Sticker residue is a pesky thing to remove and might take a bit of effort. However, it’s usually possible to remove sticker residue eventually if you’re willing to put in the time and determination.
The first thing to note is to never try to remove this adhesive residue with a knife! This is very likely to cause permanent damage that you won’t be able to fix with any of the methods on this list.
If you realise that you’ve had a sticker on a surface for a little too long and you have tried to peel it off with little success, don’t panic.
You can use your nails to pull as much of the adhesive residue off as you can, but when you stop seeing any further results it’s time to move on to the next step.
Here are five ways to remove sticker residue from surfaces.
1. Vinegar/Rubbing Alcohol and Warm Water
The easiest option for sticker removal requires an ingredient that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards. White vinegar is an effective cleaning product in almost any situation, including stubborn sticker residue.
Grab a cloth or a piece of kitchen roll and soak it with both vinegar and warm water in equal amounts. Place the wet item over the sticker residue and press it down.
Leave it to sit for five to ten minutes before picking it up and using either the cloth, your fingers, or a gentle plastic-edged item like a credit card to wipe off the sticker adhesive from the surface.
If you don’t have vinegar available or prefer not to use it, rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover should be equally effective at removing the residue but be careful what surface you use it on. If you’re unsure about the surface, test it on a small patch first.
2. WD-40
WD-40 is an easily accessible and affordable item that is designed to tackle difficult sticker removal, from every possible surface.
If you can get your hands on a bottle of WD-40 then all you will need to do is spray it onto the leftover bits of the sticker and leave it for around 10 minutes before wiping the residue away with a cloth that has been wet with warm water.
3. Olive Oil
Oil is something to be careful with, but it can be very useful in situations like this. Olive oil will work quickly to soften the sticker residue.
If you leave it to sit for at least five minutes you should be able to scrape the adhesive off with your nails or something plastic with no sharp edges.
Similarly, peanut butter would also work in this situation, if you don’t want to use your favourite cooking oil for anything outside of your frying pan. Leave the peanut butter on the residue for at least 15 minutes before wiping it off.
4. Hairdryer
This may seem like a strange method but can be very effective on certain surfaces!
If your sticker residue is on a metal surface and you don’t mind applying some heat to the area, then you can hold your hairdryer to the spot and let the air heat up the metal.
Start out with your hairdryer on a ‘warm’ setting rather than at the hottest setting and see how quickly it starts to cause the residue to peel.
5. Soap and Warm Water
If you are working with a more delicate surface, like wood, that can’t be exposed to oil or other specialised products then it is safest to either use a product designed specifically for that surface or try sticking to good old soap and water!
If you can safely cover as much of the surface of the sticker residue with hot, soapy water and leave it to soak for at least an hour then you should be able to scrape the sticker residue off with your nails or with your plastic scraper (or credit card).
Which Method Should You Choose?
Each of the methods on this list are highly effective but it’s important to think carefully about what kind of surface the sticker residue is on:
- Glass or plastic: Try vinegar or oil first.
- Wood: Try hot water and soap.
- Other surfaces: If the sticker is somewhere more unexpected, like on a laptop or on the bumper of your car, try oil as a starting point.
If you’re unsure about what will work best for the surface your sticker is on, try the cleaning method in a small or hidden area first as a test and see if it works effectively and doesn’t cause any damage.
An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.
