How to Get Gorilla Glue Off Hands and Skin Safely (5+ Methods)

Oops – you just got Gorilla Glue on your skin. What now?

Gorilla Glue is one of the best adhesives in the game. In fact, it’s become a household name for its versatility in so many kinds of home and DIY projects. 

If you’re a woodworker or crafter, you’ll probably find use for this powerful glue in one of your next crafty endeavors. 

But unfortunately when working with Gorilla glue, it’s all too easy to get a little on your hands. When this happens, don’t panic! 

In this post, I’ll be sharing exactly how to get Gorilla glue off hands and skin quickly and safely. Let’s get started!

Gorilla Glue Safety & Preparation

There are some safety considerations to keep in mind before working with Gorilla Glue. By taking a few simple precautions when handling Gorilla Glue, you can likely avoid getting it on your skin altogether.

Gorilla Glue is toxic to ingest, and causes skin and eye irritation. It’s been known to cause dermatitis and allergic reactions on the skin, which is why it’s essential to know how to get it off sooner rather than later. 

Here are important Gorilla Glue safety tips and precautions: 

• Protective gear. Wear protective gloves, clothing that covers the arms, and eye protection when using Gorilla Glue. 
• Air circulation. Keep the room properly ventilated while working with strong Gorilla Glue formulas. Excess inhalation can cause allergy or asthma symptoms, and respiratory irritation. 
• If ingested, seek medical care. If any Gorilla Glue is accidentally ingested, don’t induce vomiting. Seek medical attention right away. 
• If contact with eyes, seek medical care. If any glue gets in your eyes, rinse them out with water for 15 minutes. Then seek medical attention. 

How to Remove Gorilla Glue From Skin: 5 Go-To Methods

Gorilla Glue is a really strong polyurethane adhesive (even stronger than Titebond!). When it comes into contact with skin, it can cause dermatitis, irritation, and allergic reactions in some people with sensitive skin.

While this may not happen for everyone, it’s best to play it safe and clean it off right when you notice it. Again, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Remember, you’ll have an easier time removing any Gorilla Glue from your skin while it’s still wet and tacky. 

It hasn’t had a chance to fully bond to your skin yet, or stain it brown. Hardened glue is much harder to remove. So for the best results, act fast with one of the five methods below.

Method 1: Wipe with a towel, then wash hands.

This first method is the quickest and simplest, but it’s also only effective if you’re removing wet glue that’s still somewhat tacky. 

If you just got the glue on your skin, pause your project and grab a paper towel or cloth. It helps if the towel has a little grit to it.

1. Rub glue with cloth or paper towel.

Start rubbing the glue on your skin in circular motions with the cloth. Add some pressure but don’t be too rough, as you don’t want to cause skin irritation and breakage. 

If the glue was wet and tacky, this should do the trick.

2. Add a little oil for any stubborn glue left.

You can also add a few drops of olive, avocado, or vegetable oil onto the glue before wiping off with a towel. The oil helps break the adhesion.

3. Wash your hands.

After wiping off your hands with a towel, head over to the sink and wash your hands with liquid soap and cool water. 

Make sure to moisturize your skin with hand lotion after the glue is gone. 

Method 2: Soak hands in a bowl of warm, soapy water.

Did you get glue in the crevices of your fingers? If your skin is stuck together with dried glue, this method is for you. 

Don’t attempt to pull apart your fingers or stuck skin. Do this instead.

1. Fill a bowl with soap and water.

What you’re going to do instead is fill a bowl with warm, soapy water. 

2. Soak your hands in the water, then moisturize.

Then fully submerge your hands in the bowl. After 3-5 minutes, start gently wiggling at the glue area to encourage the bonds to break. 

Slowly but surely, the glue should break apart.

Once you dry off your hands, thoroughly moisturize with hand lotion.   

If there’s a brown stain residue on your skin, don’t worry. It’ll wear off in 4-5 days.

Method 3: Clean off with a homemade mixture.

Method #3 offers a bit more cleaning power than method #1 and #2. This makes it especially useful for removing glue that’s already cured.

Concoct this homemade mixture using cheap, gentle ingredients you might already have lying around at home.

1. Make the special mixture.

Here’s the recipe: 

• 2 liters of warm water
• 2 tablespoon of gentle liquid detergent
• 5 tablespoons of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar

Mix the water, liquid detergent, vinegar, and baking soda together in a large bowl. 

2. Soak your hands in the mixture.

Next, immerse your hands in the liquid for a few minutes to loosen up the adhesive bonds. Then start gently rubbing the glue off until it disintegrates. 

Method 4: Scrub off with a gritty natural scrub.

Method #4 is a really effective way to get dried and cured Gorilla Glue off your hands. All you need is to buy or make your own natural sugar scrub. 

The grit in the scrub will help break the bonds in the adhesive, and exfoliate your skin in the process. 

If the glue seems impossibly stuck on, you can use a pumice stone to increase the exfoliation power of the scrub. 

Ready to try out this method?

