It’s official. Official in that I had it put on my new business card: I’m a Craft Maniac. Not news to anyone who knows me, and I’m proud to be one.
Like any proper “maniac,” I do delve into certain subjects with more-than-average interest – some of the fruits of that ‘delving’ can be seen here on the Tamara Blog. But I digress. Speaking of delving, let’s examine the humble white glue. We’ve been familiar with it for decades, and honestly, with all the ‘adhesive technology’ that has popped up in the last few years, plain ol’ Elmer’s is still my go-to-glue.
So exactly what is it? White glue, sometimes called carpenter’s glue, wood glue, school glue — among other things — is actually Polyvinyl Acetate, also known as PVA glue.
It’s used widely in crafts, woodwork – hence the name, ‘wood glue.’ I’ve even read that PVA can be used as a coating to protect cheese from fungi and humidity. Hmm. I’m not so sure about that one. While PVA glues don’t emit harmful fumes, the glue is toxic to ingest. So, if you have a childhood taste for paste, this is one glue you don’t want to eat!
Aside from the paper, leather and wood binding properties of the awesome adhesive, here are a couple of lesser-known non-craft uses for wonderful White Glue.
THE WONDERS OF WHITE GLUE
Fabulous beauty trick: White glue can be put on your face in place of those expensive blackhead remover strips. Check to make sure you’re not allergic to the glue, and then simply apply to your bad-skin prone areas. Smear on, let dry, and then when it’s dry, gently pull off, and come away with super clean skin. (Caution: like when you use those strips, your tiny hairs will come off too.) For me, it even works better than the drugstore strips, and it’s custom sized!
Relieve the ouch: So you’re opening the mail, and get a paper cut. Dang those hurt! Grab your bottle of white glue, and put a little drop on top of the cut. Let it dry, and you’ll have a barrier that will keep out dirt, seal out air, and dull the pain until it heals, and the cut won’t crack open again.
Another ouch: It’s also great for removing splinters – just put a dab on top of the splinter, wait for it to dry, and peel it off. Splinter comes out with the removal of the glue.
Glam: Finally, you can mix a little watered down glue with food coloring and glitter, and use for dramatic hair streaks that also have some structure. Use sparingly, as a little goes a long way. But the look is so cool. And, when it comes time to wash it out, make sure to soak hair well in warm water before shampooing.
So there you have it… enjoy some new uses for white glue. But before I leave you, can anyone tell me why glue doesn’t stick to the inside of the bottle?? (Kidding… It’s a rhetorical question. But it does make you think!)
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