How to Get Super Glue Off Glasses (4 Ways To Do It!)
Did you make a mess while super gluing and get some on your glasses? Or, did you try to fix your broken frames and accidentally get some glue on your lenses? If either of these situations is the case, you’ll want to know how to remove the super glue as quickly as possible. There are a number of factors that you should consider first, such as what material the lenses are made of, and if they have any sort of coating or treatment on them (UV protection, for example).
While acetone works well at dissolving the glue on glass lenses, it can melt plastic lenses. However, there are plenty of other methods to try including toothpaste, alcohol, and a glue removal product. We’ve outlined all the possible ways to get super glue off of glasses so that you can determine which is the safest option for your type of lenses.
How to Remove Super Glue From Glasses With Water
Although this method isn’t always as effective as others, it is often the first that most people try. This is also the safest way to remove super glue from lenses that have a coating on them. Many adhesives, super glue included, can be softened by simply using warm water and soap. Although it will take a considerable amount of time, it can work.
Follow these very basic steps:
- Mix an ammonia-free dish soap with warm water. Use about half a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of soap. Combine until the soap dissolves and you create suds. Make sure that the water is warm, not hot, as hot water may cause the lenses to crack.
- Dip a microfiber cloth into the soapy water. Alternatively, you can place the glasses straight into the water. However, that will also loosen any glue that was intentionally used to repair your glasses.
- Gently press the cloth on the glue that you want to remove.
- Wrap plastic wrap around the cloth. This will help keep the moisture in while the glue is soaking.
- Allow it to soak long enough for the glue to soften. Wait at least three hours. For an especially large or stubborn spot, you may need to wait longer, or soak the cloth multiple times and repeat.
- Remove the plastic wrap and wipe away the softened glue. After gently wiping a couple of times, the glue should be removed.
If you find this method to be unsuccessful, even after several tries, consider using toothpaste to remove the super glue.
How to Remove Super Glue From Glasses With Toothpaste
Using toothpaste to get super glue off glasses is safe for both plastic and glass lenses. Many declare that it can also be used on lenses with coating and will not cause any damage to the coating itself. However, if you’re at all concerned, you can do a patch test on an inconspicuous area of your lenses first to be sure that it won’t cause any harm.
It is recommended to use a type of toothpaste that is white and somewhat gritty, such as Arm & Hammer or Colgate. However, do not use any kind of toothpaste that has ‘micro-scrubbers.’ The small blue balls found in some toothpastes can scratch your lenses.
Simply dampen the glue stain first with warm water and gently rub the toothpaste over the glue with a cloth. Although it may take some time and a bit of elbow grease, many have had reported success with this method. Continue scrubbing until the glue is loosened enough to wipe off.
How to Remove Super Glue From Glasses With Alcohol
This next option is safe for use on glass and plastic lenses. Keep in mind that repeated use of rubbing alcohol on plastic lenses can dry out the plastic. However, when used for a one-time removal of super glue, it should not cause any damage.
When it comes to glasses with coating, you should test the alcohol along a corner edge of your lenses first to make sure it won’t destroy the coating. Once you determine it is safe, follow these simple steps:
- Saturate a soft cloth with isopropyl alcohol.
- Using the cloth, gently rub off the super glue. This part may take quite a bit of elbow grease, depending on how big the stain is. As the glue gets transferred to the cloth, rotate it and continue rubbing with the new area.
- Once the super glue has softened, use your fingernail or a razor blade to scrape it away. However, this step should not be done on glasses with coating, as you’ll likely scrape it off. As always, use special care when working with the razor blade so that you don’t scratch your lenses.
- Clean the affected area with warm water and mild soap. Once you’ve gotten as much glue off as possible, wipe off any residue with a clean cloth, mild soap, and warm water.
- Carefully dry the lenses with a soft cloth. After you’ve gotten all of the glue off of the glasses and they’re clean, dry them with a soft cloth. This will help prevent unsightly watermarks and avoid any possible rust from occurring to the metal pieces.
How to Remove Super Glue From Glasses With Acetone
For this method, you can use either pure acetone or a nail polish remover that contains acetone. However, only perform this solution if your lenses are glass. Both acetone and non-acetone nail polish will cause immediate damage to plastic lenses. If your lenses are plastic, try rubbing alcohol or toothpaste instead.
For glass lenses with a coating, do a patch test on an inconspicuous area of your lenses first. For glass lenses without a coating, this is arguably the easiest method for removing super glue.
- Moisten a soft cloth with pure acetone, or nail polish remover that contains acetone. Pure acetone can be found at a beauty supply store or home improvement center. If you decide to use nail polish remover with acetone, avoid using it on coated lenses. The nail polish remover contains additional chemicals, which may cause harm to the coating.
- Rub the area with the cloth until the super glue is loosened. Rotate the cloth as it becomes soiled with glue and continue rubbing with a clean area. This step may take some elbow grease.
- Scrape the glue with your fingernail or a razor blade. If you’re having some difficulty loosening the glue, you can use a razor blade or your fingernail to carefully scrape it off. However, do not perform this step on lenses that have a coating on them.
- Clean the affected area with mild soap and warm water. After the glue is removed, wipe your lenses with a water and soap solution.
- Dry lenses with a soft cloth. Once you’ve finished cleaning your lenses, dry them off with a soft cloth. This will prevent unpleasant watermarks and rust to the metal components.
Additional Tips for Removing Super Glue From Glasses
The following are some additional tips for success to help you remove the super glue from your glasses and prevent this issue from occurring again.
- If any of the above methods are unsuccessful, you can try using an adhesive removal product such as Goo Gone Adhesive Remover or Loctite Glue Remover.
- Many people report having success with using a Clean Magic Eraser to remove super glue from glasses. Use it with warm water, vinegar, or toothpaste and scrub until the adhesive is loosened enough to remove.
- Never use paper towels to clean eyeglasses. Always opt for a soft cloth, as paper towels can actually cause scratches on your lenses.
- Should you need to use super glue on your glasses again, cover the lenses with tape or plastic wrap. This will ensure that the adhesive stays where it needs to go and doesn’t spill over onto your lenses. Simply remove the plastic wrap or peel off the tape after you’ve finished using the super glue.
- Instead of repairing your glasses yourself by super gluing them, consider taking them to a professional. This will help you avoid any undesirable messes or future mishaps with super glue.
Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.
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