How to Remove Residual Glue from Stickers

Glue left over from stickers can be uncomfortable and also very difficult to handle. Even so, you can still clean the glue easily. However, the effect also depends on the adhesion of the glue. This article will show you several ways to remove leftover glue from stickers.

Hygiene expert Michelle Driscpl advises this: “My favorite treatment is to use a simple combination of cooking oil and baking soda. Just mix 2 tablespoons cooking oil with 3 tablespoons baking soda to create a paste. make a thick paste. Use your fingers to rub the mixture on the item until the glue is gone and wipe it off with a paper towel.”

Table of Contents

Rub, press and shave

Scrape off the glue with an old knife, scissors, or credit card. If you are using a sharp object to scrape, be sure to keep the blade or scissors close to the surface, otherwise you may accidentally cut the surface of the item you are trying to clean. Using an old credit card allows you to easily scrape off the glue without worrying about damaging the surface of the item.

Be careful when using knives or scissors on glass or metal surfaces. These surfaces are often prone to scratches. Try using one of the other methods to remove adhesive from glass or metal.
Remember to shave in a direction away from your body to avoid injury.

Wrap double-sided tape around your fingers and press into the adhesive. Make sure the double-sided tape is wrapped tightly around the index and middle fingers with the adhesive side on the outside. Press the tape into the glue on the surface of the item and then pull it out. Pay attention to see if the glue adheres to the tape and repeat the above operation until the glue has been cleaned as much as possible.

If the tape is no longer tacky and you are still not done, turn it to the other side or use more tape .

Use your fingers to rub the glue into balls. This will work better if the glue is fresh and not too sticky. Use your fingers to rub the entire surface of the glue, rubbing and pressing continuously. The glue will curl into balls so you can easily peel them off the surface.

If the tape loses its adhesion before you finish working, you can either rotate the tape or use a new piece of tape.

Use a wet paper towel to rub off any remaining glue. You can use a multi-purpose wet tissue or a clean wet tissue to rub the glue until it is no longer sticky to the touch. You may have to wait for the surface to dry and rub a few more times to completely remove the glue.

Use soapy water and vinegar

Prepare a basin of soapy water. This method works best for items like glass jars that can be wetted and soaked without fear of damage. Choose containers such as pots that can hold the item to be treated and several cups of water. Mix dishwashing liquid with warm water and pour it into the basin.

Do not pour water up to the mouth of the pot, or the water will overflow when you put the item in to soak.

Michelle Driscpl, MPH

Founder of Mulberry Maids

Michelle Driscpl is the owner of Mulberry Maids in Cporado. Driscpl received his Master’s degree in Public Health from the Cporado School of Public Health in 2016.

Michelle Driscpl, MPH
Founder of Mulberry Maids

The vinegar and dishwashing liquid method is a great choice for plastic. According to cleaning expert Michelle Driscpl, “A safe and natural way to remove adhesive residue from plastic is to soak items in vinegar and soapy water for about 30 minutes. After soaking, rub off the glue. You can add vinegar if there is still glue on the item. ”

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Soak the surface of the item for half an hour. For example, with a glass jar, you need to make sure the sticker and the glue part are completely submerged in water. After half an hour, the glue will dissolve and peel off easily.

Scrub surfaces with soapy water. After soaking the item for half an hour, you can easily dispose of the remaining glue. Wet a towel or rag and rub the item until the glue comes off.

Use vinegar to scrub away any remaining glue. If there is still glue on the surface of the item, add vinegar to the water. The remaining glue will soften after soaking and easily peel off under the action of vinegar.

Do not use vinegar on materials such as marble, stone, aluminum or cast iron. Vinegar can corrode and damage these surfaces. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Use other household products

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Wear disposable gloves and protect the handling area. Some of the household products used in this method can cause skin irritation, so make sure you use latex gloves to avoid this. If you choose to work on a table or kitchen cabinet, be sure to cover it with newspaper before you begin.

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Choose the right product for the surface of the item. The right product will depend on the surface you need to clean as well as the amount of glue on it. Avoid using oil-based products on porous surfaces, and be careful with corrosive products like vinegar when handling stone and metal surfaces. Some household products are much more effective than products specifically designed to remove the adhesive from stickers ^{[2] X Source of Research}

Use rubbing alcohol to treat most surfaces. This is probably your best bet as alcohol leaves no marks, dries quickly, and is most effective at neutralizing glue. ^{[3] X Research Source} If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can use vodka. Avoid sweet wines like rum as they leave a sticky feel.

