How To Remove Mouse Trap Glue From Clothing

Lisa asked: Our dog got into a sticky trap for a mouse. She got the sticky adhesive on our leather sofa and Karastan area rug. Do you have any suggestions for either? I can't use any oily substances on the leather. Only water and a small amount of mild soap and/or leather conditioner that came with it. Thanks.

If your pet or child had an unfortunate run in with a sticky trap intended for a rodent, the mess may have spread around the house before you even realized what has happened. It may seem like an overwhelming task to remove that sticky adhesive from multiple surfaces, but fortunately there are some simple techniques that will work on almost anything. If the trap is upside-down on a floor, first try to cut off as much of the backing as you can. The baking (container) of the traps are usually made of thin plastic. This will allow you easier access to treat the glue.

Vegetable Oil Method

You Will Need:

Paper towels
Vegetable oil
Clean cloths
Spoon

Steps to Remove the Glue:

Before you use any products on your furnishings or décor, make sure to spot test it in a hidden place.
Vegetable oil is one of the safest ways to remove adhesive from surfaces. For surfaces that you don't want to get oily, such as carpet, clean with the vinegar method found below.
Put vegetable oil directly onto a paper towel.
Cover the adhesive with the oil-soaked paper towel and allow it to sit for a few minutes. The oil on the towel will begin to soften the glue.
Scrub or blot the adhesive stained spot with a clean cloth. Depending on the surface, you may be able to use your fingernail or a spoon to scrape the softened glue off of the surface.
Repeat as necessary until the glue is gone.

Vinegar Method

Because oil can be difficult to remove from porous surfaces, the vinegar method can be used as an alternative. In most cases, the smell will dissipate as the vinegar dries.

You Will Need:

White vinegar
Clean cloths

Steps to Remove the Glue:

Moisten a clean cloth with vinegar.
Place it over the adhesive and allow it to sit for a few moments. The exposure to the vinegar will soften the glue.
Scrub gently with the same cloth until the glue adhesive comes up.
Repeat as necessary until all of the glue is removed.
If desired, rinse the area with clean water.
Allow the area to dry completely.

Additional Tips and Advice

Some furniture, such as many types of leather, cannot be cleaned with oil. Either use a leather cleaning and conditioning product recommended by the manufacturer or have it professionally cleaned.
If the glue is on a relatively flat surface, you may have success by placing a bag of ice over the sticky spot until it hardens. Once it hardens, use a blunt edged object, such as a butter knife or spoon, to gently scrape the glue away.
Avoid using oil or polish on hardwood or other floors unless the product is indicated for floors. Floors can get extremely slippery and dangerous with even small amounts of oil.
One site user reported having success by pressing clear packing tape onto the glue, then pulling off the tape. This process had to be repeated several times for all the glue to be removed, but it did the trick. (Thanks for sharing!)

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