# HELP! how do I remove “Crazy Glue” (Cyanoacrylate) from my pants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125 "2003-07-31T13:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/1 "2003-07-31T13:56:42Z")
Naah, its not what your thinking! I was trying to fix a shoe with a new tube of “Super bond” (you know the stuff, AKA Crazy Glue, Super glue, MXBOND – all have Cyanoacrylate) and it spilled onto my pants, now I have black pants with a big white chunk of plastic molded into them. How would I remove this. I would try almost anything since the pants are already ruined. The pants are 50/50 cotton polyester. BTW, I already tried acetone, it did not phase the glue stain. Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/2 "2003-07-31T14:02:45Z")
Um… I’d like to know how you managed that. Normally acetone will cut crazy glue like butter; I use the stuff routinely. Durned if I can think of anything else that won’t pretty much destroy the trousers, too… ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/3 "2003-07-31T14:26:37Z")
\*\* Wang-Ka \*\* wrote: > [@](#): > > Um… I’d like to know how you managed that. Normally acetone will cut crazy glue like butter; I use the stuff routinely. Well, the heel was coming off my shoe, so to fix it (at work) I stabilized the shoe in my lap, held it with my right hand and squeezed the tube with my left hand, though a bit to hard I guess, ‘cos the glue dribbled over from the spot I was gluing ran over the shoe and down my leg. Neat huh? Oh, BTW I actually tried nail polish remover, which has acetone in it, does it need to be pure acetone? Also I would be willing to take a risk on something that \*might \* ruin the pants because, WTF, they are already un-wearable. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/4 "2003-07-31T14:35:18Z")
The nail polish remover might be diluted (so it’s not so harshon one’s cuticles). I have used just plain acetone and it takes care of crazy glue without a problem. I don’t _think_ I had problems with natural fabrics becoming discoloured, but it’s been awhile since I got crazy glue on my clothes and I don’t really recall. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/5 "2003-07-31T14:35:40Z")
Most nail polish remover is or contains acetone, but I guess it’s possible that not all do. Or perhaps the size of your glue spot needs a greater quantity of the stuff. You can buy acetone at a hardware store, probably displayed with the paint/stripping chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/6 "2003-07-31T15:48:53Z")
Does how old the stain is make a difference? A few days had passed, then I doused the area in nail polish remover (and I mean I put the stuff in a jar and submerged the effected area for about 20 minutes) Or could it be the thickness if the stain? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/7 "2003-07-31T16:36:06Z")
You do not have a stain, you have a deposit. If possible, try the “crumple method” to reduce this. It will be difficult, but try to crumple up the fabric and gently rub it to break off the bigger bits. Then you will have to soak in 100% acetone, not nail polish remover. It may or may not ruin the clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/8 "2003-07-31T16:36:41Z")
They make CA Glue De-Bonder. Have a look at a good brand [url=http://www.zapglue.com/debonder.html]Here[/url ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/9 "2003-07-31T16:58:47Z")
FYI, [non-acetone nail-polish remover](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=53350&catid=9703&trx=PLST-0-SRCH&trxp1=9703&trxp2=53350&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SRCH) is common, but it usually says NON-ACETONE in big letters on the front of the bottle. (If anyone cares, it doesn’t work as quickly as the acetone stuff on nail polish. It’s supposed to be less harsh to your cuticles.) ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/10 "2003-07-31T20:55:54Z")
Cut away the glue laden portion of fabric. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/11 "2003-08-02T01:25:57Z")
Put your pants in the freezer; it might make the crazy glue brittle enough to peel off. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/12 "2003-08-02T02:12:02Z")
Zenster, be nice. Janx, my dry cleaner has actually managed to get crazy glue out on two occasions (Ilovemychildren…Ilovemychildren…), have you tried taking the pants to a drycleaner? ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-how-do-i-remove-crazy-glue-cyanoacrylate-from-my-pants/192125/13 "2003-08-04T12:06:17Z")
I will try the pure acetone tonight, and let you (all) know. I cant exactly break the “deposit” out of the material as it is to dense for its size, it only bends, but will not break up. I suspect pure acetone will get most of it, then it’s off to the dry cleaners as suggested. If none of it works, oh well, I have some nice new slacks that I can use when I paint the house or change the oil in our cars, not to mention walking the dogs on rainy/muddy days.