How strong is super glue? Imagine this: a mere square inch of the stuff can hold more than a ton. That kind of strength makes super glue very useful in fixing almost anything, from broken mugs to pieces of jewelry. It's a huge problem though when super glue accidentally sticks to your fingers or stains other objects. Removing the glue the wrong way can lead to injuries, such as skin being torn.

What Makes Super Glue Super?

The active ingredient in super glue is a substance called cyanoacrylate, an acrylic resin that forms strong bonds almost instantly. Super glue is much stronger than ordinary white glue because it has a different mechanism to form bonds (Want to make your own glue, read how to make glue). White glue forms bonds when water evaporates, leaving polyvinylacetate latex on the material's crevices. On the other hand, super glue forms bonds through a process called anionic polymerization. In this process, the cyanoacrylate molecules start linking up when the glue comes into contact with trace amounts of water. The molecules whip around in chains, forming a durable plastic mesh. The glue thickens and hardens until the molecule strands no longer move.

Getting Rid of Super Glue on Your Body

Super glue can be dangerous if it hardens on your fingers, mouth, or eyes. Here are some tips to safely remove super glue from your body.

Super Glue on Your Fingers

Have you accidentally glued your fingers together with super glue? Don't panic. Follow this guide to release your fingers from the adhesive.

• Step 1: Immediately soak your hand into a mixture of warm water, soap, and vinegar (For other uses of vinegar, see 25 other uses for vinegar). Hot water may be more helpful, but it can cause burns if too hot. If you think you can handle the temperature though, and it's not hot enough to cause burns, then go for hot water.
• Step 2: Feel the bond, and once it starts to soften, rotate your fingers gently to release them. Do not pull your fingers apart forcefully because you'll only tear your skin.
• Step 3: Wet a cotton swab using a nail polish remover containing acetone. Take note that the nail polish remover must have acetone or it won't work. If you don't have a nail polish remover with acetone, use the strongest cleaning product you have.
• Step 4: Rub the cotton swab on the affected area repeatedly until the glue and skin peels off. Continue rotating your fingers gently to further loosen the glue.
• Step 5: Go to your doctor if the glue shows no signs of softening or coming off.

Super Glue in Your Eyes

Some people mistake super glue for eye ointment because of the similar packaging. Waste no time fiddling with the glue stain on or near your eyes. Follow these steps to avoid any injury.

• Step 1: Wash the affected area thoroughly with copious amounts of warm water for 15 minutes.
• Step 2: Hold your eyes open and apply a moist gauze patch. Do not try to forcefully open your eyelids because this might open wounds.
• Step 3: Go to your doctor once you've cleaned the affected area. Try not to rub it too much since this might cause irritation.
• Step 4: Since skin peels all the time, the eye should open by itself within one to four days. There has never been a documented case of super glue causing permanent eye damage.

Super glue on an eyeball: Don’t panic if the glue spills directly on your eyeball because it will detach by itself over time, usually within several hours. Use a warm solution of 3% sodium bicarbonate to wash your eyes and remove the adhesive. Expect some weeping and double vision until the glue has been completely removed.

Super Glue on Your Mouth or Nose:

Never open a super glue tube using your mouth because the adhesive might accidentally glue your lips or teeth together. Drops of it might also harden on your nose. Follow these steps to get rid of super glue on your mouth or nose:

• Step 1: Don’t worry if the glue sticks to your lips or teeth. It’s very unlikely that you will swallow it since it hardens too quickly. Apply generous amounts of warm water on the affected area.
• Step 2: As much as possible, use your saliva to wet the affected area.
• Step 3: Repeatedly apply margarine on the affected site to soften the glue further.
• Step 4: Peel or roll your lips apart. If the glue is on your teeth, gently move your jaws to release your teeth. If it’s on your nose, use a cotton swab to gradually peel the glue. Do not forcefully open your lips or tear the glue from your skin to avoid injuries.
• Step 5: Go to your doctor or dentist for medical attention.
• Step 6: Saliva itself can remove the adhesive in one to two days. If possible, avoid swallowing the hardened glue debris when it loosens.

Note: Do not use soapy water or acetone if the product is in the mouth, nose, or eyes.

How to Remove Super Glue Stains

Super glue will harden wherever there are trace amounts of water. It’s easy to accidentally spill it on objects that are not meant to be joined together. Here is a step-by-step guide to remove super glue stains.

• Step 1: Clean up any glue that’s still wet using a terrycloth towel or paper towel.
• Step 2: Soak the object in warm soapy water, then rub off as much hardened glue as you can.
• Step 3: Wet the towel with an acetone-based nail polish remover, then dab at the glue until it dissolves. The nail polish remover must have acetone or this will not work. You may test the nail polish in a small area first to make sure that it doesn’t discolor or damage the object.
• Step 4: Briskly rub the spot with a toothbrush until the adhesive flakes off.
• Step 5: If some of the glue is still on the object, scrub the spot with a very fine sand paper.
• Step 6: You may use a commercial glue remover to remove some of the glue that’s still on the object.

Super glue on fabric: In cases where super glue sticks on fabric, do the steps above, then wash the fabric in your washing machine. Check the fabric for any remaining stain once the wash cycle has finished. Do not place the fabric in the dryer because this will further harden the glue. You may dab on a little lighter fluid to peel off the glue.

Other Tips for Removing Super Glue

Removing hardened super glue may cause more injuries if you don’t do it the right way. Here are some more tips to safely remove super glue.

• If a lot of glue spills on your hand, soak your hand in warm, soapy water, then use a pumice stone to rub the adhesive off.
• Read the instructions and warning on the label of the acetone first before using it. Wash your hands after using the acetone.
• Do not use solvents such as paint thinner and gasoline when removing super glue stains.
• If the glue hardens on a non-hazardous part of your body, just leave it alone and it will peel off by itself in one to two days.
• Go to the website of the super glue manufacturer as it may have instructions on how to remove the glue. You may also call the manufacturer for more instructions.
• Super glue vapors can cause eye irritation and asthma-like symptoms. Make sure that the room has adequate ventilation when working with super glue vapors.
• Keep the glue out of reach of children.
• Wear protective clothing like goggles or gloves when working with super glue.

Learn to respect the power of super glue to avoid accidents. Removing super glue is a lot of hard work. Save yourself the trouble of removing this adhesive by using it wisely.