# Removing glue from laminated photos **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-glue-from-laminated-photos/600118 "2011-10-19T06:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-glue-from-laminated-photos/600118/1 "2011-10-19T06:05:09Z")
I have some laminated photos that have slight amounts of dried Elmer’s glue on the surface. How can I remove the glue without dulling the gloss of the lamination? Even gently scraping it off causes tiny scratches. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-glue-from-laminated-photos/600118/2 "2011-10-19T13:26:46Z")
Isn’t Elmer’s Glue water-soluble? Have you tried rubbing gently with a damp sponge? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-glue-from-laminated-photos/600118/3 "2011-10-19T22:50:40Z")
The problem is that it’s no longer water-soluble after it’s dried. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-glue-from-laminated-photos/600118/4 "2011-10-19T23:33:40Z")
Can you put a drop of water on the glue, and let it sit for an hour or more? Maybe it would eventually soften.