People don’t really notice, but stickers are on nearly everything new that we purchase. Look around the room you’re in and you can spot several of them. They’re on bottles, boxes, or your bullet journals. They’re such a ubiquitous part of daily life that people take them for granted. Until they have to deal with their sticky residue, that is.
Removing stickers can be a hassle sometimes. While you can get some tags off easily without any problems, others leave behind a sticky and fuzzy residue. The remaining adhesive will pick up lint and dirt over time. But there are simple and effective ways of dealing with this problem. Here’s how to get sticker residue off different materials.
How to Get Sticker Residue off Glass
Almost all products on glass bottles have a sticker or two. Removing these labels is necessary if you plan to recycle them to help the environment. It’s a good thing that getting rid of stickers and their residue is quite simple.
- Try to remove as much of the sticker by hand as possible. Use a scraper or a sharp, flat object to take off the paper.
- Fill the sink with hot water. You can also use a bathtub or a pail if the glass item doesn’t fit in the sink. Add a little dishwashing soap.
- Soak the glass bottle in the water for about an hour.
- Scrub the adhesive residue off using a dish sponge. It’s best to use the rough side of the sponge for this. Keep soaking and scrubbing until the glass is smooth and free of residue.
Steps to Getting Sticker Adhesive off Plastic
You have to be more careful when getting stickers off plastic. An aggressive approach can leave scratches on the surface. But there’s a way to keep plastic pristine when you remove sticker residue:
- Fill a sink with hot water.
- Add one cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to the water. Stir the mixture well.
- Place the plastic item in the container of water. Make sure it’s submerged. Leave it there for around 20 minutes.
- Use your finger to rub the sticker off. Make sure the item is still submerged. Don’t use a sponge since it could leave scratches.
- Repeat the process until all adhesive is gone.
How to Remove Sticker Residue off Clothes
It’s annoying if the price tags or stickers on the clothes you bought leave behind a sticky residue. It’s best if you deal with removing stickers as soon as you can so lint doesn’t get stuck to them. Try to remove the sticky patch. Let’s hope you haven’t tossed the item in the washer yet. Don’t worry if you have though. You can still salvage the situation. You have to know the type of fabric first.
- Natural Fibers: Apply acetone or a nail polish remover to a clean towel or rag. Rub it on the area with the residue. Wash and dry as the instructions said.
- Synthetic Fibers: Experts say you should place the item in the freezer anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. The residue will harden and you can pick it off. Mix a drop of dishwashing soap with water. Dip a microfiber cloth on the solution and rub it on any remaining adhesive. Wash the item.
Steps to Removing Sticker Residue from Metal
Metal is another material where removing sticker residue is a piece of cake. But scrubbing off the adhesive can result in color discoloration. It can also lead to unexpected buffing and damage. Here’s what you should do to avoid such situations:
- Apply a bit of baby oil on the sticker residue. Leave it in the area for about 20 minutes. You can also substitute WD-40 for baby oil if that’s on hand.
- Soak a small piece of clean cloth or cotton ball with baby oil. Rub the bare metal until the sticky spot is gone. Do this in a gentle way to prevent scratches.
- Wipe the surface with a paper towel or another clean cloth.
- The process is different if you’re removing adhesive from painted metal.
- Mix one part coconut oil with one part baking soda. Warm the oil up a little to ensure the baking soda will mix well. You can also use olive or vegetable oil if you don’t have coconut.
- Dip a microfiber cloth in the solution. Make sure the cloth is clean.
- Rub the microfiber cloth over the residue. Use a light rubbing motion to preserve the color. The baking soda breaks down the residue while the oil prevents scratches.
- Wipe the surface clean with a clean towel.
Best Method to Remove Sticker Residue off Wood
Wood is the most challenging material when it comes to getting adhesive out. Wood’s porous quality can cause the sticky residue to bury deep in the grain. You can try sanding it off, but try to leave that option for last. You should first try this method:
- Use a hairdryer or heat gun to heat the adhesive residue. Make sure the hairdryer is at the lowest setting.
- Take a little dollop of hand cleaner with pumice. Slather it on the residue. Rub it with your finger (or your whole hand). Rub with a back and forth motion along the grain.
- Keep rubbing until the targeted area feels smooth and clean.
- Wipe the area with a clean microfiber cloth. Make sure you also wipe off any hand cleaner left on the surface.
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