Back to all posts
Blog

How To Remove Sticker Residue

By : Amelia Varley on Apr 21, 2022 | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Isn’t it annoying when there are price tags and other stickers on the surface of an object you are using? It is a common problem that people face when using a new item. And even when you remove the stickers, there are residues left on the surface. Some of these stickers are more difficult to remove than others, because of the strong adhesive. But if you are wondering how to remove sticker residue, there are some household solutions that can be used.

Watch this video if you have limited time.

https://youtu.be/VVyRIRxI3DU
Credit: Quality Logo Products

Why Should You Remove Sticker Residue?

If you are buying a new electronic item, a toy, or perhaps dishes – the manufacturer’s label is the first thing that you will remove. In fact, there are a number of reasons to list why you should pull off stickers as well as the residual adhesive.

1. To give the item a good, smooth look as scraped stickers never look good with a new item.

2. The residual adhesive might be harmful to the item as it collects dust and dirt over time.

3. Keeping the surface of an item clean is essential.

4. Scraping out the stickers assure that an item is ready for use and goes well with the look of the household.

How To Remove Sticker Residue

There are a lot of ways to remove sticker residue from different items. The one thing that should be noted is what item you are removing it from. Depending on whether the surface is metal or glass, one has to be careful what they are using. Let us give you a few ideas that you can use to remove sticker adhesive from different surfaces.

From Metal

If you are looking for ideas on how to remove sticker residue from metal, there are a number of things you can use. Metal surfaces are easy to remove adhesive from since they are harder and easier to scrape things off. But it is actually more difficult to remove these stickers from metal since the adhesive is stronger.

stickers on metal

The things you can use on metal are:

Rubbing alcohol: Alcohol is one of the most effective liquids to use on metal surfaces. Rubbing alcohol is used on any kind of metal, wood, and fabric to remove adhesives. The liquid has to be applied to the adhesive and soaked for some time. After this, rub the surface with a cloth or tissue.

Hairdryer: One of the quickest ways to remove adhesive from metal surfaces is using a hairdryer on it. The heat from the hairdryer melts the adhesive in the residual sticker. Start by applying low heat and raising the temperature slowly. This dissolves the sticker and can be removed by hand.

Plastic scraper: Since there is no chance of damaging a metal surface too much, using a plastic scraper can remove the residual sticker. Scrape out the sides of the sticker and wash it off with soap and water.

Adhesive removers: There are a number of industrial adhesive removers that can help remove stickers from metal surfaces. Some of them are really strong and can easily remove the stubborn adhesives that do not go away easily. This can work especially well on labels and hard adhesive items.

From Glass

If you are trying to get rid of sticker adhesive from glass, you have to choose items that are a little milder in nature. The first thing you should know when trying to figure out how to remove sticker residue from glass is the nature of the surface. Glass is much more fragile than metal and has to be dealt with carefully.

sticker on glass

Here are a few items that can be used on glass:

Nail polish remover: One of the safest things to remove adhesive from glass surfaces is nail polish remover. The material is ethyl alcohol which is used on smooth surfaces. This can remove the adhesive with a few wipes from the glass.

Blades: It is suggested that glass should not be scratched on. However, as a last resort, you can use a very sharp blade or knife to scrape out the sticker adhesive. There is a chance that there may be a few scratches left behind after removing the sticker. However, these scratches can go away if the glass is cleared with a cloth and cleaning liquid. 

Dishwashing soap: Using a little bit of hot water and liquid soap can help remove the adhesive from glass surfaces. The best idea is to soak the glass item in a solution of hot water and soap. The soap slowly disintegrates the adhesive and once wiped off, the surface is left clean.

Top