If you use super glue near your car, you’ll need to know how to remove super glue from car paint - spills happen! Luckily, it’s quick and easy to clean up on your own – no need for professional help.
Many people mistakenly think that super glue is next to impossible to remove. In fact, products like Loctite Glue Remover make it easy to clean up spills and stains. Acetone (commonly found in nail polish remover) is also very effective for removing super glue from a range of surfaces.
If you’ve accidentally spilled some glue, here’s how to remove super glue from car paint in just a few simple steps.
Remember to wear gloves and to work in a well-ventilated area if you decide to try acetone. You should also keep in mind that acetone is strong so some paint may be removed during the cleaning process.
- Wash the glue with soapy water. Use a cloth soaked in warm water to wash the glue stain. Then dip the cloth in dish soap and rub the stain. You can also try mixing the soap with hand cream. This may be enough to remove the glue stain.
- If necessary, apply some acetone. If it’s a particularly stubborn stain, you’ll have to try the acetone approach. Pour a small amount of acetone onto the cloth, then rub it gently on the surface. The acetone should soften and remove the adhesive quickly, so add a small amount at a time to avoid overdoing it.
- Re-paint or re-wax. The acetone may damage your car’s paint or wax, but this can be easily fixed with a fresh coat of paint or wax on the affected area.
Here’s how to remove super glue from car dashboards, following a similar process. This technique works with both freshly spilled glue and old stains.
As always, wear gloves and make sure the area is ventilated. We recommend keeping car doors and windows open.
- Scrape off as much of the glue as you can. Use a blunt edge like a credit card or plastic scraper to remove the glue from the dashboard.
- Test the acetone. Apply a small amount of acetone to a less visible part of the dashboard, to check that it doesn’t discolour the surface.
- Apply the acetone to the stain. Use a small amount of acetone on a cloth and rub it gently against the stain. This should remove the stain very quickly.
- Clean the surface. Once the glue stain is gone, use a damp cloth to clean the surface. You can then use an interior surface cleaner so your dashboard looks shiny and new.