How To Remove Hot Glue From Carpet

Let's face it: no matter how careful you are when using hot glue, you’ll always get it in places that you didn't intend to. But unlike hard surfaces, getting hot glue on your carpet can be tricky to remove. So how should you remove hot glue from carpet? We've done the research to find the most effective way.

Two methods are effective for removing hot glue from carpet. It just depends on at what point you notice the glue:

  • If the glue is still wet, quickly scrape it off.
  • If the glue is dry, you can iron it off.

You don't want to ruin your carpet while trying to remove hot glue. These two methods are pretty easy to do without causing any damage. For more specific steps on how to use these methods to get hot glue out of your carpet, please continue reading.

A man rolling a carpet to glue it in his living room, How To Remove Hot Glue From Carpet

How To Remove Hot Glue From Carpet

While carpet is technically made from fabric, the texture of carpet is a little different due to the fibers being raised slightly. And depending on how much glue you get on the carpet and at what point you've noticed it, it can be easy or difficult to remove.

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A man holding a small glue gun

But due to carpet fibers being raised and the tendency of hot glue to bead up as it dries, the good news is that the glue shouldn't seep into the fibers too much. That means that even after the glue is dry, you should have too much trouble removing it as long as you use the appropriate methods.

Removing Wet Hot Glue 

In most cases, it is best to wait until hot glue dries before you try to remove it. But due to the texture of most carpets, if you notice the glue on your carpet as soon as you drop it, then there's a chance that you can remove it while it is still wet. 

Of course, if you've taken the time to read this because you've already gotten hot glue on your carpet, then the glue is probably already dry. But if by some chance it isn't dry, or for future reference, here's how to do it:

  1. Grab a butter knife, scraper, or another object that has a flat surface and edge.
  2. Slide the object under the glue and scrape it off in a quick sweeping motion.
  3. If you get all the glue off, vacuum the carpet to remove any loose residue. If you couldn't get the glue off before it dried, try the following method.

Removing Dry Hot Glue

This method works if you didn't know that you spilled hot glue on your carpet until after it dried or couldn't get it off using the above method. But you may be asking, "Why can't I just pull the glue off?"

The reason is that when hot glue dries, especially on fabric and carpet, it adheres to the fibers pretty well. If you pull the glue off, you could pull some of the fibers, too, causing them to look frayed or even ripped. That's why we have a better solution to removing dried hot glue from carpet.

Here is what you'll need:

  • Scrap fabric
  • Iron
  • Carpet cleaner
  • Vacuum

Locate Some Scrap Fabric

We've already discussed how removing hot glue from carpet is easier than removing it from other fabrics due to the texture. Hot glue doesn't stick to carpet exactly how it adheres to materials with a more even and consistent surface.

Because of this, you will need to find a scrap piece of fabric that you don't mind throwing away after use. This could be a pressing cloth, a piece of an old t-shirt, etc. But the point is that you will need something that the glue will adhere to better than the carpet.

Melt The Glue

Place the fabric on top of the area where the hot glue is. Then plug in your iron, turn it to medium-high heat, and give it time to heat up. Be careful not to touch the iron accidentally. You may want to wear gloves so that you don't accidentally burn yourself.

Once the iron has heated up, press it onto the fabric on top of where the glue is. One of the habits of ironing is to move the iron back and forth across the fabric, but in this case, you will want to keep the iron in one place to avoid spreading the glue out even more.

As you press the iron onto the fabric, the glue will melt and be absorbed by the fabric instead of the carpet. Lift the fabric periodically to see if all of the glue has been transferred to the fabric. If not, then repeat the process until it has.

Clean The Carpet

If you have a carpet cleaner or vacuum, run it over the area once the glue has been removed. The purpose of this is to clean any residue that may have been loosened but not removed. Or, you can dab some water around the area to clean it. 

Consult A Carpet Specialist 

If this method doesn't work to remove the hot glue from your carpet, contact a carpet specialist. They will have more knowledge and information to better help you remove the glue. Or, they can replace that area of the carpet.

You may also like: How Often Should You Wash Your Carpet?

Does Hot Glue Damage Fabric? 

Hot glue can damage or melt some types of fabric, but not all fabrics. Likewise, it can potentially damage your carpet, depending on what kind of fabric the carpet is made of. Some fabrics can’t tolerate heat as well as others, especially if they are synthetic. That’s because synthetic fabrics are essentially made from plastic.

Examples of synthetic fabrics that can become damaged due to heat include polyester and nylon. The fibers that make up these fabrics tend to melt easily. Unfortunately, nylon and polyester are two of the most common materials that are used to make carpet. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will melt if hot glue gets on them.

Another factor you have to take into account is the temperature of your hot glue gun. Most hot glue guns are high-temperature hot glue guns that reach around 195 degrees Celsius (383 degrees Fahrenheit). Low-temperature hot glue guns only reach about 130 degrees Celsius (266 degrees Fahrenheit).

Polyester has to reach a temperature of around 295 degrees Celsius to melt. Nylon will start to melt around 256 degrees Celsius. Even high-temperature hot glue guns don’t reach those temperatures. And due to the thick nature of carpet fibers, it is unlikely that the hot glue will cause any serious or noticeable damage if it gets on your carpet.

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Is Hot Glue Permanent? 

Four pieces of glue stick on a white table

Hot glue is not necessarily permanent under all conditions. But, as long as the glue has cooled to a temperature below its melting point, it creates a very strong bond between the glue and the surface that it is adhered to.

With that being said, hot glue can lose its adhesiveness if exposed to temperatures at its melting point or above. That means that if the glue gets too hot, it can re-melt and won’t be an effective adhesive.

To best answer this question, we can say that hot glue is permanent only under certain conditions and on certain surfaces. Depending on the surface it is stuck to, you can re-melt it. And if it needs to be removed from a surface that can become damaged by heat, such as wood or plastic, then there are other ways to remove it as well.

What Does Hot Glue Not Stick To?

Hot glue doesn’t stick very well to surfaces that are too smooth or slick. Examples of such surfaces include metal, silicone, vinyl, or greasy or wet surfaces. Hot glue doesn’t stick to these surfaces because they aren’t as penetrable, and the glue doesn’t have anything to bond to.

Surfaces that are uneven or rough, such as carpet, fabric, wood, and cardboard, are more penetrable. This is because the glue can fill in the empty spaces. Hot glue bonds to these materials more strongly. It can solidify around the materials instead of on top of them.

In Closing 

 If you’ve found yourself with hot glue on your carpet and you weren’t sure how to remove it, we hope this guide was helpful. In most cases, it is best to let the hot glue dry first, then place fabric over it and melt the glue again using an iron. You should be able to remove it effectively without damaging your carpet. Thanks for reading!

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