Get superglue off a touchpad?

August 1, 2007 4:36 PM

How do I take superglue off my macbook touchpad?

I was an idiot and got a small drop of super glue on the touchpad of my macbook. I know acetone will take superglue off of other items, but I'm afraid of messing up my laptop, would I be ok using acetone, or is there an alternate method of taking off superglue?

posted by lilac girl to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Acetone will damage the plastic of the Macbook. Do NOT use acetone whatever you do. Perhaps try some rubbing alcohol? I've used it on my Macbook without trouble, though not to remove superglue.
posted by icebourg at 4:48 PM on August 1, 2007

Isopropanol.
posted by kisch mokusch at 5:17 PM on August 1, 2007

Use a razor blade to scrape the dried drop off, it should leave the plastic intact if you scrape with the right angle (20 degrees?)
posted by PowerCat at 5:27 PM on August 1, 2007

superglue loses it's magic when it's exposed to heat. perhaps a hair dryer at just the right distance to not warp the plastic would help it get brittle enough to just scrape off?
posted by lockle at 9:13 PM on August 1, 2007

I'd be thinking the razorblade as well.

However, I think the real question here is:

How did you get superglue ON your macbook touchpad?

Inquiring minds want to know!
posted by ranglin at 11:57 PM on August 1, 2007

Acetone breaks down super glue. If you're afraid of damaging the pad use a q tip, be patient and lightly dab the spot or spots.

The glue will turn slick and feel slimy if its working, use a kleenex or something to begin to rub it off, rinse repeat.

Acetone evaporates pretty fast the pad should not be affected if you don't douse it and let it sit. Even then I suspect it would merely clean your pad.

If you are afraid to try it, try a razor blade, the idea is to break the bond, not shave it off so much as pop it off. You may get little nicks though.
posted by Max Power at 6:47 AM on August 2, 2007

Whatever you do, do not use any harsh cleaners on your trackpad. I have a white iBook G4 and was trying to get it sprarkly white and used (stupidly) a Clorox spray. Yes, it made the computer look lovely and new, but it totally deactivated the trackpad and I had to get it replaced.
posted by annabellee at 9:33 AM on August 3, 2007

Response by poster: Ranglin: Long story. I cut my finger and put superglue on it to close it up, but I skimped and bought the crappy kind. I figured after 20 minutes it would be dry, but it was still kind of tacky. I thought I'd gotten it all off, but apparently not. Oops.
posted by lilac girl at 3:26 PM on August 5, 2007