1. Make a DIY natural scrub.

Here’s what you need to make your own DIY natural sugar or salt scrub: 

• 2 cups of raw sugar or coarse sea salt
• ½ cup of cold-pressed virgin oil of choice
  • Coconut oil
  • Grapeseed oil
  • Avocado oil
• 20 drops of essential oil of choice
  • Tea tree oil
  • Jojoba oil
  • Carrot seed oil
  • Sweet almond oil

This is the same recipe I’ve recommended for getting epoxy resin off your hands!

2. Apply the scrub to glue area, and scrub.

Once you’ve either purchased your own natural scrub or made your own, apply it directly onto the dried glue. 

Start rubbing in circular motions with your hand or a pumice stone, applying pressure but not rubbing your skin raw. 

What I love so much about sugar scrub is that it’s not only effective at removing dried Gorilla Glue, but also moisturizing for your skin. Double win!

Method 5: Clean off with oils or petroleum jelly.

This method utilizes oils or petroleum jelly mixed with baking soda to clean off Gorilla Glue from your skin.

Oils like olive oil, vegetable oil, baby oil, castor oil, petroleum jelly, and coconut oil have properties that break down the bonds in adhesives. 

1. Prepare the oil mixture, & warm it up.

Mix 2 tablespoons of the oil of your choice with the 3 tablespoons of baking soda.

It will form a paste with a frosting-like consistency. Take this paste and microwave it for 10 seconds to warm up the oil.

2. Rub in the oil mixture & wash hands.

Apply the oil mixture to the glue area on your skin, and start rubbing with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. You should see the glue coming off your skin. You can also just do this process with petroleum jelly instead of oil.

After the glue is gone, wash your hands with soap and cold water, then moisturize with hand lotion.

(Bonus) Method 6: Wait it out!

Ready for this bonus method? Just wait it out. 

I do recommend taking action when you notice Gorilla Glue on your hands with one of the above steps. 

But if you can’t seem to get it 100% off, or a brown stain still lingers, don’t worry too much. This stain will come off on its own in about 4-5 days’ time. 

While it fades, keep your hands moisturized, as Gorilla Glue is very drying to the skin. Be patient, and in less than a week you’ll forget it was even there. 

Here’s a great video on how to remove super glue from anything.

Not Recommended for Removing Gorilla Glue from Skin

Contrary to popular advice floating around online, there are some methods we don’t recommend for removing Gorilla Glue.

The priority here is to protect your skin and overall health. To avoid any disasters or additional harm, avoid using these substances to remove Gorilla Glue from skin: 

Denatured (rubbing) alcohol.

Alcohols don’t work well in dissolving Gorilla Glue, especially on your skin. It will cause the polyurethane polymer chains in Gorilla Glue to swell, but not properly dissolve these bonds. 

In fact, rubbing alcohol may actually cure the glue onto your skin even more. 

The only instance where rubbing alcohol may be of some benefit is when removing Gorilla Epoxy from fingernails.

Acetone or nail polish remover.

While acetone may help soften adhesive, it’s not recommended as a safe substance for your skin. Acetone and nail polish remover are extremely drying, and may cause irritation, cracking, and damage to your hands. 

However, it’s fine if you use acetone or nail polish remover to remove Gorilla Glue from your fingernails. Just moisturize your nails afterwards.

Other chemical solvents.

It’s a good rule of thumb to avoid other chemical-based solvents. These can be harmful to your skin, and aren’t necessary in the removal of glue. 

Gritty scrubs and homemade mixtures can be just as effective, and far more safe. 

FAQs

Can you remove gorilla glue with alcohol? 

You can soften the adhesive bonds of Gorilla Glue on materials like plastic using isopropyl alcohol. 

But because of how the glue reacts to alcohol, you shouldn’t attempt to remove Gorilla Glue this way from skin. It may actually cause the glue to adhere even stronger to the skin.

How do you remove gorilla glue from nails?

If you get a couple drops of Gorilla Super Glue on your fingernails, wash it off with soap and water as fast as you can. 

If it is already dry, you can either soak your hands in a bowl of warm, soapy water, or rub some nail polish remover on the nails.

This should get it off. Be sure to moisturize your nails after using acetone or nail polish remover.

Will Gorilla glue come off skin on its own? 

Yes, Gorilla Glue will eventually come off your skin on its own. It usually takes 5-7 days to fully come off, and for any stains it leaves to fully fade. 

But it’s recommended that you try to remove the Gorilla Glue from your skin once you notice it. Gorilla Glue can cause skin irritation, extreme dryness, and contact dermatitis or allergic reaction when left on skin for too long. 

If the glue is still wet, you can wipe it off with a paper towel or cloth, or wash your hands with cold water and soap. 

If the glue has already hardened and cured on your skin, try scrubbing it with a gritty natural scrub or homemade mixture of baking soda, gentle detergent, water, and white vinegar. 

Final Thoughts

If you accidentally get a little on your skin, no problem. Just take action to remove Gorilla Glue right when it happens, especially if it’s a Gorilla Super Glue. This glue is a strong polyurethane adhesive that can irritate the skin if left too long. 

Luckily, there’s no need to use any harsh chemicals on your skin to get it off, especially alcohols and chemical solvents. 

By just hand washing with liquid soap, using body scrub, or other simple exfoliating ingredients, that Gorilla Glue should be gone in a jiffy.