How and how to remove glue from rhinestones from clothes and what happens?

The need to remove glue from rhinestones from clothes arises in several cases - carelessness during needlework, spots of glue are visible at the place of fallen beads or application from pebbles spoils the general appearance of clothes. All these reasons are united by the need to find sufficiently strong agents that can dissolve the adhesive base, but not damage the fabric. Whether this can be done depends on the type of fabric and the composition of the glue.

For gluing rhinestones, several types of glue are used:

• epoxy, cold fix;
• thermoplastic (melt);
• thermoactive, including epoxy, hot fix;
• acrylic (superglue).

Thermoactive or thermoplastic glue is used to decorate factory-made clothes. Piece products - Hand Made - can be decorated with any adhesive, but most often in this case the fabric will:

• acrylic adhesive varnish for decoupage;
• melt, which is applied using a gun;
• thermoactive glue already applied to “self-adhesive” rhinestones.

What tools will help remove glue?

Properly selected solvents are a guarantee that a thing can be saved from stains. For those who remove rhinestones from purchased clothes, the task is complicated by the fact that they do not know the composition of the adhesive base. They will have to choose a tool for removal by trial and error. But the hand-makers know what they use, and in extreme cases they can see the composition on the glue package.

1. Thermoactive adhesive It is applied to fabric or rhinestones in a cold form and fixed by heating - with a special soldering iron or iron. This adhesive composition is “thermonuclear”, it holds rhinestones well, but it is poorly soluble. Unfortunately, as easy as sticking on, removing them is impossible. Heating will only melt the glue, it will penetrate deeper into the fabric. For removal, you can use acetone, solvent 646, spray FLEX / FLOCK REMOVER.
2. Hot melt glue in the form of sticks it is inserted into a special gun. Under the influence of heating, the adhesive becomes liquid, penetrates into the voids that are in the structure of the fabric, gluing it with rhinestones. Removing them from clothing so that there is no trace left is not easy. Here, too, heating will not give a positive effect, since the adhesive can withstand repeated heating / cooling without losing its properties. It will help to remove the cleaner - a liquid or aerosol, which contains ethyl acetate or methoxypropanol. For example, Ninelle nail polish remover (non-acetone) or Flux OFF Cleaner (designed to clean circuit boards).
3. Acrylic glue (superglue) - “Second” or special compositions for rhinestones based on cyanoacrylate, for example Décor Glitter Glue. Most often used if you need to lay out a small picture. You can remove it with "Dimexide" (sold at the pharmacy), nitromethane (fuel additive), acetone-free nail polish remover, "Anti-superglue", "3M Glue Cleaner" spray.
4. Epoxy adhesive cold fixation is one-and two-component. The first is enough to apply from a tube, and in the second case, the components need to be mixed independently. They are removed the same way: with a mixture of turpentine and alcohol (50/50), acetone and any acetone-containing solvents (P 646, P 4).

Delete correctly

To clean the fabric and not damage it, you need to remove traces of glue, observing the following rules.

• Acetone (and solvents based on it) should be applied from the wrong side of the garment with a clean swab. At the same time, blotting paper is laid on the front side. As it becomes soiled, it needs to be changed.
• Spray on the front side and wash with a clean swab. As a swab, you can use a cotton pad.
• After applying turpentine or nitromethane, you need to wait a few minutes, and then wipe the stain with a clean swab. You can apply these funds on the wrong side and on the front side.
• When wiping a stain, care must be taken not to rub the glue onto a clean part of the fabric.
• If the adhesive has become jelly-like under the influence of a solvent, but cannot be removed with a swab, you can remove it with an eraser.

Tip

Blotting paper can be replaced with paper towels. They have the same absorbent properties. The only condition is that they must be white so that the dye does not get on clothing under the influence of acetone.

How to remove glue without using chemicals?

All adhesive compositions for rhinestones - strong fixation. Therefore, even with the use of aggressive solvents, there is no absolute guarantee that it will be possible to completely remove traces of glue from clothing. But there is a very high probability that the fabric is shed or deformed. Therefore, the best solution is to try to remove the rhinestones with the adhesive layer. This is not always possible, but you can increase the chance by treating the fabric on the wrong side with alcohol so that it is well saturated. Alcohol is not a solvent, but it reduces the adhesion (adhesion) of the adhesive to the fabric. After such processing, it remains to pry a bead with a sharp object, trying to hook on a layer of glue.

If this method does not work, do not immediately go to the chemical means. There is another gentle way - freezing. Thermoactive, epoxy and hot melt glue change their structure during freezing even in the freezer of a domestic refrigerator.

The instruction on how to peel off rhinestones so that there is no trace left using low temperature is extremely simple.

• Clothes should be put in the freezer, after wrapping it in a plastic bag.
• Wait until it freezes, not just cooling. In time, this can take from 5 to 6 hours (depending on the type of refrigerator) at a temperature of the chamber - 24º C.
• After removing from the refrigerator, you need to peel off the rhinestones. They should move away with glue.
• If it was not possible to completely remove the glue, you can clean it with a hard brush. Sometimes it is first necessary to “break” with a wooden hammer or rolling pin, so that it looks like a powder.
• If it was not possible to clear everything at once, repeat the procedure.

Acrylic glue in this way can not always be removed, since it breaks down at a temperature below - 40º C, and in household chambers it is higher. The solution will be aerosol freezing, for example FREEZE 75. This spray will instantly cool the desired area to - 49º C. Apply it step by step in order to have time to wipe off the treated area.

Precautionary measures

In order not to spoil the clothes, removing traces of rhinestones, you need to know a few facts. Acetone and Solvent 646 cannot be used on acetate silk. These chemicals can also discolor tissue. Acetone-free nail polish removers and industrial nail polish removers affect dyed fabrics in the same way, so any chemically active substances must be checked in an inconspicuous area.

After applying any cleaners or solvents, clothes should be soaked in water and washed, well soaping the places where there was glue, with household soap. Wash by hand in warm water and rinse well. At the first ironing, the spot should be ironed through a clean cloth, laying the same under the bottom. If there are glue residues, they will “go away” when ironed into the substrate.