundry detergent to try to scrub away some of the glue.
  5. Alternate using vinegar and the toothbrush to remove the glue.
  6. Follow up with the soap and water method above if you can’t get all of the glue off.
  7. Rinse the fabric to remove any glue, vinegar, or soap residue.
  8. Wash the fabric in the washing machine on the warmest water setting the fabric can handle.
  9. Let the fabric air dry to see if the stain has been removed.
  10. After drying, repeat the above steps if necessary or try a different method if the glue remains on the fabric.

Rubbing Alcohol

How to get nail glue off fabric

Rubbing alcohol works very similarly to acetone and vinegar, as it breaks down the stain and causes minimal or no damage to the fabric. It is also very effective at removing other sticky substances. However, you’ll still want to wait until the nail glue dries before using it.

Follow these steps to use this method:

  1. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, then rub the cotton ball across the glue.
  2. Let the alcohol sit on the glue for a few minutes to give it time to break down the glue.
  3. Use the dull edge of a credit card or knife to see if you can scrape away any glue from the fabric.
  4. Use a toothbrush dipped in laundry detergent to try to scrub away some of the glue.
  5. Repeat, alternating using vinegar and the toothbrush to remove the glue.
  6. If you can’t get all of the glue off, follow up with one of the other methods above.
  7. Rinse the fabric to remove any glue, alcohol, or soap residue.
  8. Wash the fabric in the washing machine on the warmest water setting the fabric can handle.
  9. Let the fabric air dry to see if the stain has been removed.
  10. After drying, repeat the above steps if necessary or try a different method if the glue remains on the fabric.

Iron

Remove nail glue from fabric

If the fabric can be safely ironed, you can use an iron to melt the glue onto another piece of fabric. You’ll just want to use an old rag or scrap of fabric that you don’t mind throwing away afterward.

Be aware that this may not remove all of the glue either. It will be very effective at removing glue from the surface, but it may not remove the glue that has penetrated the fibers. You’ll likely need to follow up with another method to remove all the glue.

Follow these steps to remove nail glue from clothing using an iron:

  1. Lay the stained clothing out flat on an ironing board or towel.
  2. Plug in the iron and turn it to the appropriate heat settings for that particular fabric.
  3. Place an old rag or scrap of fabric on top of the glue stain.
  4. Run the iron over the rag on top of the glue stain. The glue will start to melt and will stick to the rag instead.
  5. Lift the rag occasionally to see if any glue has been removed. When you lift the rag, place a clean section back over the glue, or else the glue could stick back to your original clothing.
  6. Once as much glue as possible has been removed, follow up with one of the above methods, if necessary.
  7. Rinse the fabric under cold water, then treat any stains with a stain remover.
  8. Wash the fabric using the warmest water that the fabric can handle.
  9. Hang the fabric up to dry to see if the glue has been removed.
  10. After drying, repeat the above steps or try a different method if the stain remains.

How to Get Nail Glue Out of Furniture and Carpets

Other common places to get nail glue on besides your nails are furniture and carpets. The good news is that you can use the same methods that you can use for clothing on furniture upholstery and carpets as well. However, some fabrics may be difficult to iron, so keep that in mind.

As with clothing, acetone is the most effective method for removing nail glue from furniture or carpet. But again, it may discolor or damage some fabrics, so you’ll want to test it first in a hidden location.

Whichever method you choose, just follow the steps above. The only difference is that unless the fabric can be removed from the furniture, you won’t be able to wash it in the washing machine. You can spot clean the area for furniture and carpets that you can’t wash after removing the glue using just soap and water.

Conclusion

Getting nail glue on your clothes can be frustrating. But I hope after reading this, you’ve seen that you can remove it easily as long as you use the right products. Of course, acetone is most effective, but there are other products that can be used as well.