Removing Gorilla Glue from Your Phone Screen: A Comprehensive Guide

Removing Gorilla Glue from a phone screen can be a daunting task, but with the right methods and materials, you can achieve a clean and damage-free result. Follow this step-by-step guide to effectively remove Gorilla Glue from your phone screen.

Materials Needed

For the efficient removal of Gorilla Glue from your phone screen, you will need the following:

Acetone or nail polish remover Isopropyl alcohol (optional) Cotton swabs or soft cloth Plastic scraper or credit card (optional) Warm soapy water Microfiber cloth A solution of water and vinegar (optional)

Steps to Remove Gorilla Glue

Act Quickly

Follow these steps for the best results:

If the glue is still wet, try to wipe it off with a soft cloth immediately. Soak a cotton swab or soft cloth with acetone or nail polish remover. Be cautious as acetone can damage some screen coatings. Test first: Apply a small amount of the acetone to a less visible area of the screen to ensure it doesn’t damage the surface. Gently apply the acetone to the Gorilla Glue. Let it sit for a few minutes to soften the glue. Use a plastic scraper or the edge of a credit card to gently lift the glue. Be careful not to scratch the screen. Use soapy water if any residue remains. Mix warm water with a small amount of dish soap, dampen a soft cloth with the solution, and wipe the area clean. Final wipe: Use a microfiber cloth to dry the screen and remove any remaining residue.

Alternative Methods

For a gentler approach, you can use a solution of water and vinegar. Dip a microfiber cloth in this solution, use less water than vinegar, then apply the damp cloth to the sticky surface. Let the solution rest on the screen for a couple of minutes so that it can dissolve the adhesive effectively. Now you can easily rub off the sticky residue using the cloth.

Alternatively, let the glue stick and wait for it to dry and get crusty. Then, use a sturdy piece of plastic like an expired gift card or credit card to scrape away the glue. This will not scratch the screen like a piece of metal would.

Screen Cleaning Tips

Once you've removed the bulk of the glue from your phone, you should then look up your phone type to see what products are safe to use on your screen to clean it. Water is okay, but it's unlikely to loosen any glue residue. It may soften a bit, so you can further scrape it with your plastic card. Some phones say it's okay to use alcohol if it is mixed with water or certain alcohol-based sanitary wipes/napkins are okay as long as the alcohol content is not above 70.% but you need to check this with your phone's manufacturer.

Do not use acetone or anything containing acetone to clean your phone's screen. This includes nail polish remover, Goof Off, lacquer thinner, or anything that smells like these products. It will melt the touchscreen and parts of the plastic or start fusing things together and render them unusable.

You are going to have to be patient and use friction, water/alcohol mixes, and a bit of both to completely remove the glue. There are some specialty smartphone screen-cleaners on the market, but take the time to research the ingredients and your phone manufacturer's recommended products to ensure it’s not going to permanently damage your screen.

When All Else Fails

If after all these steps, the glue still persists, you may need to replace your phone screen. For older phones, replacement screens can be purchased. I have replaced the glass and digitizer (the touchscreen monitor component) on my iPhone 5 twice because of cracks from repeated drops onto pavement. It’s finicky and takes time, but if you follow YouTube guides, you can do it correctly on your first try.

Just make sure you buy the glass AND the digitizer because apparently, trying to separate the glass from the digitizer is very difficult and you end up ruining the digitizer anyways. At least that is the case for iPhones. I don’t know what it’s like for other makes and models of smartphone. The glass is only a few dollars but kits that have the glass, the digitizer, and a few specialty tools are about USD 30-50. I think they made the glass next to impossible to separate from the digitizer as a way to make money. The glass cracking from phone drops is probably the most common repair, and the glass is cheap. But making it so you have to spend ten times as much to replace the digitizer too ensures steady cash flow for many in the Apple ecosystem.

There are clear and thin screen protectors you can buy for around 20, but I never get around to it. I hate using cases too. I did upgrade to an iPhone 7, and the glass on it seems to be more durable, as I’ve dropped it a couple of times on concrete and it’s yet to crack. The iPhone 5 screen cracks if you even mention the word “gravity.” I like fixing things I break, so maybe that’s why I avoid screen protectors and cases, and maybe I subconsciously drop my phone on purpose just so I can engage in the repair process.