The patches to be ironed are fixed to the clothes thanks to a glue that activates with the heat or that "melts". Although these are easy to apply elements, they are much more difficult to remove; moreover, when they come off, unsightly lumps of glue remain. Fortunately, there are some remedies to remedy this problem.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove the Patch with the Iron
Step 1. Make sure the garment is heat resistant
Unless you added the patch yourself, you first need to make sure you don't damage the dress by ironing it. In truth, not all adhesive patches are applied with heat.
- Choose a small, hidden corner of the dress that is not visible when you wear it normally.
- Put some wax paper or a thin tea towel on this surface.
- Place the hot iron on the area you are testing and hold it in place for about 15 seconds.
- Lift the iron and check for any damage or discolouration.
- If you are treating a delicate garment, make sure the iron is set to the correct temperature. If you are new to this type of fabric, it is worth using a glue remover.
Step 2. Cover the patch
Place the garment so that the fabric part of the patch is facing up. Cover it with a sheet of waxed paper or a thin cloth, making sure that the entire surface is clean and free of substances that could melt on the dress.
Step 3. Iron the patch
Preheat the iron by setting the maximum temperature before using it; place it on top of the wax paper or the cloth right next to the patch. Hold it in place for 15 seconds before lifting it along with the sheet or sheet.
If the glue hasn't softened, put the iron back down and continue heating the surface until the adhesive melts
Step 4. Remove the patch
The heat from the iron should be enough to melt the glue and make it sticky momentarily. Lift one edge of the patch up and peel it off the fabric.
- Hold the dress steady with one hand while you lift the patch with the other.
- You can also use your fingers for this, but be careful as the adhesive is very hot.
- If you have difficulty lifting the first flap, you can use tweezers or a butter knife. The tweezers can slide well between the fabric of the garment and that of the patch, also giving you a good grip. If you don't have them, slide the blade of the butter knife between the piece of fabric and the dress, lift one edge, and finish with your fingers.
- If the patch is large, several applications of the iron may be required; in this case, you need to detach one section at a time.
Method 2 of 3: Use Glue Remover
Step 1. Purchase a fabric-safe solvent
Products that remove glue and contain orange oil or xylene are usually effective. Choose a liquid solvent that is able to penetrate the fibers; products sold in spray packs are much easier to apply.
Denatured alcohol is a valid alternative
Step 2. Do a localized test
Even if the solvent claims state that it is safe for clothing, it may still stain some fibers; you have to take a test before using it. Do this over a clean sink to avoid mess.
- Find a small hidden corner of the dress that is not visible when you wear it normally. The inside of the bottom hem of a jacket or hat are perfect.
- Dab a small amount of solvent on this spot.
- Rub the area with your fingers or a clean rag to get the liquid into the fibers.
- Rinse off the solvent and check the fabric for any discolouration.
Step 3. Expose the underside of the patch
If you need to remove it from a shirt, hat, or pants, put the garment inside out. If it's a canvas bag instead, simply spread it out on a surface after turning it upside down.
Step 4. Apply the solvent
Spray or pour the product freely on the back of the fabric; use enough to fully impregnate the fibers. Be sure to treat the entire area under the patch and wipe the surface with your fingers or a clean rag. wait about a minute for the solvent to dissolve the glue.
Step 5. Peel off the patch
The solvent should have managed to soften the glue making it sticky; as a result, the patch should easily detach from the dress.
- Turn the garment straight and hold it with one hand.
- Take the edge of the patch between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand.
- Pull to lift a flap and detach it completely from the dress.
- Continue like this until you have completely removed it.
Step 6. Repeat the procedure on difficult spots
If part of the patch remains adherent to the dress, try repeating the same sequence, focusing on the areas where the adhesive has not softened.
- Apply the solvent as often as needed. If the product has proven completely ineffective, you probably need to try a different one.
- If you don't want to keep the patch, cut off the flaps you managed to peel off using a pair of scissors; in this way, the work is easier and prevents the fabric from sticking to the dress again.
Method 3 of 3: Eliminate Residues
Step 1. Check for stains
The glue may have left some residue. If the surface of the garment has remained stained or sticky, you need to take action to clean it and restore it to its former glory.
If you have opted for the solvent method, wash the garment first; already in this way it is sometimes possible to get rid of the glue completely
Step 2. Apply the solvent to the sticky traces
Pour some on the stain and massage the fabric with your fingers or a clean rag. let it sit for about a minute.
You can also make a homemade solvent. Mix two parts of baking soda with one part of coconut oil and a few drops of orange essential oil. This natural mixture is able to eliminate traces of glue, but not to remove the stain, because it is a dense compound that does not penetrate the fibers
Step 3. Wash the dress as usual
Follow the procedure you normally use but try to do it as soon as possible to get rid of the solvent that could damage the fibers over time.
- If you can machine wash it, go ahead and put it in the machine with the rest of the laundry.
- Hand wash delicate items using cold or room temperature water and a small amount of detergent.
- If the glue is stubborn, scrub the surface with a soft toothbrush after applying the solvent.
- Apply some liquid laundry soap directly to the patch residue to pre-treat the area.
- If there are still traces after washing, try to repeat the procedure by increasing the dose of solvent; it may take several tries to be successful.
- Do not put the garment in the dryer until the stain is gone; otherwise, it could stick to the fibers and you would have a lot of trouble getting rid of it.
Step 4. Use vinegar for very stubborn stains
White vinegar is often able to dissolve the glue just enough to allow the water to rinse it off.
- Before soaking the dress, try to soak the stain with vinegar and do a regular wash. This method is perfect for delicate items that have glue on them after removing the patch with the iron.
- If a localized treatment does not bring the desired results, leave the dress to soak overnight. You can use pure vinegar on white garments, but if you want to prevent colored ones from fading, you must dilute it (250 ml of vinegar in 4 liters of water).
- Although white vinegar is usually safe on fabrics, it is always better to perform a test on a hidden corner to make sure.
- Use only white vinegar, as others can stain clothes.
Advice
- Use a glue remover to get rid of any adhesive residue left on the iron. wait for it to cool, apply the solvent and scrub the surface.
- If you use solvent and iron at the same time, be very careful; many glue removers are flammable.
- If the fabric loses color where you ironed it, use a solvent; act the opposite in the reverse case. Since clothes are made using different dyeing methods and colors, it is difficult to understand which remedy is most effective based on the type of textile fiber alone.
