Are you flustered because you accidentally touched your Gorilla Glue-laden fingers on your eyeglasses? Accidents happen. Even the most cautious DIYer can inadvertently apply super glue on their glasses. You do not have to worry, though. You should be okay if you know how to get Gorilla Glue off glasses.
I will share a proven method for removing hardened Gorilla glue from your spectacles in five easy steps. My first trick is to use either acetone, adhesive remover or some other DIY materials.
Contents
Things You Need
Before I start writing removing Gorilla Glue from glass, let us prepare you for the task first.
Knowledge of Gorilla Glue Composition
The original Gorilla Glue features polyurethane polymers, while the Gorilla Super Glue contains cyanoacrylates. It is essential to understand these components because your glue removal agent must interact with these chemicals.
Hence, if you want to ensure successful Gorilla Glue removal from your glasses, you might want to get an adhesive remover with an active ingredient that breaks either polyurethane or cyanoacrylate bonds.
Acetone
Ordinary nail polish is one of the most common agents people use to remove glue from surfaces. Acetone is a solvent, allowing it to interact with adhesive bonds.
While it may be less effective in removing Gorilla Glue off glasses, you can still be successful by manually scraping the glue from the surface. Acetone softens the bonds, making it easier to peel off the lens.
Adhesive Remover
You can buy commercially available adhesive removers from your local hardware or order online. The product you use must be specific to the glue’s active ingredient.
For instance, you will need a polyurethane adhesive remover to eliminate Gorilla Glue from your glasses. An excellent example of this is the Goo Gone Original Liquid.
If the glue you want to remove contains cyanoacrylate adhesive, check out the list of glue for plastic eyeglass frames to find the best option.
Other Materials
If you do not want either acetone or an adhesive remover, you can apply plain white toothpaste, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, or ammonia-free liquid dish soap. A soft glass cleaning cloth or microfiber towel will also come in handy.
Steps to Getting Gorilla Glue Off Glasses
Step 1. Prepare your glasses.
Most of the tutorials do not cover this step. However, I think it is necessary to prepare the surface for Gorilla glue removal.
It would be wise to remember that you will be using acetone or an adhesive remover for this task. You will not want any surface contaminant to be present on your lenses when you remove Gorilla Glue from glasses.
Rinse your glasses in warm running water. Add a drop of mild liquid soap on the lens and create a lather using your fingers. Rinse the lenses again and pat dry using a soft glass cleaning cloth.
NReluctant made a video about the best way to clean your eyeglasses. You might like to check it out.
Step 2. Apply acetone or adhesive remover.
Apply a few drops of acetone on a cotton ball. Carefully dab the acetone-moistened cotton ball on the hardened glue.
If you use an adhesive remover, you might want to read the manufacturer’s instructions. Products have different application methods. It would be best to always adhere to the recommendations instead of creating your own.
Pro Tip: Always wear gloves when working with acetone or an adhesive remover. It would also be wise to use these products in a well-ventilated room and away from heat sources. Acetone is flammable, while some adhesive removers do not do well in hot environments either.
Step 3. Leave it.
Gorilla Glue forms a strong bond to any surface it adheres to. That is why the acetone or adhesive remover will take some time to work its magic.
These products alter the glue’s chemical structure, softening the adhesion and breaking the bond.
While acetone and adhesive removers react with the glue immediately, it can take anywhere between several minutes and 24 hours to soften the bond completely.
It would be best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations if you are using an adhesive remover.
Step 4. Remove the Gorilla Glue
After the long wait, you can begin removing the glue from your spectacles. I recommend using a microfiber cloth to scrape the Gorilla Glue off the lens surface.
Some people recommend using a sharp scraper or even a fingernail. However, I find these methods risky because they can scratch the lens surface if you are not careful.
If the microfiber cloth is ineffective in removing the glue, you might want to start with a straightedge tool. Your plastic ID or old credit card will always be handy in these circumstances.
Step 5. Rinse and dry your glasses.
Place your glasses under warm running water to wash any acetone and glue residue. Dab your finger in mild liquid soap and form a lather on the area where you removed the glue. Rub the surface to remove any residue.
Rinse your spectacles well and pat dry them using a clean and dry microfiber cloth.
Hacks for Removing Super Glue from Eyeglasses
I am including this tutorial, in case you want to remove glue from glasses. Here is an exciting video from DIY Solutions on how to remove glue from lenses.
Step 1. Apply toothpaste.
I have seen some folks reporting success using plain white toothpaste in removing super glue from their spectacles. This hack takes more time than an adhesive remover, and its success depends on how patient and determined you are.
Apply warm water over the super glue to help soften it. Get a pea-sized plain toothpaste and apply it over the glue. Rub the toothpaste gently, coating the glue.
Rinse the glasses and repeat the procedure several times until you get the glue off your glasses.
Pro Tip: Do not use toothpaste with micro-scrubbers because these particles can scratch the glass.
Step 2. Use liquid dish soap.
Another hack worth trying is liquid dish soap. It takes time, but many people attest to its effectiveness.
Start by making a mild warm soapy solution. Soak your glasses into the solution for at least three hours. It should be enough to soften the glue. Wipe the glue off the lens using a microfiber cloth or eyeglass wipes.
If the glue is not yet soft, you might want to replace the warm soapy solution every 15 minutes. It would be best to maintain the high temperature of the solution.
Rinse the glasses and check if the glue is gone.
Pro Tip: Use only mild, ammonia-free liquid dish soap to retain the lens’ integrity.
Step 3. Apply rubbing alcohol.
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is an excellent product for removing glue on glasses. For this trick, you can moisten a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol. Rub the moistened cloth against the glue.
If you notice glue residue sticking to the cloth, dampen another microfiber section with alcohol and continue working.
Finish off by washing your spectacles in warm soapy water before rinsing. Dry it thoroughly to prevent watermarks from forming.
Conclusion
Even the most cautious person can inadvertently apply Gorilla Glue or super glue on their eyeglasses. Thankfully, it is not a problem if you know how to get Gorilla Glue off glasses. You can also apply the methods I shared to remove glue on other surfaces.
I hope you found this guide helpful. If so, I am sure your friends and acquaintances will also love to learn about it. It would also honor me if you could send your comment or feedback.
Our PPE expert, Daniel Rocha, has been working in the industry for 23 years. He provides guidance to our content editor and writers so they may provide well-informed suggestions and tips for machinery and equipment.