Easy Ways to Remove Glue from Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is delicate when it comes to glue. Leather is a porous material, and glue can ruin leather if left to dry on the leather. Leather needs to breathe, and glue can cause the leather to crack. Glue can also stain leather furniture, and may permanently alter the appearance of leather furniture if not properly removed. There are easy ways to remove glue from leather furniture, which are both inexpensive and easy to do.

Use isopropyl rubbing alcohol to remove glue from leather furniture. Dampen a cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol, and careful not to get the alcohol on any other spots of furniture, rub away the dried glue. Use a q-tip to eliminate the risk of rubbing alcohol dripping onto other spots of leather furniture where there is no glue residue.

Use nail polish remover. The acetone in nail polish remover can remove stubborn glue's, like permanent bonding type glues. Take the q-tip and dampen the end in the nail polish remover. Apply to the glue surface, and as the glue starts to liquefy, take a razor blade or a sharp tool, and carefully, so as not to scrape the leather or puncture it, start rubbing the glue surface and see if it lifts. If not, properly discard the razor blade or sharp tool. Put on plastic disposable gloves, the kind that fit tightly to the skin, when handling razor blade, nail polish remover or alcohol.

Use a heat dryer to soften the glue, the kind that is made for melting paint from a surface. Hold the dryer six to eight inches from the surface of the glue, careful not to get the surface of the leather too hot. Use a small cosmetic scissor to scrape away at the glue as it begins to flake, or liquefy.

Try using glue and gum remover from the hardware store. Follow directions on the bottle for fabrics and furniture. Ask at the counter for a specific brand that is good for leather furniture or porous material in general. Use lemon oil, or limonene.

Apply the lemon oil to a cotton ball, letting the oil absorb into the cotton. Dab the cotton with the lemon oil onto the dried glue surface. Wait ten minutes, and wipe clear with a clean soft cloth. After the glue is removed, go over the surface of the leather with leather cleaner to remove any excess oil or substances previously used to remove the glue that may still be on the furniture. Use leather conditioner after cleaning the leather furniture to condition the leather after cleaning.