How to Remove Superglue from Metal

Mary G. said, “My daughter used the iron to melt glue off the carpet and now my iron has melted glue on the plate. What can I use to clean it up with? I tried melting it off by turning on the iron; no luck. Help please.”

You Will Need:

• Acetone
• Acetone nail polish remover
• A cloth or cotton ball
• A razor blade
• Denatured alcohol
• Lighter fluid
• Hydrogen peroxide

Steps to Remove the Glue:

1. Soak a cleaning rag or cotton ball with¹ pure acetone.² If you don’t have pure acetone available, use acetone nail polish remover. Hold the cloth on the glue until the glue dissolves, then wipe it away. ¹
2. It is sometimes possible for superglue to be scraped off of a hard surfaces, however, this must be done carefully to avoid scratching the metal.³ Try softening the glue first with a cleaning solution, then using a razor blade to scrape it off.²
3. If the acetone is unavailable or does not seem to be working right away, use denatured alcohol or lighter fluid instead.⁴ Soak a cleaning rag or cotton ball with the alcohol, then hold the cloth against the glue until the glue dissolves and can be wiped away.¹
4. Hydrogen peroxide can sometimes be effective for removing superglue.⁵ Soak a cleaning rag or cotton ball with the alcohol, then hold the cloth against the glue until the glue softens and can be wiped away.¹

• Always test a cleaning solution on a small, hidden area of a surface first to look for any adverse reaction.
• Stainless steel can scratch easily, even with a mild abrasive. Avoid using a rough cloth or any abrasive tool on a stainless steel surface that you are concerned about scratching.

1. 99 Cent Solutions by Readers Digest
2. The Queen of Clean’s Complete Cleaning Guide by Linda Cobb
3. Jewelry Fix-ups by David McLoughlin
4. Haley’s Hints by Graham and Rosemary Haley
5. Stain Rescue! by Anne Marie Soto