Is Mixing Superglue And Toilet Paper A Genius Hack Or A Mistake Waiting To Happen?

Let's be honest — we've all ventured through social media videos to find the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to fix something around our home. Why spend oodles of money when things stored in a drawer or cabinet can do the job just fine? A popular and affordable fix-it option that acts like a quick band aid to some of the most common problems around the house is the superglue and toilet paper hack. And while the process looks simple enough (pouring the adhesive on bathroom tissue around a broken item), is mixing superglue and toilet paper really a genius hack or is it a mistake waiting to happen?

Superglue may be an item that you can use to fix almost anything around the house on the cheap, but should you be combining it with toilet paper? Mixing superglue and bathroom tissue can resolve a wobbly faucet or fill in a crack or hole in a surface. But what you may not know is that it's a fire hazard waiting to happen. While superglue is not flammable, it is a combustible liquid. Since the adhesive contains cyanoacrylate, it can combust if used with a flammable object, like cotton toilet paper, near an ignition source. Be wary of using superglue while wearing cotton clothing since the chemical reaction can still burn your skin. Don't put away your superglue just yet! There is another safer way to still get the job done, and you most likely already have it in your pantry — baking soda.

Combining baking soda and dish soap to clean isn't the only genius hack you can use the kitchen staple for. Instead of using toilet paper, you can use superglue and baking soda to reinforce bonds or fill in holes. The main difference is that baking soda is not flammable or combustible. When you combine it with superglue, you do not have to worry about a potential fire hazard. However, superglue can react to your body's heat, causing skin irritation or burns. It is always important to apply in a well-ventilated room with protective gloves to avoid any injuries. While the drying time for this adhesive is typically seconds, the full curing time takes about 24 hours. However, with this duo, the chemical reaction accelerates curing time, alleviating your issue in a matter of seconds.

This mixture dries like a cement-like substance, making it even stronger and more durable than the toilet paper version, which you can still easily cut through. The superglue and baking soda hack is versatile as you can use it in many different repair projects, from damaged furniture pieces to broken plastic toys. While we love a good hack, you don't have to be a home alchemist when you are able to repair anything at home with specialized products that we've already done the research for.