# Hot Glue Misery **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030 "2024-12-22T17:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/1 "2024-12-22T17:10:30Z")
I am going to be a self disclosing idiot with this one. Some 20 or more years ago I hot glued all of my pictures and knick knacks to the kitchen walls. There are also a few hot glued items in other rooms and some in my work office. I never considered this a problem until recently when I thought I might hire someone to do some painting. When I described the necessary pre painting preparation to my handyman he was stunned. There are ways to get everything off the walls but it involves a bit of strong alcohol and a plastic paint scraper. Surely I am not the only one who has done this? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/2 "2024-12-22T17:54:00Z")
If you don’t want to use alcohol (I didn’t know that worked on hot glue in the first place), try heat. Are you trying to get the pictures off the wall or the residual glue? If it’s the pictures, I’d try heating the glue with a hair dryer until it’s pliable enough to pull the pictures off the wall. As for the glue remaining on the wall. I’d still try heat to see if it could be pulled off cleanly. If not, another option I’d consider is grabbing it with a pliers and yanking it off. If it pulls right off, great, if it takes the outer paper layer of the drywall with it, the painter should be able to repair it and it’ll probably look better than if they tried to paint over the remaining hot glue. Come to think of it, if leaves a fine layer of glue on the wall, I wonder if going over it with some spackle, or even spray paint will give your paint something to grab onto. TLDR, try using heat to remove it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/3 "2024-12-22T18:10:15Z")
I would absolutely not use heat. It will soften the glue, but that just makes it more sticky and gooey. What you want to do is use _cold_. Much harder to do on the wall (maybe some freeze spray), but if you can get the glue cold enough, it will snap right off. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/4 "2024-12-22T18:14:22Z")
Interesting suggestions for this fool lol. What happened 20 years ago was I used poster putty to install everything when I couldn’t get a nail in the wall (weird walls everywhere). As the seasons changed the heat/cold transitions would cause the pictures/knick knacks to slide down the walls and eventually crash to the floor. This was my solution. I thought it was great! ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/5 "2024-12-22T18:18:28Z")
I like the cold idea, and a cheap and easy way is to get a can of keyboard duster and hold it upside down. It will come out as a liquid and is extremely cold, then pull on it with pliers. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/6 "2024-12-22T18:19:16Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I like the cold idea, and a cheap and easy way is to get a can of keyboard duster and hold it upside down. It will come out as a liquid and is extremely cold, then pull on it with pliers. That is an awesome idea. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/7 "2024-12-22T18:19:20Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > What you want to do is use _cold_. Much harder to do on the wall (maybe some freeze spray), but if you can get the glue cold enough, it will snap right off. I hadn’t thought of using cold. An upside down duster can is a good, if smelly, way to get something to freeze in a hurry. Also, I’m WAGing that the OP has plaster walls, not drywall. So maybe ignore my suggestion to yank the glue off with the outer layer of drywall to be repaired later. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/8 "2024-12-22T18:22:56Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > > [@beowulff](#): > > > > What you want to do is use _cold_. Much harder to do on the wall (maybe some freeze spray), but if you can get the glue cold enough, it will snap right off. > > I hadn’t thought of using cold. An upside down duster can is a good, if smelly, way to get something to freeze in a hurry. > > Also, I’m WAGing that the OP has plaster walls, not drywall. So maybe ignore my suggestion to yank the glue off with the outer layer of drywall to be repaired later. The walls in my kitchen and bathroom are some kind of weird 1970s paneling/wallpaper hybrid. I can’t even explain them. My handyman is very resourceful and has already successfully fixed a few of my other “solutions”. I am sure he will come up with something. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/9 "2024-12-22T18:30:24Z")
There are spray products specifically designed to produce cold. Search Amazon for “freeze spray”. Here’s an example. > **[Amazon.com: MG Chemicals 403A 134A Super Cold Spray, 400g (14 oz) Aerosol Can :...](https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-403A-285G-Super-Spray/dp/B09J23MY1Z)** > > The 403A Super Cold 134 is a pure, non-flammable Cold Spray that is used primarily for diagnosing thermally intermittent problems with electronic devices. The cold spray contains pure 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane \[HFC 134a\]. It is also useful for... ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/10 "2024-12-22T18:31:15Z")
@markn_1 Thank you. Will put this on my Amazon list. ---
**Author:** ![Yosh99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/11 "2024-12-22T20:26:38Z")
Hot glues are rarely soluble in alcohol. Mineral spirits is your best option and I’d experiment with a hair dryer to see if that speeds up removal. It’s going to be hard to get it off without damaging the wall. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/12 "2024-12-22T20:29:20Z")
Sure, but as someone noted upthread, removing a bit of the surface sheetrock (primarily the paper) is a pretty easy fix, and if one is painting one should take some time to clean up the walls anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/13 "2024-12-22T20:29:48Z")
I assumed this thread was going to be about the feeling when you are sticking two pieces of something together and you get the glue on the tip of your finger. That is also hot glue misery. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/14 "2024-12-22T20:54:46Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > I assumed this thread was going to be about the feeling when you are sticking two pieces of something together and you get the glue on the tip of your finger. That is also hot glue misery Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/15 "2024-12-22T21:06:33Z")
I’ve always been able to roll hot glue off surfaces. A deft finger movement. I’ve not tried it on walls or years old. I’d try that first. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/16 "2024-12-23T22:52:53Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Sure, but as someone noted upthread, removing a bit of the surface sheetrock (primarily the paper) is a pretty easy fix, and if one is painting one should take some time to clean up the walls anyway. As said upthread, the walls are not sheetrock. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/17 "2024-12-23T22:58:15Z")
Paging some experts on adhesives in general and hot glues in specific: @Yosh99 @Napier ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/18 "2024-12-23T23:01:00Z")
**Hot Glue Misery** might be a good band name, but it’s an even better album title. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-glue-misery/1012030/19 "2024-12-23T23:46:09Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > **Hot Glue Misery** might be a good band name, but it’s an even better album title. Hey - it might be a good title for some of my shenanigans if I ever decide to put them all in a book lol.