Whether you’re refinishing a furniture piece or cleaning up a spill, learn how to remove Mod Podge from surfaces including wood, fabric, and more!
It’s happened to the best of us. One minute you’re living your best life in your craft room, and the next minute you have Mod Podge on your favorite pair of yoga pants. Oopsie. If it dries, Mod Podge is not easy to remove.
That’s not the only reason you might want to remove decoupage medium, though. Maybe you went to the Goodwill recently and found a lovely furniture piece you want to re-do. The only problem is the thick layer of 70s-style scrapbook paper on top with a substantial helping of Mod Podge.
In both of these scenarios, you need to remove Mod Podge.
No matter what the situation, I’m here to help! I want to go through the various ways to remove Mod Podge below; they are organized by problem area.
How to Remove Mod Podge
Scroll down to the appropriate surface below to learn how to remove Mod Podge from it. I find that all Mod Podge formulas remove the same way; I would use the methods below regardless of whether I used Gloss or Dishwasher Safe.
How to Remove Mod Podge From Glass or Ceramic
If you catch yourself with a Mod Podge spill on glass or glazed ceramic when it’s still wet, you can simply wipe it off with a wet rag. Rinse out the rag to make sure it doesn’t dry, causing you further problems!
To be honest, I just use my finger to remove a little Mod Podge and/or acrylic paint from any ultra smooth surface (like glass or ceramic) while it’s still wet. Then I just rinse my finger off in the sink or wipe it on a paper towel. No big deal.
If the Mod Podge happens to be dry, you can remove it from glass with a razor blade or scraper. If you find it’s difficult to remove, spritz with some water and let it get a little soggy.
If there’s paper involved, you’ll definitely want to spritz with some water and remove as much of the paper as you can. You might need to add more water to re-activate the Mod Podge and loosen it up. Warmer water is better.
Once you remove the Mod Podge, you can spray the glass as normal to clean (with a glass cleaner). Mod Podge won’t remove the finish/coating from glass.
How to Remove Mod Podge From Wood
Mod Podge bonds pretty solidly to wood, but there are ways to remove it, if you really try. If the surface of the wood is painted, you have to know that there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to lose the paint job. You might have to sand the surface and start over. But that’s better than throwing a surface in the garbage!
Start by removing as much of the paper and fabric off of the surface as possible. If you can’t remove anything, that’s fine too. Move onto the next step.
Use a spray bottle to apply warm water to the Mod Podged area, and then put a damp washcloth over the top. The washcloth should be made pretty damp with warm water. Leave for several minutes – about 30 to 60.
Pick the washcloth off of the surface and remove as much paper or material as you can. If only a portion of the paper comes off, repeat the water process again. You should be able to scrape off the rest of the Mod Podge.
IF that doesn’t work – maybe it’s a piece of furniture with several layers – you can use wallpaper paste remover or paint stripper. In that case, you are definitely going to lose the paint or stain on the surface. That’s really your only option in some cases; Mod Podge is pretty strong!
From Canvas
I’m almost embarrassed to say how many times I’ve removed Mod Podge from canvas. It’s all due to slip ups, though you might want to use this method just to change things up.
All you need to do is heat up some water as hot as you can get it, and use a sponge to apply it to the fabric or paper on the canvas. Leave it to sit for several minutes as it reactivates the Mod Podge.
Peel off as much of the fabric or paper as you can, and then apply more water as needed. You want the Mod Podge to be somewhat milky in color, then you can scrape it away.
If you can’t remove all of the adhesive, you can lightly sand it down – just be careful not to sand through canvas. You can get it pretty close to perfect! After that you can paint the canvas or decoupage over the area again
From a Wall
Removing Mod Podge from a wall is going to be very similar to removing wallpaper, according to many of my readers. The recommendation is to use wallpaper remover spray along with a scraper.
It’s going to take a bit of work to remove the dried Mod Podge, and you might have to do some patching/painting/sanding. But it can be done. It’s something I always advise readers on when they ask me about Mod Podging a wall. You just have to be okay with the work if you ever have to remove it.
From Fabric
There are two scenarios in which you need to remove Mod Podge from fabric: when it’s wet and then after it’s dry. The #1 thing to remember is if you find Mod Podge on your clothes, don’t throw them in the dryer.
If you missed a spot and threw your clothes into the dryer, I’ll share with you how to remove Mod Podge anyway . . . but really, try to avoid the dryer with any Mod Podge spills.
When Wet
Sometimes you drop Mod Podge on your clothing and catch it right away, when it’s still wet. For those instances, I keep a gentle Brush Cleaner on hand.
