Keep Your Super Glue Fresh With A Simple Hot Glue Sealing Trick

If you have ever attempted a simple fix at home or any of the many DIY projects online, you have likely needed a tube of super glue. It cannot be denied that this super-strong adhesive is useful, but it also has a not-so-hidden flaw: It dries out incredibly quickly if not fully sealed. In addition to being wasteful in principle to throw out a nearly full tube of super glue, it also is a minor economic blow, with many name-brand super glues easily costing around 40 cents per gram. Fortunately, there is an easy workaround for individuals who are tired of throwing away dried up super glue tubes.

In order to prolong the life of your super glue, you'll require yet another glue — hot glue, to be exact. The tip comes from TikTok creator @EricaSews, who begins her video by saying that she will never throw super glue away again. Simply heat up your hot glue gun, open your tube of super glue, and squeeze a small bead of hot glue around the dispenser tip of the super glue, she explains. The hot glue will dry quickly, creating an easily removable seal around the super glue. When you need the super glue again, simply peel off the hot glue, use the super glue as needed, and reapply a bead of hot glue when done. Viewers of the video hack love the idea, calling it "brilliant" and "genius."

While it might be immediately obvious that this trick would work, the "how" might not be as apparent. It all comes down to chemistry and the way super glue creates bonds. Super glue, chemically known as cyanoacrylate, is well known for its ability to form basically indestructible bonds in mere seconds. It accomplishes this feat by tapping into small amounts of moisture in the air. It stands to reason, therefore, that if a super glue lid is not fully sealed, a small amount of moisture from the environment could penetrate through the imperfect seal, leading to a ruined and underutilized tube of adhesive.

This hack is easy enough to carry out, but a few safety measures are worth noting. Hot glue gets dangerously hot when it is in a liquid state, often reaching temperatures between 250 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause serious burns. Remember to first exercise extreme caution when using hot glue and, in the event of a burn, follow appropriate first-aid steps. The same goes for super glue, which can immediately bond to your skin and cause serious irritation. If you do happen to get super glue on your skin while trying to seal the tube, stay calm. You can loosen super glue with common household ingredients like lemon juice, laundry detergent, or olive oil.