Imagine the situation when you have accidentally stepped on a fresh adhesive spot, gluing your favorite suede shoes to the floor.
If you are not thinking of throwing them away, don’t worry because you are in luck. There are multiple ways to remove that pesky glue from your beloved suede and clean those suede shoes without damaging them or wasting time and money at the dry cleaners.
It’s not uncommon for the glue to get on your suede shoes, suede jacket, suede couch other suede items, but it can be especially difficult when it gets on suede shoes. The fabric is delicate and the adhesive is strong, so you need an effective solution that won’t damage the material or leave behind any residue.
Fortunately, there are several ways how to remove glue from suede shoes with household items like alcohol wipes, dish soap, water, and a toothbrush. We’ll show you how in this article!
Glue is a sticky adhesive that is used to bond materials together. It can be made from natural or synthetic materials, and it comes in many different forms such as a liquid, solid, or paste. Glue is commonly used in arts and crafts, construction, and repairs because it is strong and durable.
However, one of the main problems with glue is that it can be very difficult to remove. This is especially true when it gets on delicate materials like suede shoes. The adhesive can be tough to break down and can damage the fabric if not removed correctly.
How to Remove Glue from Suede Shoes : The Step-by-step Guide
Suede is a smooth, slick material that feels wonderful to the touch. It stains readily and is difficult to clean.
What happens when you put ordinary glue, super glue, or any other gooey adhesive on your new suede shoes?
If you’re unfortunate enough to get any kind of adhesive on your suede shoes, don’t panic! There are several ways you can remove the glue and try to restore your shoes to their former glory.
| Time Required | 20 Minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Medium |
| Budget Required | $10-$15 |
Logistics Required
Step-1: Spoon-up the Bad Boy (Glue!)
- If the glue is not yet hard, use paper tower to absorb the liquid glue as much as possible. If the glue has already become dried, jump to serial-5.
- Use a sponge to apply soapy water on the effected area on your shoe gently.
- Use moist cloth or wet wipes to remove the watery solution and dry up as much as possible.
- Apply some baby talc on the area once it has been dried up and leave for 30 minutes. After that, the remaining glue has become dried up and hard.
- Now use a spoon or similar instrument to remove as much remaining adhesive from the suede as possible. This can help reduce stains and make the final removal process easier. You can also use a scraper or butter knife or another dull, flat dull edge.
- If you smudged the original glue stain, don’t despair. Spooning up the thinner layer of glue isn’t difficult. Continue to wipe the stain with a damp cloth using talc powder to help the glue clump as much as possible.
Step-2: Loos’em Up!
- Smearing the original glue stain isn’t always necessary because a spoon or damp cloth won’t be able to remove the residue even if you did.
- To loosen up the adhesive, apply Acetone on the effected area with the help of cotton swabs.
- To extract the adhesive from the material, gently grind it down with sandpaper or a nail file gently and repeatedly.
It’s possible that this may discolor the suede a bit. Despite this, it’s most likely the best way to remove glue.
Step-3: Repeat’em if Necessary
Even after the previous steps have been carried out, there maybe glue stains remaining. Repeat the first step if necessary.
Step-4: Dry’em Up
Leave the suede item in a cool, dry place for few hours.
If you’re not pleased with the glue that’s left after using the original glue, repeat the previous steps until you’re completely satisfied with the result.
Pro-tip: If all fails, you may use WD-40 instead of Acetone as your last resort to thin up the glue before scraping and wiping it away from suede. remember, there is a high chance that it'll discolor your suede a bit. Instead of using Acetone, you can also pour some rubbing alcohol on a cloth or paper towel, then rub it into the glue until it completely disappears. This method sometimes works well because alcohol breaks through both dirt and adhesive fast! Also, you can try placing a piece of cloth over the effected area and apply soldering iron to heat up and loosen up the bad glue.
Remove Glue From Other Types of Shoes
1. How to Remove Glue from Leather Shoes and Boots
Suede isn’t the only fabric material that gets glued down with adhesive, so this method also works well on leather.
Leather care is a bit tougher than suede, but it can still be discolored or damaged by some type of glue.
Before you get started, you need to identify what type of glue is stuck in your shoes. This can be difficult because you can’t always see the top of the spot, but sometimes it’s visible on the fabric.
If you think it is white or water-based adhesive (like Elmer’s glue), use a wet paper towel as we mentioned above.
For all other types of glue (craft glue, hot glue, etc.), follow these steps:
- Scrape as much as possible off with a knife or other blade. Be careful not to damage the shoe because this step should only be used as a last resort!
- Put leather conditioner on a cloth and wipe the glue spots down. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe away any excess.
- Wipe the glue spots down with rubbing alcohol, then rinse with water.
2. How to Remove Glue from Canvas Boots and Shoes
- Canvas is another fabric that can easily be discolored or damaged by some types of glue, especially when it gets on the fabric’s white lining. Luckily, this method will work for canvas shoes too!
- Identify the type of glue by looking at it. If it looks similar to Elmer’s glue or white school glue, use a wet paper towel as we mentioned above. For all other types of adhesive, follow these steps same as removing glue from leather shoes.
3. How to Remove Glue from Rubber Boots and Shoes
- When it comes to removing glue from rubber shoes, the best thing you can do is ignore it.
- If it’s just a bit of glue or super glue on the sole of your shoe that hasn’t fully set yet, then lightly chipping away at the excess with your fingernail may work.
- However, if there is already a thick layer of dried-on glue, you will need to use a chemical adhesive remover.
- Rubber is an extremely porous material, so the chemicals in any adhesive remover will easily soak into the rubber and dissolve the glue.
