How do I remove glue residue? Here are the best methods

This is for those who have used glue to repair a broken object, or maybe for DIY or decoupage project. But also, those who bought something new, and have just removed a label.

Not to mention those who have just removed a poster from a window, who are removing posters from the walls of their room, and those who have just finished painting their vehicle and must remove the masking tape, and so on.

The question, in all these cases, can be the same: how do I remove glue residue? After using industrial double-sided adhesive tape, in fact, it is normal to find yourself dealing with glue residue on the underlying support.

It happens to people who use glue for chores at home, when a few drops fall in the wrong place, or when the glue comes out of the sides that where stuck together; but it also happens when, after using industrial double-sided tape, part of the glue detaches from the actual tape itself, thus getting stuck to the underlying surface.

The problem, however, is that glue is not always easily removed from surfaces: sometimes scratching it off with your nails is not enough. Because of this, today we will have a look at how to remove glue left on surfaces, offering you various techniques based on tools and the materials involved.

How do I remove glue residue?

As mentioned above, glue is not always easily removable from surfaces. The solution, however, can always be found, what’s important is choosing the right technique. Let’s see the techniques you can use to remove glue residue!

·         Heat the glue residue with a hair dryer: here is a technique that can be used on virtually any surface. So, let’s have a look at residues from strong double-sided tape or glue left on glass, aluminium, plastic, ceramics, plaster, and so on. In all these cases, without risking any damage for these surfaces, it is possible to use a hair dryer to heat the glue, so as to make it less difficult to remove. After a few seconds of heat, keeping the hair dryer on and directed towards the affected surface (about 10 centimetres, or 3,9 in, away) you can start to scratch away the glue. Depending on the surface, you can use a different “mechanical” help: on normal smooth surfaces a scraper such as the ones used in winter to remove ice from the windshield of cars, or an old plastic card, can be used. On uneven surfaces, tweezers can be great as a tool to remove old glue residue one after the other.

·         Warm soapy water: another way to soften glue is to “soak” the affected surface, in soap and water. Often, these are objects that can actually be put in a container full of water: think, for example, of a new teacup from which a stubborn label has to be removed. Other times, there are larger surfaces, such as a display case. Then, it will be necessary to thoroughly wet the section covered in glue residues, using a sponge, and leave it in place for a few minutes; it will then be possible to remove the residual glue with the methods outlined above.

·         Home remedies to remove glue left on surfaces: other substances that work perfectly to remove glue residue are vegetable oil, vinegar, and lemon. These last two can be used together: a little lemon juice and a few drops of vinegar poured directly on the glue residue and left on a little while can make the glue more pliable. The same applies in principle to vegetable oils, such as olive oil, seed oil and so on.

·         Remove stubborn glue from metals: in some cases, glue from old professional double-sided adhesive tape or other particularly strong adhesive substances, are left on metal surfaces, which can sometimes be painted. In this scenario, glue removal is more difficult, and it is therefore necessary to use something more effective than the techniques described above. A lubricant spray can help – such as one of those generally used to unlock old bolts: just spray the liquid on the affected part, let it rest, and then scratch the metal with a plastic spatula with rounded edges.

·         Remove glue residue with solvent: on ceramics, metals, and the most resistant plastics. In these cases, it is possible to remove glue residue with solvents as well, or perhaps with simple acetone for nail polish removal. Should you not be certain of the strength of the material – for example, plastic surfaces – it is always best, however, to try out the solvent on a smaller, less visible, or hidden part of the object to be cleaned beforehand.