Super glue is easier to remove from your hands than other types of home adhesives, but even this strong glue will still irritate you if it spills and hits your body. If you get super glue on your hands, you don't have to wait too long for the glue to peel off on its own. Some superglue brands even warn the wearer not to do this. Remove the glue sticking to your hands with just water and salt. These two things can solve your problem in just a few minutes.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Common Methods
Step 1. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on your hands
There is no "right" amount for this condition - use according to the amount of glue you want to remove. Table salt is fine, but you can also try this method with sea salt, kosher salt, or another type of granulated salt. If possible, don't use lump salt, such as rock salt, which can irritate the skin.
If you're confused about how much salt to use, start by sprinkling two tablespoons of salt in your hands, and add more if needed
Step 2. Add water to make a dough that is not too dense
If the amount of water is half the amount of salt used, this will create a mixture or dough that is slightly runny and tastes salty. Stir the water and salt in the palm of your hand (or in a separate container) to evenly distribute it.
- This method works best with warm water. Warmer temperatures speed up chemical reactions that can destroy the glue on your hands.
- For more difficult cases, try using lemon juice. The acid in the juice can make the glue dissolve in the juice.
Step 3. Rub the water and salt mixture on your hands for a minute
Use the other hand to rub the glue-affected hand with the mixture. If you have glue on both hands, rub the mixture in the palm of the other and rub them together. Press the glue-affected area gently but constantly to allow the salt in the mixture to penetrate the glue. If you continue to rub the area, the glue will start to crack and peel over time.
After a minute, rinse your hands and see if the glue has started to peel. If so, it means your work is done! However, usually the glued hand will need to be rubbed several more times until there is significant progress
Step 4. Add salt and water as needed
As you continue to rub the glue-affected skin with the mixture, the mixture will fade over time. A good idea to work around this is to rub your hands in the sink. Continue adding salt and water to the mixture to maintain a runny consistency but still remove the glue that is sticking to your hands. You may need to measure how much water and salt you will use depending on how thick the glue is.
Step 5. Continue to do this until the mixture runs out
Keep rubbing it on your skin, then rinse it off until the glue sticks out, and scrub your skin again with the mixture. Over time, a lot of the glue will wear off. Maybe not all of the glue will peel off the first time you use it, but you can speed up the process if you do this several times.
Even if the glue doesn't peel off right away, you don't have to worry - it will peel off on its own over time. Over time, the natural oils your skin produces will soften the tough glue and the glue will peel off through your daily activities (showering or washing your hands, for example). It's rare for superglue to stay on the skin for more than two days
Method 2 of 2: Additional Ideas
Step 1. Try mixing olive oil and salt
Olive oil (and other types of oil commonly used for cooking such as canola oil, peanut oil, etc.) can also work well. Apart from removing superglue from sticking to your hands, olive oils have several other benefits - for example, they act as a natural moisturizer and can make skin soft and smooth. Some people also find that applying oil can give the skin a healthy-looking and attractive glow effect.
You just have to remember that using oil is not always a good idea. If your skin is already oily from the start, adding oil can cause blemishes
Step 2. Use acetone to dissolve the glue
Acetone is a chemical solvent used to dissolve some types of adhesives and plastic mixtures. Using acetone instead of water in the mix will make most types of superglue dissolve faster. But be careful when using it - acetone has a pungent taste when applied to dry or sensitive skin, so use it sparingly and then apply moisturizer to your hands.
You can find acetone in most (but not all) nail polish removers. Before using, check the ingredients on the label on the cleaning bottle - cleaners without acetone won't work as well
Step 3. Apply laundry detergent to the glue-affected hand
Laundry detergent is good for cleaning hands from superglue that has dried. But it will not be used as a substitute for water in the above-mentioned mixture. Instead, add detergent to the existing mixture, add a drop of it to a bowl of water (not more than one to two tablespoons of water) and then add the salt. Use the result to break up the glue that has dried.
Rinse your hands with water when you're done. Soap residue on your hands can enter your mouth when you eat if you don't wash your hands beforehand. While this is harmless, it can make you sick
Step 4. Use a mixture of water and salt to remove dead skin
The mixtures mentioned above can also be used as a good homemade beauty product. Scrubbing the skin using this mixture will remove the dead cells that are on the outer layer of your skin, and ultimately leave your skin looking fresh and healthy.
The advantage you can get from this easy-to-make mix is that it lasts a long time, as the ingredients are only salt and water (or oil). Store in an airtight container in a dark, cool place, and this mixture will last for months
Tips
- If the salt irritates your skin, you may have to find another way to remove the glue. Acetone, hand lotion and olive oil can also be used without salt.
- If you don't have the items listed above, you can also use water and soap (with or without salt).
- Don't have olive oil? Under certain conditions, you can use butter - your hands are warm enough to melt it with some gentle pressure.
