How to Dissolve Hot Melt Glue

Hot melt glue is most common in sticks that used in hot glue guns.

Hot melt glue is the glue that is used in glue guns. Hot melt glue can come in various forms from sticks to small square pouches for automatic applicators and also in spray form. Dissolving or removing this kind of glue needs to be done using a heavy duty or industrial citrus-based cleanser. The citrus technology penetrates through the glue and helps to break down the adhesive properties in the hot melt glue. You can find these types of cleansers at hardware stores.

Things You'll Need

• Razor blade or putty knife
• Citrus based industrial or heavy cleanser
• Abrasive sponge

Instructions

1. Scrape as much of the hot melt glue as possible off of the surface with a razor blade or putty knife. If the surface is a delicate surface such as painted wood, use a plastic putty knife.

2. Spray the hot melt glue with the citrus based industrial cleanser and allow it to penetrate the glue for at least 15 minutes.

3. Wet an abrasive sponge with hot water and scrub the melted glue.

4. Rinse out the abrasive sponge as the glue comes off. The glue may stick to the sponge, but if you rinse the sponge in hot or near boiling water, it should soften the glue enough to remove it from the sponge.

5. Wipe the area with a hot sponge to remove all of the debris and uncover the rest of the hot melt glue that is stuck on the surface. Repeat the process until the glue is removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber gloves if you plan on sticking your hands in extremely hot or boiling water. Do not get any chemical cleanser in your eyes and do not ingest them. They can cause extreme irritation and chemical poisoning to the body. Call poison control immediately following ingestion or after making eye contact.

References

• Orange Sol: Removing Hot Melt Adhesives
• GlueFast: Water Based Glues, Pressure Sensitive and Hot Melt Adhesives