I remove the excess Mod Podge from the fabric right away, and then add water and a little brush cleaner to the area. Then I scrub. I leave the area wet until I can wash it.
Wash normally – regular cycle, regular detergent. Check to make sure the area is Mod Podge free before throwing the item in the dryer.
In lieu of brush cleaner, which I know not a lot of people have, you can use dishwashing liquid or mild hand soap. This especially comes in handy when you aren’t at home and you can’t push your clothes in the wash right away!
When Dry
If the Mod Podged dried on the fabric, you’ve got a few options. They’re all going to involve a little elbow grease. Here are the three things I’d try.
First, you can try soaking the fabric/clothing in really hot water. The hottest water possible. Let the Mod Podge soften, and then scrape as much off as you can with a butter knife. Add a little liquid or dish soap and scrub with a brush to remove as much as possible.
Option two involves petroleum jelly, also known as Vaseline. To use this method, scrape off any excess Mod Podge that you can. Work the Vaseline into the stain, and then remove that with dishwashing liquid. Use hot water to rinse, and repeat if necessary.
Your third course of action is to use hand sanitizer (which actually works on paint, too!). The ethanol in the hand sanitizer is a solvent, and dissolves the Mod Podge. You’re going to have to scrub a bit, but it should help!
From Dried Paint Brushes
The preference is to keep your paint brushes in water, especially if you can’t wash them right away. But we’ve all slipped up and left our brushes out a little too long, right? Some of us may have even let them dry on the craft table accidentally 😮
In those cases, soak the brushes in hot water and soap for several minutes to loosen the Podge. Remove as much as you can and try again.
If it’s not working, try paint thinner. And if that doesn’t work, you might have to trash your brush :/
I’m not as inclined to work too hard to remove Mod Podge from foam brushes (if it’s dried), to be honest. It’s hard to do it, even with soaking. But I mostly use soft-bristled brushes, since they work better for me with Mod Podge and I don’t like throwing things away.
From Shoes
Removing Mod Podging from shoes is a tricky one – and in no way guaranteed to work. Ripping fabric from shoes might damage or tear the shoes in some way. If you choose to Mod Podge shoes, you may also be choosing to alter them permanently.
If you want to give it a try, my favorite method for removing Mod Podge from shoes is to use steam. If you have a steamer, or an easy way to steam clothing, that’s going to help. It will help loosen the Mod Podge so you can separate paper or fabric from fabric.
Another option, and less preferred, is to soak the shoes in warm water. This will loosen the Mod Podge, enabling either paper or fabric to be removed (if it’s possible).
What are your best tips for removing Mod Podge? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Dear Amy,
As a fairly new crafter, I have found your presentations to be extremely helpful. I started out with doing CREATIVE GLASS BLOCKS, which I have worked into a small business for myself called Creative Designs by Flo. I still have trouble at times with using mod podge on the blocks, with pictures, napkins etc. But now I am trying to expand my business to doing designs or mod podging on wood for coasters, wall hangings etc. Much like the wooden flat frames etc. we see today in the stores.
Please, any advice in how to stain the wood not with actual stains but with paints, I guess by doing a WASH is what I really mean, and then putting lettering and pictures on it would be greatly appreciated.
So what I’m really asking is could you include in your presentations some of these ideas I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You Flo
Hi Flo! Your business sounds really fun! I think you would really enjoy our Facebook group – Getting Crafty with Mod Podge. If you search on Facebook, you’ll find the group and then be able to join and ask all sorts of questions. I need to do an article about washing wood. Speaking of that, here’s a product that’s really easy to use that I think will meet your needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNBzjGtcQR8
Stay tuned for more!
I have a question. I used Modge Podge photo transfer medium to transfer photos onto a pillowcase (first-time here and put a layer over the pictureafter applying and placing face down. The pictures transferred ..but there’s mod podgeall over. but it got in between the pictures on the pillowcase all over I let it drive the 24 hours and it’s everywhere should I toss it and start over or is there a way to get it off
Hi Michelle! It’s nearly impossible to get off when it’s dry. I have this disclaimer in another post “Make sure to keep a damp rag nearby to clean up any oozy extra transfer medium (like you see on the bottom edge of the plywood in the picture) as when it dries, it dries pretty hard and it tough to get rid of.” I’d start over to be honest!
How to remove or transform Mod Podge which I shook and now has tiny bubbles and is mostly milky white? I want it clear! I can’t use a scraper or acetone or any kind of chemical remover or scraping because I don’t want to damage the resin surface underneath. I’ve tried alcohol but nothing happens. I wish they would say on the bottle “Do not shake”.
