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There are a lot of reasons to get into DIY-ing. One, you can make cool things for cheaper than they charge in-store. Two, you use less, and you can upcycle. Chances are if you're a do-it-yourselfer, then you've had a run-in or two with a certain kind of gluing force. Now you're left you Googling: "how do I get Gorilla Glue off my skin?"
Don't worry, we've all been there.
Getting Gorilla Glue on your hand does, in fact, suck. It's easy to start thinking of that viral video from early 2021 and panic. You might say, "help! I still need both of these fingers-- separately!" Although this is the toughest polyurethane solvent out there, all hope is not lost.
But set down the butter knife! A scraper won't do you any good here.
How to Get Gorilla Glue Off Skin
The first step to removing Gorilla Glue is a precautionary one: always have a damp rag ready and on-hand when you're using the adhesive. Paper towels will shred, so get something durable. The best way of getting Gorilla Glue off your skin is to wipe it up as soon as it lands.
If you've ended up in a situation where dried Gorilla Glue has formed, all is not lost. There are several ways to treat the affected area. None of them involve the use of a chisel. Instead, your solutions range from natural oil remedies (less acidic than lemon juice) to something (a bit) stronger than rubbing alcohol. One solution is simple as liquid detergent.
Start by checking out this introduction to the natural routes of removing glue:
Removing Gorilla Glue Super Glue:
1. Nutiva Organic Steam-Refined Coconut Oil, 15 Fluid Ounce
Like Granny Karma shows, exfoliating with oil and sea salt can be gentle enough to remove sticky glue from your skin. When exfoliating, you want something gentler than sandpaper. About as aggressive as a pumice stone.
I've seen other online solutions like WikiHow mention olive oil, baby oil, and petroleum jelly will work too. Since the chemical option tends to burn, the use of oil to remove Gorilla Glue is better for those with sensitive skin. After you've removed the glue, I personally recommend cold water and a hand lotion moisturizer.
2. Pronto 100% Pure Acetone - Quick, Professional Nail Polish Remover - for Natural, Gel, Acrylic, Sculptured Nails (8 FL. OZ.)
Acetone is going to be rough, but it will cut to the chase very quickly and very efficiently. Unfortunately, it's going to burn your skin just a bit. Sometimes Gorilla Glue requires a scorched-ground policy.
You may feel the urge to scrub with a toothbrush or something abrasive but don't. Just apply the nail polish remover to a cotton ball or pad and rub in a circular motion. This video from Health Primix has more:
3. Dial Antibacterial Liquid Soap, Gold, 7.5 Ounce
Blogger Handymans Place says a good in-between option to cleaning a glued area without serious abrasions is using warm water and liquid detergent. By soaking the affected skin in soapy water, you're giving Dial's cleaning surfactants the chance to get in between the glue and your skin.
Personally, I do a bit of DIYing around the house, and I've only ever used Dial Soap to get Gorilla Glue off my skin. Yes, sometimes it will still be a little sticky or coarse. But, the way I see it, my skin cells are gonna fall off eventually, and they'll take the Gorilla Glue with 'em. Dial is strong enough for me.
There are a lot of different methods for how you can get Gorilla Glue off your skin. These options are just a few of the many. Good luck with separating from the stick!
