How To Remove Fabric Glue From Clothes & Fabric

Are you looking to undo a mistake and need to know how to remove fabric glue from fabric?

It happens, to everyone all the time don’t worry. Fabric glue and bonda webs are amazing things that are so helpful and great until you accidentally get it somewhere it wasn’t meant to be!

They are great for fusing layers together for products such as applique and for helping create a fabric stronger. But it doesn’t have to be the end if it gets on another patch.

Tips To Remember When Trying To Remove Fabric Glue From Fabric

• Let it dry – don’t rush to the sink or add water and this can sometimes cause the glue to spread and then create a larger area to have to clean away.
• Always test on a spare piece – when you are working with different fabrics and solutions always test on a spare piece of fabric before going on to the main piece.
• Check which method is most suited to the glue you are using – some glues will act differently depending on whether they are water-based or other. Water-based is easier to remove as it can be removed in the wash.
• Have patience – some of the methods below might not work for your fabric or might not work straight away.
• Have plenty of plain cloths at hand – have plenty of clean plain cloths or kitchen roll to hand to keep using to remove the glue and dab away the excess.

How To Remove Fabric Glue From Fabric

These are some of the tried and tested methods people have used over the years to remove a variety of glues and fabric glues from fabric.

Nail Polish Remove

Nail polish remover has a key ingredient which is acetone, it is a proven solvent to remove the glue.

The polish works against the glue lifting it from the fibres of your fabric, use a cloth or kitchen towel to dap away the glue. Use a fresh piece or section everytime so you don’t transfer the glue back to the fabric.

I would advise yout o test out the nail poilish remover on a small scrap piece of fabric and wash it to make sure there is no grease, stain or mark left behind.

Each type of fabric and colour will act differently and some may remove the colour from the fabric entirely.

Steam Heat

Many of the transfer glues such as fusible web and bonda web are applied with steam and heat.

One great way of remvoing this type of fabric glue from fabric is by heating up the patch of glue – be sure to use greaseproof paper over the top and then dap away the glue with a cloth or piece ot kitchen roll.

You may have to repeat this process a few times before seeing a big difference or seeing the process work.

Scratch It Off

After waiting for the glue to dry you might be able to simply scratch it off.

Using a butter knife, credit card, or fingers to simply tease the glue from the fibers of the fabric. Be careful not to scratch and stretch your fabric while doing this.

Try and keep the fabric flat on a surface like an ironing board or self-healing cutting mat. This will help stop the fabric from being pushed up or down and creating a dent that could cause the fabric to stay that way long term.

Dry-Cleaning Fabric

Some fabrics could be a little more delicate and require dry cleaning. You can get a kit to do it at home yourself or you can take your fabric to the dry cleaners to have it done them.

The chemicals they have been proven to lift the glue from the fabric. This is a great way of removing the glue from fabric and not worrying about the ruining it.

If you are a little clumsy like I am you might want to think of this option if the mark is large, noticeable and if you are working with delicate fabrics.

Baking Soda

Many people know the benefits of baking soda for home cleaning remedies and it is even used to clean sewing machine parts. It is also a really great way of removing glue from fabric.

To create the mixture start with two parts baking soda to one part coconut oil. Mix together before applying to the fabric, then using a toothbrush or small brush or fingers to rub into the area.

Then rinse with a laundry detergent (liquid) and rinse again with water. If you just worked on that patch make sure the detergent is full out and dry or if you washed the whole piece wash in the machine as normal.

Cold Water Soak

Another great technique is to use cold water to flush the glue out of the fabric fibres.

Place the fabric area in cold water and leave totally submerged over night. Be sure to use cold water as warm water can set the glue making it harder to expell from the fibres.

Leaving the fabric in cold water overnight should help separate the glue from the fabric to peel away and remove it in the morning. I like this technique as it is less damaging to your fabric and won’t cause it to stain or warp.

Laundry Detergent

Place the entire piece of fabric or garment in cold water and apply a modest amount of clothing detergent. Check the label of your detergent to make sure it is suitable to use on your chosen fabric.

Work the detergent into the glue area of the fabric, gently rubbing the detergent into the fibers to loosen the glue. You want to make sure it has really seeped into the weave and layers of the fabric. Rinse off and dry, check the affected area before drying.

Wash as Normal

A more simple way of removing glue from fabric is washing as normal. This is more intended to water-based glues as the wash itself would remove the glue and leave it to stain free.

Be sure to wash the fabric/garment on low (30 degrees) as to give it the best chance of removing the glue. If you use a warm ot hot setting it cn actually set the glue further into the fabric.

I hope you have found this tutorial on how to remove fabric glue from fabric useful and helpful. If you have any alternative ways you have tried and tested in the past I would love to know more!