COIT’s Guide to Glue Stain Removal
If you’re enjoying arts and crafts time with yourself or with your children, or simply trying to fix objects that may need repair, you’re probably going to use a bit of glue, right? Should you happen to get some glue on carpet or other surfaces, glue stain removal doesn’t have to disrupt your schedule.
With COIT’s step-by-step guide to glue stain removal, try do-it-yourself techniques to answer the “how to remove glue stains” question.
Where Does Glue Come From?
Glue is definitely not a modern invention. Though glue has certainly evolved and improved over the years, it has been around for longer than most would think. The first signs of simple glue appear in central Italy around 200,000 BC, while traces of compound glue data back to 70,000 BC in South Africa. People used these early forms of glue to make weapons, which often involved fastening a stone spearhead to wood for both hunting and protection.
Also known as an adhesive, glue comes from both natural and synthetic sources. In fact, during medieval times in Europe, people used egg whites to decorate parchments with gold leaf (parchments are thin materials that were made from hide, and were used to make books or manuscripts).
Natural vs. Synthetic Adhesives
Depending on what you need glue for, you’ll be working with either a natural adhesive or a synthetic adhesive. A natural adhesive is made from organic sources like natural resins, vegetable matter or from animals. A synthetic adhesive is derived from thermoplastics, emulsions, elastomers and thermosets. These types of glue can be hot or cold, depending on the brand and purpose for using the glue. For specific instructions please checkout our guide on how to remove glue from carpets.
How to Remove Glue from Wood
COIT's Guide on how to Remove Glue from wood
Have you ever worked on a home improvement project yourself? Or maybe you’ve had a fun-filled day of arts and crafts with kids. Every now and then, it’s nice to get your hands dirty and work on projects like these and have a little fun.
If you enjoy these kinds of hands-on projects and activities, there’s a good chance you may be working with some kind of sticky glue. So what happens if you accidentally spill a bit of glue on your shiny wood floors while you work?
Don’t panic – COIT’s step-by-step guide can show you a few ways to remove glue from wood.
How to Remove Adhesive from Wood – Method # 1
When you’re wondering how to remove adhesive from wood, it’s important to do so in a well-ventilated area so you don’t inhale too many chemical fumes.
- Take a swab of cotton and moisten it using acetone.
- Be sure to apply the acetone only to the area that contains the actual glue – you don’t want to rub acetone anywhere else on your wood floors.
- Leave the acetone to set on the glue for about a minute.
- Using a soft cloth, blot the area where the glue can be seen on the wood.
- Repeat steps 1-4 until the glue is no longer visible
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How to Remove Glue from Wood – Method # 2
Here’s an alternative method to try when you need to get rid of glue stains on your wood floors. This method uses sandpaper, as opposed to acetone.
- Using #600-grit sandpaper, begin to sand the affected area of the wood until it appears to be level with the wood floor.
- Once the glue is flattened, switch over to #1200-grit sandpaper. Start sanding away the glue. Be sure to only sand the area that’s affected by the glue, as you don’t want to sand any part of the wood floor that isn’t actually damaged.
- Once the glue has been removed, use a satin or dull gloss (depending on the finish) to restore shine to the sanded area.
- Wipe the area with a soft cloth and apply a layer of wood floor polish.
Keep in mind that if the above-mentioned do-it-yourself methods don’t effectively remove the glue from your wood floors, you can always try to cover the area with a piece of furniture or some other home decoration. This may not be ideal, but it could help conceal stubborn glue stains.
Other options include buying a professional glue remover that is designed to tackle these kinds of wood floor stains. Be sure to follow the specific directions included on the back of the product you purchase.
Finally, if you can’t seem to combat glue stains on your wood floor using any of these at-home methods, you may want to consider calling COIT’s professional wood floor cleaning services. We have a team of technicians armed with heavy-duty, professional equipment and years of experience restoring damaged wood floors.
So the next time your home improvement project or day of crafting leaves a little glue behind, take a quick peek at COIT’s guide that shows you how to remove glue from wood. Don't forget to checkout our coupons!
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible. These are suggested treatments only and COIT can't be held accountable for any damage sustained by use of the treatments in this spot removal guide.
How to Remove Glue Stains from Carpet
COIT’s Guide to Remove Glue from Carpet
Who doesn’t love walking around on clean, plush carpet while you’re relaxing at home? Sure, the everyday spills happen, but with proper carpet care techniques, your carpet can stay in pretty good shape over the years.
But what happens when you spill glue? How to remove glue from carpet is a common question on a lot of people’s minds.
With COIT’s step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to get rid of the majority of glue stains without too much hassle.
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible.
How to Get Glue Out of Carpet – Method # 1
- One of the most critical things you can do when trying to remove glue from carpet is act quickly. As soon as you discover the glue stain, be sure to take action, as many kinds of glues are especially quick-drying.
- Take a sharp knife and carefully scrape any glue residue off of the affected area on the carpet.
- If the glue has hardened, you may need to scrape for a longer period to loosen the substance from the carpet fibers.
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How to Get Glue Out of Carpet – Method # 2
- Take a paper towel and dab the glue stain (yes, it’s as simple as that).
This method is only effective if the glue is still wet. If the glue is dry, it won’t be able to transfer to another material and off of your carpet. This is where professional carpet cleaning services may be a good option to consider.
How to Remove Glue from Carpet – Method # 3 (for dried glue)
- Cover the glue stain with a thin cloth.
- Using a household iron, begin to heat up the glue by running a hot iron over the cloth, which is sitting on top of the glue stain.
- The glue should turn into a liquid substance, which will then be absorbed into the thin cloth. If you do a lot of arts and crafts and use hot glue guns, this is a particularly good way to get rid of unwanted glue stains or small drippings.
How to Get Glue Out of Carpet – Method # 4
- If you discover the glue stain long after it has dried and hardened, grab a pair of household scissors.
- Slowly and carefully cut the affected area of the carpet to remove the glue residue. This method only works on thick carpets with long fibers.
Trying one or more of the above-mentioned methods should keep your carpet free from glue stains. If you can't remove glue stains on your own contact out pro cleaners and don't forget to checkout our coupons!
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible. These are suggested treatments only and COIT can't be held accountable for any damage sustained by use of the treatments in this spot removal guide.
