How to Remove PVA Glue From Clothes

Many of the common white school glues and yellow wood glues are PVA (polyvinyl acetate) based, so it is common for children or shop workers, among others, to occasionally find themselves with glue-stained clothing. It can be difficult to know how best to clean such stains, especially as each glue is a proprietary formula including other ingredients in addition to the PVA. However, based on what we know about the chemical makeup of PVA, there are some logical steps to take.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Stiff brush
• Laundry detergent
• Denatured alcohol
• Other solvents

Instructions

1. Contact the glue manufacturer and follow recommended cleaning procedures. As they know exactly what is in the glue, they should be able to advise you how best to remove it. The glue packaging may contain tips, or you might be able to contact the manufacturer by phone or via the Internet.

2. Wipe with a damp cloth if the glue is still wet. In its liquid state, PVA is water soluble and can be easily wiped with a damp towel. Just make sure you are thorough and that no glue residue remains in the fabric to harden.

3. Soak in room temperature water for 24 hours if the glue has already dried. It needs to soak for many hours in order to soften the glue enough that it can be scraped off. Try using a stiff cleaning brush to remove the glue from the cloth fibers, and then wash with laundry detergent. This may need to be repeated to remove all of the glue.

4. Dissolve the glue with denatured alcohol, known as methylated spirits in some locales, if the water proved ineffective. Wash as usual, checking for any remaining glue before drying. Repeat if necessary. You can purchase denatured alcohol at most hardware stores.

5. Clean with harsher solvents if none of the other processes have been effective. According to the Conservation Research Laboratory from Texas A&M University, PVA is soluble in many organic solvents in addition to denatured alcohol. Some of the more common solvents are iethyl ether, cetone, benzene, ethylene dichloride, toluene, xylene and amyl acetate. These are quite toxic and should be used with caution. You will likely not find these chemicals in pure form but as ingredients in stain removers, paint thinners and cleaners.

Tips & Warnings

• When using toxic solvents, wear protective gloves and eyewear and only use in a well-ventilated location.

References

• Northern Illinois University: Book Repair Manual
• Elmer's: FAQ
• The Herald Online: Remove Dried Glue