Removing rhinestones can leave your clothes with patches and worn out. To avoid this, follow the different ways given in this article for removing rhinestones without harming your fabric.
Trying to get rid of the rhinestones from a dress, or an old pair of jeans? We need to do that, most of the time at the last minute when we want to go out and find nothing to wear. It’s either your old dress or a gifted piece which has rhinestones studded in it and just want them off your dress. If you have tried doing so before and have spoiled your previous dress then, I am here to give you easier and safer ways to remove them.
If the Rhinestones are Glued…
Using an Iron
Turn the dress inside-out. Now, depending on the fabric either place a thin cloth on the back side of the fabric where the rhinestones are or leave it as it is. Now run your iron over it. The heat or the steam from the iron vapor will soften the glue and allow you to pull the rhinestone off along with the glue.
This is a very easy method, but does not work on all sorts of fabric. If the rhinestone has come but the glue has stayed back then use the next way to get rid of it.
Super Glue Solvent
There are many glue solvents available in the market. If you think that using iron vapor could be risky for your dress, then get a glue solvent for yourself and pour some on a Q-tip. Now apply it on the sides of the rhinestones and leave it for sometime (read the user manual). This should remove the rhinestones as well as the glue from your fabric.
Soap
You can use a liquid soap used for bathing or washing clothes and apply it on the area where rhinestones are glued. Hold the sides of the fabric with rhinestone in the center and rub them against each other. The rhinestones will be removed in about a minute following the process mentioned. The glue might still be there. So, to remove it, use your index fingernail and scratch on the glue. Soap weakens its grip on the cloth and eventually the glue will come off.
Using Acetone
You can use acetone to get rid of the rhinestones. Take a cotton swab and dip one end in acetone. Now, either invert the fabric or keep it the way it is, and apply acetone on the glue portion. Acetone will weaken the grip of the glue from your cloth and will remove the rhinestone as well as the glue.
Note: You need to be careful while using acetone on a fabric as it might react adversely with it.
Nail Polish Remover
You can also use an acetone based nail polish remover and apply it on the fabric where the rhinestones are stuck, with the help of a cotton swab. You will not need to wait for the results for a long time, this will give results in about 2 minutes. If only a part of the glue has come-off then repeat the procedure again.
‘Goo Gone’
‘Goo Gone’ is one solution for which I have found many good reviews. People have claimed that the rhinestones and the glue both have come out without leaving any stain and soiling the fabric. You can use a tissue paper to apply the Goo Gone solution on the area where glue marks exist. It will peel off the left glue. I am going to try it and so should you.
Removing Pronged Rhinestones
If your rhinestones are not glued but instead are pronged, use the following way to get rid of them. Use ‘Needle-nosed Pliers’ or a knife, or a seem ripper to pull the prongs outward, in opposite directions. This will open the gateway for the rhinestone to come out. Put it off and the metal fixture will come out too.
If your dress is gaudy, It will be a good idea to remove a few rhinestones and to keep a few on them, instead of removing them all. If you are going to try any of the above given ways to remove rhinestones, then let me know about your experience. If you have any better suggestion, I’d be happy to update my article with it.