You can put water on it and let it soak – it shouldn’t affect the resin if it’s real resin. Then you should be able to pick it off. Even shaking Mod Podge doesn’t make it dry milky white. I shake my bottles all the time. Was water added? It sounds like it may have reacted with the resin somehow?
I used the wrong mod podge on a puzzle, is there any way to get it off?
Hi CC! Unfortunately there is not. If the finish is an issue, you can just paint the new Mod Podge over the top. For example, you can paint Gloss Mod Podge over Matte. You can also use a spray to change the finish as well.
Help please. I have been transferring photos onto wood boards with no problems until now, this time 2 of my photos on my 3rd board have purple splotches on the faces.what did I do wrong please? I have removed one of the pics and i know I will have to the 2nd one. but before i redo, i want to know what i did wrong.
Hi Kathy! Sending you an email.
Dear Amy, my sister passed Away, and 1 year later her husband died. I was trying to make a plaque for in there memory. I tried to get the photos I had printed was put on photo paper. I bought a beautiful large piece of wood, and I had a wood border cut. Stained it.I put it all together and used Mod Podge, and let it set overnight. When I tried to wet, and rub off the paper it would not come off. So I had to remove the photos from the wood piece. I am so upset that, I don’t know how to remove the Mod Podge from the wood. Hopefully I will be able to salvage the wood. A lot of work went into it. I know now that I must have just plain paper. Please, I hope you can help me with this. I am hoping it will not take too much strength. Looking forward to your answer
Thank you.
Miss Tammy w
Hi Tammy! You can probably sand it off the wood or use a putty knife to scrape it. I’d try to wet it too. Unfortunately I think it will take some arm strength . . . Mod Podge is meant to be relatively permanent 🙁 Also I am very sorry for your loss Tammy.
Hello,
My daughter decided to use mod podge spray on our Blu-ray Discs and painted them. What is the best way of getting everything off to save the discs? If at all possible…
Hi Kelley! I would try soaking them in water. I think you can do that? And then try to carefully peel off the Mod Podge? If you’re going to lose them anyway, I’d give it a try!
how to remove dried on MOD PODGE dishwasher safe from a metal mailbox
Hi Sid! Hmmm – that’s a tough one. I’d try to use a solvent like a nail polish remover. If that doesn’t work you might need to sand.
Thank you for the DIY lesson – I can’t wait to try it out somewhere in my house.
We’ve tried everything to remove Pokémon cards that we mod podged to a Sheetrock wall. They’ve been on the wall for several years. The struggle is HUGE!!!!
Oh yes it is! I’m wondering can you steam them off and use a scraper? 😮
How can I remove mod podge from a papier mache box?
I used it to seal what I had done but after an accident with glitter, it’s very sparkly! I got off what i could when it was wet but inevitably, some was left. How can I remove the mod podge without damaging the box?
Do a very light sanding with a high grit (fine) sandpaper. You may end up removing a little paper mache. However, you can sand everything even and I doubt you’ll notice that much. Mod Podge bonds the most strongly with paper!
Hey! How do you remove mod podge from laptop? I’ve used to seal my acrylic paint skin on the laptop and now I want to get rid of it. Thank you.
Oh dear – I’m very nervous about getting liquids near a laptop! I would try to place a wet, warm washcloth on the top of your laptop and see if that helps you scrape it off. Protect the keys though. You can also try paint remover, but again, protect the keys. If any wetness or solution gets inside, it could ruin your laptop completely.
My dog jumped onto an art project and I didn’t see until too late and he has a bunch that’s dried into his fur. I tried to shower with Dawn and warm water and it got some out, but it’s still a lot there.
If it’s fur or hair you’re going to have to cut it out. You’d have to do the same thing with any glue or paint!
Hello Amy 😊
How do you remove mog podge from stamps?
I would try soaking the stamps in water – at least, the foam part of the stamp. See if that loosens it. You can also try nail polish remover.
@Amy, hey I didn’t mention that these are postage stamps on a cardstock backing,
Hello Amy, I am doing a Modge project on a fabric lamp. A picture that I put on the lamp didn’t come out the way I wanted it so I tried to remove it with water, soap, a -careful- scratch with fingernails, scouring pad and a knife and most of it is removed now, but there’s still a piece of the picture that don’t want to come lose from the lamp. Do you have any ideas how I can remove the rest of the picture?
Hi Wilma! My favorite is the knife scraper:
I know it’s a fabric lamp but I think this is your best bet of getting the rest of it off.
What if used on plastic / resin ?
