Adhesive stains like glue or tape residue can be pesky to remove from clothing. However, with some handy household products and techniques, you can get adhesive stains out of fabric rather easily. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process.
What You’ll Need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Old toothbrush
- Small bowl
- Water
- Clean cloth or paper towels
Step 1: Act Quickly
It’s important to address adhesive stains as soon as possible. The longer a stain sits, the harder it’ll be to remove. As soon as you notice glue, tape, or sticker residue on clothing, start working on removing it.
Step 2: Loosen the Adhesive
Before using any cleaning solutions, you’ll want to loosen up the sticky substance first. Gently peel off any pieces of tape or stickers that aren’t stuck down. For glue residues, lightly scratch at the stain with your fingernail or an old toothbrush to begin breaking it up.
Step 3: Apply Rubbing Alcohol
Once you’ve loosened the sticky residue, it’s time to break it down further with some rubbing alcohol. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol over the stain. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes so it can penetrate the adhesive. Then, scrub at the stain using an old toothbrush or clean cloth. The rubbing alcohol will help dissolve the gummy adhesive.
Step 4: Make a Baking Soda Paste
Here’s where the heavy artillery comes in. Make a paste by mixing 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to form a thick consistency. Spread this paste over the adhesive stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes before scrubbing it with a toothbrush. The abrasiveness of the baking soda will help lift the residue.
Step 5: Wash Normally
After scrubbing the baking soda paste, rinse the clothing under running water. Check the stain – if any adhesive remains, repeat Steps 3 and 4. Once the stain appears gone, wash the clothing normally.
Step 6: Vinegar Rinse (Optional)
For extra assurance, you can give the clothing a vinegar rinse after washing. This helps eliminate any remaining sticky residue. Just add 1 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Follow with an extra rinse cycle to eliminate vinegar smell.
Tips
- Always check clothing tags before treating stains – some materials may require special care.
- Turn clothing inside out when scrubbing to avoid damage to the outer fabric.
- Heat can set in stains – avoid ironing or drying adhesive-stained clothing until the stain is fully removed.
With the right technique and products on hand, removing adhesive stains from clothing is simple. Acting quickly and using rubbing alcohol, baking soda paste, and vinegar rinse will get fabric feeling sticky-free.
References
American Cleaning Institute. “How to Remove Stains: Glue and Adhesive Stains.” https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide/how-to-remove-stains-glue-and-adhesi Good Housekeeping. “This Is the Best Way to Get Glue Out of Clothes, According to Cleaning Experts.” https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a31434093/how-to-get-glue-out-of-clothes/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.