How to Get Nail Glue Off Surfaces, Nails, Skin, & Clothing

Nail glue doesn’t have the world’s easiest removal process. Depending on how you view it, this can be a good or bad thing. Nail glue formulas share similarities with the chemical makeup of super glue. If that tells you anything, they’re built to last and are designed to keep your fake nails secured for the long run—which is a major win! But on the other hand, its super strength also makes nail glue removal tricky. Whether you need a quick guide for how to get glue off nails or ways to remove nail glue from fabrics and surfaces, we have you covered. Here’s how to get rid of nail glue in any scenario:

How to get nail glue off skin

DIY artificial nail application can get messy, especially if you don’t have a spare set of hands to assist you. Getting nail glue stuck on your skin is almost inevitable at some point in your press-on nail journey. But thankfully, learning how to remove nail glue from skin isn’t difficult, and it’s a necessary trick to know for anyone planning on applying press-ons. So how do you get nail glue off your skin? The most effective way is using acetone.

Acetone is a strong solvent that is excellent at dissolving adhesives, so it works well as a nail glue remover. Nail glue is a potent substance close in chemical structure to super glue. Both contain a compound called cyanoacrylate. This compound is what gives them their clear color and quick-drying results. Nail glue will begin drying in seconds, leaving rough patches of hardened adhesive on your skin. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, use these steps for how to remove glue from skin:

1. Flush your skin with water. The first step to how to get rid of nail glue on skin is to immerse the area in warm, soapy water. Always do a temperature check first to avoid burning yourself. You can allow the affected area to soak for around 15 minutes.
2. Scrub the area to scrape off the glue. Use a toothbrush, nail buffer, or emery board to polish off textured areas. Do this gently!
3. Apply the acetone. Soak a cotton pad in acetone and apply it to your skin. Hold the cotton pad in place for about 10 minutes to break apart the glue’s bonds. For stubborn spots, brush the area again, then repeat with acetone.
4. Hydrate your skin. Acetone is extremely drying, so it’s essential to follow up with a moisturizer or oil to rehydrate the area.

How to get nail glue off your nails

All good things must come to an end, and that includes your artificial nails. Once your falsies have reached the end of their lifespan, they’ll have to come off one way or another. There’s no need to know how to remove glue on nails if you’re planning on visiting your nail tech for a professional removal session. But a salon appointment is not at all necessary! Skip the trip and learn how to remove glue from nails at home instead in six steps:

1. Soak your nails in water and oil. Fill a bowl with warm water and several drops of nourishing cuticle oil. If you don’t have cuticle oil, baby oil or olive oil will also work as solutions for how to get glue off your fingers and nails. Leave your hands to soak in the water for around 10 minutes to soften the adhesive.
2. Do an acetone soak next. Like with how to get glue off your hands or skin, acetone plays a crucial role in removing glued-on nails. Fill a bowl with a mixture of warm water and acetone, and soak your hands. Do this only for a few minutes.
3. Gently remove the press-ons. Carefully pry the false nails up at the base near the cuticle. The nails should come with minimal effort.
4. Return to the soaking basin. Soaking your nails in the water-oil mixture for a few more minutes will help remove glue on nails.
5. File away the remnants. Buff your nails with a soft nail buffer to eliminate any remaining glue residue that won’t seem to budge.
6. Lather on the moisturizer. The final step to how to get nail glue off nails is to apply a generous dose of cuticle oil or moisturizer to your nails to heal and hydrate them.

But truthfully, easy removal starts at application. The application techniques you use for press-on nails can significantly impact how easy or hard removal will be. So, it’s important to use the correct methods for applying false nails. Always be sure to prep your nails before applying glue! Giving yourself a manicure complete with cleansing, buffing, and drying your nails is essential. The right glue can make a difference, too. High-quality glues and ones that feature hydrating ingredients, like aloe vera, are the best options.

Before applying nail glue, have your workstation ready. Laying out the press-on sizes you’ll use for each nail and organizing them can make the process run smoother. Apply a small dab of nail glue to your nail and set the press-on in place by applying pressure. If your artificial nail kit comes with a brush, use it to spread a thin layer of glue onto your natural nail. But avoid coming in contact with the skin or cuticle. Repeat across all your nails, one by one.

How to get nail glue out of clothes

If you slip up and manage to get some nail glue on your clothes, you’ll need to take the proper measures for how to get nail glue out of clothing. Nail glue can leave a noticeable mark on clothing, and regular stain treatment methods may not work. But with the magic of acetone, you can break down some of the glue trapped in the fibers. This is how to get nail glue off clothes using acetone:

1. Wait for the glue to dry. It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s vital to wait for the adhesive to dry before removing it from a fabric surface. It’ll be easier to scrape off once it has fully hardened.
2. Scrub away the glue. Take a clean stiff-bristled toothbrush and brush the fabric to loosen up glue residue. For ultra-delicate materials, skip this step!
3. Apply acetone to the fabric. Take a cotton ball or swab, submerge it in acetone, and apply it to the glue stain. Rub the cotton pad back and forth along the fabric to dissolve the glue.
4. Rinse the clothing in cold water. Remove the acetone from the fabric by rinsing it thoroughly under cold water. Squeeze the garment out to drain excess water.
5. Treat with stain remover. Spot-treat the area with stain remover and let it sit for five minutes. Avoid using stain removers that contain bleaching agents.
6. Wash and dry. Toss the clothing into the washing machine and wash at a warm setting. But skip the dryer and air dry your garment for up to twelve hours after washing.

Note that this method of how to remove nail glue from clothes isn’t safe for all fabrics! Acetone is a strong chemical and can cause discoloration on certain materials. The best solution is to test a small drop of acetone on a hidden portion of your garment first. Depending on the results, you’ll know what effect acetone will have on your item. If you find that acetone isn’t suitable for treating a nail glue stain on your garment, try this same stain removal routine without the acetone step.  

How to remove nail glue from surface

Not sure how to remove nail glue from a hard surface? Acetone may be the answer for many cases! This solution works exceptionally well for how to remove nail glue from a plastic surface. But it’s also a suitable remedy for metal and glass finishes. The best way to do it is to soak a cotton ball or clean cloth in acetone and apply it directly to the glue. Scrub the rag or cotton ball across the adhesive until it fully dissolves. But proceed with caution if you plan on using acetone on a wooden surface. Acetone can bleach or strip wood. So as an alternative method of how to remove nail glue from a surface that’s wooden, try a mixture of water and vinegar instead.