Check out my learn how on plastic: https://modpodgerocksblog.com/learn-how-to-mod-podge/
You can probably soak it in water to get it off!
What can I do to avoid my wood fromturning black around the picture when removing the paper
Hi Jannette! I would need more details about your project! It sounds like the ink is bleeding, like you are using inkjet.
Removing mod podge from ceramic ….
BIG BIG THANK YOU – your method was soo easy. Only had to wet the bottom part of the vase with warm-to-hot water for a few minutes. Was then able to cut thru the fabric (yep fabric) to start the process of removing the “cast” that had formed around the vase, but was not sticking to it. So happy I was able to save this pretty handmade vase and bring it back to its pristine shape. Again, thank you.
WOO! Glad they worked. Thanks Lyne!
Help! My mod podge spilled on our composit(Trex) and had dried. Thank you
Is that decking material? I would ask the Trex people if you can use nail polish remover on their product. Can you razor blade it? Can you soak it with a rag? It really depends on what the trex people say. It’s an acrylic product (like craft paint) so they should be able to make better recommendations. I am familiar with MP of course but not the substrate as much (Trex).
How do you remove dishwasher safe mod podge off a plate?
Is it a glass plate? If so I would soak the plate in warm water or with nail polish remover. You can also try a razor blade and scrape it off. Dishwasher Safe is going to be pretty hard to get off. I don’t know if it will or not.
I spilled modge posge on a white shag rug. It is dried on. How do I get it off?
I would try to do it like candle wax. Remove the big pieces as much as possible and try to moisten and scrub out what you can. Then I would put paper towels on top and iron the rest out. Apply the heat and let the paper towels absorb any glue as it heats up. I can’t guarantee anything but it’s worth a try!
Hi Amy. I Mod Podge’d images printed on tracing paper to porous tiles to make coasters. Then I sealed the coasters with 3 coats of Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer, waiting 15 minutes between each coat. My plan was to pour resin on the sealed coasters, but something went wrong. I have these little craters/matte spots in the sealant coats. This has never happened before. Should I go ahead and pour the resin, sand down the layers (which grit?), or just start over?
Hi Joanne! Hmmm – it’s hard to tell without pictures. Is there any way you can share in our Facebook group? https://www.facebook.com/groups/530673913743641
Do the tiles have craters? My guess is that’s what’s showing through. But with images we could help better.
Hi again, Amy. I should clarify that I used the Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer Spray to seal the coasters and have not poured resin on them yet.
I used my paint market on the Nike symbol of my shoes and then out modge podge over it. It keeps chipping and doesn’t stay on permanently. I want to take it off at this point. What do I do??
You can lightly wet sand it with fine (extra fine) steel wool or something along those lines. Basically you’re going to get it wet and slowly work it off.
Can I use any of your products on shiny manufactured rocks to prime them so my paint doesn’t chip off after a cold winter?
Mod Podge isn’t meant to be used as a primer. I would use Kilz. It doesn’t chip off!
Your tip worked on carpeting! Hubby thought we were doomed to replace carpeting in son’s room, but then he told us the damage was from modge podge. We tried sprays, steam cleaning and all kinds of commercial carpet cleaning products not knowing what we were fighting. I used hand sanitizer and a cloth and within minutes the glue came out. Thank you!!!
Woooo I’m glad it worked!!
I remove old acrtylic paint sometimes with rubbing alcohol. Would this work for modpodge?
Hi Betty! Likely so because Mod Podge is acrylic and waterbased, just like acrylic paint! So I wouldn’t see why not.
Here’s a design thought for mod podge packaging. Because shaking the bottle creates problems why not create and hupsie down bottle? I roll my bottles now to “stir” them.
That’s a great idea Betty!
When I turned over my front glued with puzzle saver I thought I had a clean surface..NOT therefore some glue stuck to the front of the puzzle. Can it be removed? If yes how?
Hi Lou! I recommend using sandpaper in the thicker areas (still use fine grit) and then steel wool where the MOd Podge gets thinner. You can even use a little water. Sand gently.
Wow, this is an amazing resource! I got small spots of hard finish Mod Podge (stuff with the purple label) on a glossy photo 😬 It’s heavy paper, like from old professionally devoped photos. Is there any way to remove it without damaging the photo? Thanks!!!
Hi Kate! I would be too afraid to do anything to the photo. Have you tried peeling it off? Like picking at the corner? I’d probably try that and if I saw the photo starting to peel up, I’d stop and leave it.
I started to read your reply to my question but then the screen went away and now I don’t see it. Please resend or send to my email. Thank you so much.