How to Clean Up Wood Glue with a Straw (Simple Shop Hack)

Ever get to the end of a glue-up and realize… you’ve got glue squeeze-out everywhere?
You’re not alone. And if you’ve ever tried wiping it with a damp rag, you know how fast that can ruin a finish.

I use this hack every single day in the shop, it’s a cleaner way using something you’ve already got lying around: a plastic straw.

When you’re gluing up panels or joints, excess glue tends to pool in corners and seams.
If you wipe it with a wet rag, you can end up pushing watered-down glue into the grain — which later resists stain or finish.
Scraping it after it dries works, but it’s slow, messy, and sometimes tears out wood fibers.

Here’s the move:

1. Grab a regular plastic soda straw (any size works).
2. Snip the end at a 45° angle using scissors.
3. Run the cut edge along the glue line.

That angled tip naturally fits tight corners and edges — while the curved sides “hug” the joint and funnel glue right into the straw.

Once the straw fills up, just pinch or wipe it off, then keep going.

After scooping most of the squeeze-out, a quick swipe with a clean, damp rag takes care of the rest.
No streaks, no glue bleed, and no extra sanding later.

It’s the kind of 10-second trick that saves you a ton of cleanup time (and frustration).

• 💡 Cut a plastic straw at 45° to scoop wet glue.
• 🎯 The tip reaches corners and edges perfectly.
• 🧽 Follow with a clean rag for final cleanup.
• 🎨 Prevents glue from seeping into the grain.
• ⚡ Faster, neater, and easier than scraping dried glue.

It’s such a small trick — but once you try it, you’ll never go back to wiping glue the old way.
Keep a handful of straws in your shop drawer or toolbox. They’re cheap, simple, and weirdly satisfying to use.