How to Remove Glue from Fabric with Iron?

How to remove glue from fabric with Iron?

There is always the possibility that something may go wrong while crafting, and you might end up getting glue on your clothes in one way or another.

With a few easy steps, you can remove glue from clothes that have seeped through.

Here are the steps to remove the glue from your clothes safely and effectively.

Step 1: Lay the fabric

Lay the garment on the ironing board or you can use a flat and padded surface.

Step 2: Place a thin cloth over the fabric

Place a thin piece of cotton cloth over the affected portion of the garment.

This will prevent the glue from sticking to the soleplate of the iron i.e., the flat surface at the bottom. In fact, this will protect your iron from getting damaged.

Alternatively, you can use old towels in place of a thin sheet of cotton cloth.

Step 3: Set the iron to heat as per the fabric type

Plugin your iron and set it to the desired heat settings as paper the fabric type.

Let the iron heat up for about a minute or two and then start ironing the glue-affected areas (by placing a thin cloth or paper towel between the affected fabric and the iron).

Note: If you are not sure about the garment type for using iron then simply set it to low heat settings. And for added safety place the thin sheet of cloth over the garment covering it entirely.

Step 4: Place the iron over the glue-affected areas

Once the iron heats up, start by placing it over the glue-affected areas.

Allow the heat from the iron to melt the glue for a few seconds and remove the iron to check if the glue has transferred onto the cloth.

If not, repeat the step, once the glue has melted and transferred onto the cloth, carefully peel it off of the cloth.

At times, the glue may not transfer to the cloth entirely, so you may need to peel it off using your fingers, the flat side of a knife, or a spatula.

If there is any residue left behind, simply repeat the process until it is all gone.

That being said, do not overwork your garment using a hot iron, or else you may end up damaging the fabric.

So what’s next? If the glue is not removed completely, the next step is to soak the garment in warm or slightly hot water for a few minutes.

Remove the garment and gently scrub the glued area using a soft brush, then rinse it with clean water.

Tips for using an iron to remove glue

• For fresh glue scrape away as much as possible and then try blotting it using a cloth.

• For “dry clean only” fabric types, always walk off to the nearest dry cleaning professional or a laundromat to remove the glue stains.
• Avoid using high heat settings or ironing too much on delicates to prevent damage.
• Use a low setting and hold the iron close to the glue without touching the fabric to avoid scorching the delicate fabric (this can be done by placing a protective cloth between the iron and fabric).
• Try soaking delicates in warm soapy water and scrubbing them off with a soft bristled brush after soaking (it’s best not to iron them).
• Placing a cloth over the glued surface prevents glue from sticking to the iron’s soleplate. Furthermore, it prevents patches from appearing all over your garment due to contact with the hot iron.
• As an alternative method, you can iron or press the garment on the reverse side. Just place a protective cloth first on the ironing board, then place the glue-affected garment facing downwards, and then iron or press.

Does steam iron remove glue from the fabric?

Yes, you can use steam to remove glue from your clothes.

Begin ironing over the affected area with a thin cloth, using the iron without steam.

Let the heat transfer to the glue surface and weaken the adhesive properties.

As soon as you notice it’s weakening, you can press the steam button and offer ample steam to evenly remove the remaining glue.

Note: Make sure that the fabric can withstand the heat and moisture from the steam iron.

Final Thoughts

Removing glue from fabric is a tricky task, but it’s definitely possible with the right method and some patience.

If glue is spilled on fabrics, it can be quite irritating; however, if your clothes become glued, it is best to treat them once they have dried. This is because attempting to remove fresh glue may spread to other areas of the fabric.

Always keep in mind to use the right ironing settings when it comes to heat and as per the fabric type, or simply keep it low. This will help to remove the glue, either entirely or most of it, without damaging the fabric.

You can also use a hairdryer on a low setting to melt the glue before scraping it away from the fabric.

Lastly, whenever ironing, avoid letting the glue stick to the iron’s soleplate, or else it may spread all over the fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions