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Feb 03, 2024

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Any Surface: 6 Methods

That bumper sticker seemed like a great idea — until it wasn't. You were happy with your home decor purchase — until you realized the price tag or manufacturer's label won't come off. Many of those

That bumper sticker seemed like a great idea — until it wasn't. You were happy with your home decor purchase — until you realized the price tag or manufacturer's label won't come off. Many of those hard-to-remove stickers use acrylic-based adhesives that leave gluey residue behind.

Choosing the right method of removal is important, because it not only gets the job done faster, but it also protects whatever surface you're trying to remove the sticker from.

We spoke to three experts on the best ways to deal with stubborn sticker residue — here are their favorite methods.

Quick tip: Instead of using your fingernails to remove sticker residue, try the edge of a credit card or plastic scraper. A razor blade can also be used — just be careful not to scratch the surface below the gunk.

Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and the author of "Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet," says hot water can be enough to get the gunk off fillable items like glass or plastic jars and bottles. This method can also safe to use for getting stickers off of clothing.

Pour some hot water over the adhesive. If it's a container, let it sit for a few minutes. "As it warms, the glues for most labels will soften, allowing you then to go in with a scrubby sponge or something [mildly abrasive] to remove the label or tag," says Piper.

If you're dealing with sticker residue on hard, non-porous surfaces like metal or glass, some swear by slathering the gummy residue with oil — anything from olive oil to coconut oil to baby oil, all of which can help soften the sticker residue.

Piper makes "a slurry of baking soda and a few drops of lemon essential oil." She covers the label first with hot water to loosen as much adhesive as she can, then goes in with the slurry "and a scrubby sponge to remove the label." After the label is removed, you can just wipe away the excess slurry.

Quick tip: Oil-based ingredients like mayonnaise and even peanut butter can also work in a pinch. Apply mayo or peanut butter to a sticky surface, wait 20 minutes, and then wipe it off with a dry cloth. Repeat the process if necessary.

"Sometimes the best way to remove sticker residue is with a little bit of heat," says Dan Wiener, founder and lead interior designer at Home Dude.

"You can use a hair dryer on low heat to help soften the adhesive and make it easier to remove." Focus the blast of air on the label. After about 30 to 45 seconds, try to pull up a corner of the sticker. Repeat as necessary.

This hair dryer hack can be used on a variety of surfaces, and it is an especially good method for removing stickers or labels from wood or cardboard. However, you might not want to get too close with the heat on some surfaces that might warp, like thin plastic.

Goo Gone is a commercial adhesive remover that will remove all traces of the sticky stuff quickly and easily. Simply apply to the sticky surface and let it sit for about 3 to 5 minutes, then wipe clean.

According to Goo Gone, the product is safe to use on carpet, fabric, and hard surfaces. However, like with all cleansers and removers, it's good to do a spot test first. Do not use Goo Gone on clothing while you're wearing it; the company recommends laundering clothing separately with extra detergent when you've removed the adhesive.

"Goo Gone certainly works in some instances, but it's mostly oil with a surfactant [a substance that reduces surface tension]," says Piper, who often uses her DIY oil hack. Both work just as efficiently.

WD-40 is a multi-use product that lubricates and removes rust and grease from metal. It's known for fixing a variety of household squeaks and creaks, but it can also be used to tackle sticker residue from glass, plastic, metal, and other surfaces, including upholstery, and some fabrics.

"Spray some WD-40 onto the sticker residue and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes," says Sean Chapman, a professional carpenter and founder and editor-in-chief of Tools 'n 'Goods. "WD-40 will loosen the adhesive and let you remove the sticker with [the edge of] a credit card easily."

Important: Prolonged contact or inhalation of WD-40 can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, or skin irritation, so be sure to use WD-40 in a well-ventilated area and wash quickly if it gets on your skin.

If you've got sticker residue on something delicate like clothing, try rubbing alcohol or an acetone-based nail polish remover, either of which act as a solvent to break down adhesive residue and other stains. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, vodka can also work as a substitute.

Soak a cotton ball or pad with the liquid and dab on the affected area to loosen up the gunk. Gently scrape away the residue. Launder soon after using non-bleach detergent.

Wiener likes to use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to remove sticker residue from a variety of surfaces. " Test any solvent on a small area of the sticker first to make sure it doesn't damage the surface underneath," he advises. Rubbing alcohol can stain or discolor delicate or synthetic fabrics, including silk, wool, and acetate.

Piper says that rubbing alcohol or acetone is also a good follow-up to any of the above hacks to remove any lingering stickiness.

Stickers are fun, but sticker residue is not. Use heat — either hot water or a blast from a hair dryer — to remove residue from hardy surfaces like glass, wood, or metal. Household items like WD-40, Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol, and even vodka work on multiple surfaces, including some fabrics and upholstery — use them in ventilated areas and do a spot-check first. With a little patience and some ordinary household tools, you can get yourself out of a sticky situation in no time.

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