- You can then remove most of it with a cloth or old toothbrush that is damp with warm water.
- If there are still some excess pieces of glue stuck to your rubber shoes, you can scrape or scrub them away with a plastic spatula.
4. How to Remove Glue from Velvet Shoes
Suede and velvet shoes should be treated with extra care. Avoid getting glue on these delicate materials as it sticks to them very easily and will not come off without a fight. The following tips may help you out:
- It is best to first use a sharp object such as an X-acto knife, razor blade or clay sculpting tool to remove as much of the excess glue as possible.
- Next, try using nail polish remover. Nail polish remover is an effective way to remove the glue left behind by other glues because it’s made of mostly acetone which can fully dissolve adhesives. Acetone is extremely potent so use caution while applying this method. Using a cotton ball or cotton swab, apply nail polish remover to the glue.
- You can use a small amount of acetone on the cotton ball/swab but be sure to blot up any excess liquid as it can dissolve your suede or velvet shoes.
- If you are dealing with only a single spot where there is glue or sticker residue then wax paper or aluminum foil can be used to mask off the rest of the shoe so you are only working on the glue spot.
- Using another cotton ball or swab, gently wipe away the softened glue until it is fully removed from your suede or velvet shoes. Be sure to check back on your wax paper periodically for any excess glue that may be on it. If there is, simply wipe it away with a clean cotton swab.
- If the glue is still visible after using all of these methods, you may have to take your suede or velvet shoes into a cobbler for professional help.
Tips for Preventing Future Accidents with Adhesives on Suede Shoes
- When applying glue or super glue, either use extra paper or cardboard to protect the suede from coming in contact with the adhesive. If you’re using a hot glue gun then it’s best that you put something thick underneath where your shoes will be sitting.
- For super quick fixes on dry glue or super glue marks, try using sugar soap. The very mild cleaners in sugar soap can help dissolve adhesives quickly, but be sure to rinse away all suds after using it.
- When gluing something flat onto your shoes, you’ll want to place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on top of the shoe first before applying the glue or super glue. This will prevent any unwanted sticking.
- Remember that adhesive removers are also effective with most shoe glues and can be used to save your suede shoes when they get stained by adhesives.
We Suggest the Following Suede Care Products
If you have time, don't miss this interesting video:
Courtesy : restoremysneakers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remove glue from faux suede?
If it’s just a bit of glue that hasn’t fully dried then try using your fingernail to chip at the excess and wipe or wash away any leftover pieces. If there is already a thick layer of dried-on glue, you will need use adhesive remover instead, or follow the glue residue removal process from suede shoes mentioned above.
How do you remove brown shoe polish from suede shoes?
The safest way to do this is to first scrape away as much shoe polish as possible using a sharp object such as an X-acto knife, razor blade or clay sculpting tool. Then, try using acetone on a cotton ball or cotton swab and wiping it onto the brown marks. If that doesn’t work then you will need to take your shoes to a cobbler.
How do you get sticky residue off suede?
For quick fixes, use sugar soap to remove any surface residue. If it’s leftover sticky adhesive that is causing the problem, try applying petroleum jelly first and then dusting the spot with talcum powder before wiping away both items together.
How do you get sticky residue off Uggs?
First, you will need to remove as much of the sticky residue as possible with a wet rag, water and soap.
After that, for heavy-duty stains, try using cornstarch and rubbing alcohol on the stain. Cornstarch is nonabrasive so it won’t do any additional damage to your Uggs or shoes project if you happen to rub aggressively.
Rub the paste on heavily so it penetrates through any leftovers which may have been missed previously. After thoroughly covering the surface of the red sponge scrub vigorously until all dirt has come off.
Finally use a clean rag to wash off everything left behind by both items and leave them for drying up.
How do you remove Nike glue stains?
If the Nike glue stains are still wet, try using a wet rag and soap to remove it. Afterwards, use an adhesive remover if needed. For remaining stains, try using acetone.
If the glue is already dry then it will be much harder to remove. Try chipping away at the glue with a sharp object first before removing any residue left behind by adhesive removers or petroleum jelly and talcum powder mixture.
Does acetone or nail polish remover damage suede?
Yes, acetone is one of the strongest solvents that are used for removing glue or adhesive residue. This means that it can take suede with it if you’re not careful when applying it. If this happens to your shoes then they may need to be professionally dry cleaned.
Can superglue damage suede?
Yes , superglue is an especially aggressive adhesive and will take the suede with it if you’re not careful. If this happens to your shoes then they may need to be professionally dry cleaned.
How do you remove industrial glue from suede?
You will first need to chomp off as much glue as possible with your fingers or a sharp object.
Next, use acetone and cotton balls on the remaining residue. If you don’t have any acetone then you can also try using lighter fluid for this step instead.
Finally wash the area with soap and water thoroughly. To speed up the drying process you can use a blow dryer.
How We Carried out Research and Tests
We’ve put together this guide by researching the best ways to clean suede shoes and boots at home, as well as consulting with experts to find out if there are any other useful techniques that might improve our advice.
We then tried all of these methods on various types of suede shoes/boots until we could come up with the most effective and reliable technique for cleaning suede shoes.
We made sure that our advice works by testing it out on a few pairs of suede shoes we had at home. Our results were confirmed when we saw the test shoes looking the same as new, so we’re confident that our advice will work just as well for you.
Final Thoughts
Everyone is looking for ways to remove glue from suede shoes, especially if it’s just a bit that hasn’t dried completely yet.
Before you try any of these methods on your own at home first test them on an inconspicuous area of the shoe first so you know what the results will be beforehand.
If you have any other tips and tricks for removing glue from suede shoes then please share them in the comment section below!
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