Dab alcohol on a rag or towel and rub it vigorously over the surface of the item.
After scrubbing for 15 seconds, check the amount of glue left on the surface of the item. Continue scrubbing until the glue is clean.

Use cooking oil for other porous surfaces. Adhesive stains on the surface of items will be easier to clean when soaked in cooking oil. Since cooking oil is free of harsh chemicals, it is a great solution for easily damaged surfaces. However, some surfaces absorb oil and become stained; Therefore, avoid using cooking oil on porous materials such as wood or fabric. If you’re unsure, try applying cooking oil to a small, inconspicuous spot on the surface of the item. If you can wipe off the oil without leaving a stain, then go ahead.

Dab a little oil on a paper towel and apply it to the surface of the item.
Wait a few minutes for the oil to penetrate the glue.
Remove the paper towel and scrape or rub off the glue. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Stir in 2 tablespoons cooking oil and 3 tablespoons baking soda. Baking soda combined with cooking oil will form a thick paste that you can use to clean any remaining glue on the surface of items. Use your fingers to rub the thick paste onto the glue. Baking soda and oil will loosen the glue without scratching the surface. After the glue has peeled off, use a paper towel to wipe off the excess mixture.

You can store the leftover mixture in a plastic bag and use it another time.

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Rub vinegar on the stubborn glue. Although it may take longer than rubbing alcohol, using vinegar will make it easier to scrub away the glue. ^{[5] X Research Source} Remember to dilute vinegar with a little water for best results. Avoid using vinegar on materials such as marble, stone, aluminum or cast iron. These materials can be damaged in contact with vinegar. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Apply vinegar to a rag or towel and rub it vigorously over the surface of the item.
After scrubbing for 15 seconds, check the amount of glue left on the surface of the item. Continue scrubbing until the glue is clean.

Spread peanut butter on the glue. Peanut butter is a safe alternative to many acidic products, the oil in peanut butter is a great solution to remove the glue. ^{[7] X Research Source} If you’re not sure what to use on a certain surface, peanut butter is a safe bet.

Spread peanut butter on the glued surface and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Wipe off peanut butter; Most of the glue will come off as well. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Use a specialized product like Goo Gone. This product is specifically designed to remove adhesive residue from stickers and is safe for most surfaces but often leaves an oily residue. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Follow the instructions on the product packaging. You will know what surfaces the product is safe on and how to use it.

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Clean the glue with mayonnaise. Because it contains both vinegar and oil, mayonnaise is very suitable for cleaning glue. However, you should remember to avoid using on porous surfaces such as wood, plastic and fabric, as mayonnaise can stain these materials. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Spread mayonnaise on the glue.
Scrub the surface of the item until the glue is clean.

Advice

Other possible cleaners include WD-40 oil, specialty products, deodorant spray or perfume, nail polish remover (oil-free), lighter fuel, etc. However, you keep in mind that the more ingredients a product contains, the more likely it is to leave marks on absorbent surfaces such as fabric, plastic and wood.
Suitable items for scraping can be plastic cooking utensils, old credit cards, or a plastic multi-purpose paint scraper.
Pour some nail polish remover on a paper towel and rub it gently on the glue. This is an easy way to remove adhesive.
Paint the eraser on the metal surface and use the eraser to clean it. This will help the glue come off and remove any traces.
Be careful when you scrape the glue on the plastic surface, as the continuous scraping action can thin the plastic material.
If you’re not sure which product is safe to use on the surface to be cleaned, just use soapy water, as this is the least likely method to cause damage.
Clorox multi-purpose cleaning wet wipes are also very effective.
Glue stains on phones or cases can be easily removed by dipping a cotton ball in nail polish remover and rubbing it over the sticky surface. Remember to wipe off the nail polish remover after scrubbing off the glue.
You can use a spray bottle or regular sunscreen to remove glue stains in less than 5 minutes.
You can use hot soapy water to remove the glue.

Warning

Be careful when handling flammable substances.
When using chemicals with odors, choose to operate in a cool place.
Always test on a hidden spot on the surface of the item first to see if there is a stain. In some cases, oil/alcohol can damage or discolor some surfaces, such as when used on plastic.

Things you need

Old credit card, knife or scissors
Tape
Wet tissue
Wipes or paper towels
Alcohol, cooking oil or vinegar
Hot water
Dishwashing liquid
Pot

Steps