Comments on: How to clean glue off my blue suede shoes

Question: How to clean glue off my blue suede shoes

GleepGlop — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:01:00 -0800

How can I clean glue residue off my polyester shoes without wrecking them? Difficulty: theres also suede leather on the sheos.

The glue residue is from under the leather stripes on my asics. i undid the stitches and took the stripes off and there was glue-ish stuff holding them on also. I guess putting shoes in the washing machine isnt good for them, or at least not suede leather. I tried wetting them and scraping the glue off with my fingernail and that works a little, but it would take hours. I tried a little soapy water and it didnt seem to make much difference. Anyone know the magic formula to dissolve glue from polyester? Got any links to any 'how to clean anything sites?

By: PurplePorpoise

PurplePorpoise — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:04:04 -0800

Zippo fluid should be able to take care of that for you.

Safe for polyester, and I've used it on nubuck (unpolished leather) without staining.

By: PurplePorpoise

PurplePorpoise — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:04:58 -0800

shit, picked the wrong thread - but zippo fluid (naptha) is great for mildly dissolving glues and goops

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 23:42:29 -0800

I think it depends enormously on the kind of glue. Any idea what it is? It also depends on the actual cloth you're trying to remove it from. Are you sure it's polyester?

For instance, acetone (fingernail polish remover) is a great solvent, but it will also dissolve some kinds of rayon.

By: ed\26h

ed\26h — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 05:14:50 -0800

Carbon tetrachloride (or similar) would probably work. But yeah, depends on the glue.

By: solotoro

solotoro — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:06:18 -0800

Yuck. Carbon tet is nasty stuff, and tough to obtain besides. Try to stay away from halogenated solvents. I agree with Herr Den Beste that acetone may be worth trying, but I have no idea whether polyester could stand it. (This site claims that spot tests with a polyester felt indicated no problem on exposure to acetone). Some glues dissolve in ethanol, too. And toluene (paint thinner) is another good general solvent. It may eat polyester, though. And I have no idea how to predict what might affect suede.

By: GleepGlop

GleepGlop — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 08:56:01 -0800

Its polyester for sure, I dont know what kind of glue it is, but it -is- removable from just wetting and scraping it (its only a thin layer), its just that to get it all off would take me all day... I'll try some rubbing alcohol perhaps...

By: GleepGlop

GleepGlop — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 21:56:46 -0800

Yup, rubbing alcohol helped dissolve it so I could scrape it off more easily