How to Remove Stickers

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Introduction

Many common household items will help you remove stickers and adhesive-backed price tags from a variety of surfaces. You can also purchase products made especially for this purpose. Here are a few easy steps to help you remove stickers.

By: eHow Home & Garden Editor

Length: 2:04

Comments: 24

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Instructions

Text Size: +
Difficulty: Easy

Tips & Warnings:

  • Remove as much of a laminated sticker as you can before applying a liquid or solvent. Most
  • products will not be able to penetrate the plastic coating.
  • Heat the sticker with a blow dryer before treating. (Do not use this method on plastics.)
  • Avoid unnecessary stains. Test the liquid or solvent on an inconspicuous area of the surface before you proceed with the sticker-removal process. Do not use oil-based products on paper or cardboard.

Step1
Remove stickers from glass, plastic or metal with alcohol-based products such as nail polish remover or 91-percent rubbing alcohol. Oil-based products such as cooking oil, mineral oil and baby oil can also be used. Apply the liquid to a clean cloth and saturate the sticker; allow it to sit for a minute or so and peel the sticker from the surface.
Step2
Remove stickers from cardboard and other paper products with an alcohol-based product or with a commercial solvent. Apply the liquid to the sticker with a cotton swab until the sticker is saturated. Avoid getting too much liquid on the surrounding surface. Peel the sticker away.
Step3
Remove stickers from wood with furniture polish or any of the products listed in step 1. Again, saturate the sticker with the liquid and allow it to sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Peel the sticker away.
Step4
Saturate stickers that are on hard plastic surfaces (plastic tubs or food storage containers) with cooking oil. Allow the sticker to soften, then immerse it in water. Wipe the sticker away.
Step5
Repeat the sticker-removal process if any gummy residue remains after the first treatment. Scrape residue with a paint scraper or razor blade.

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djteva

djteva said

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on 7/28/2008 The rubbing alcohol didn't work well for me. I used car engine decreaser. It rubbed right off. Use windex after to clean to take the gasoline order away.

jeano53

jeano53 said

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on 7/15/2007 To get that residue off, spray a bit of cooking spray on it, let it sit 10 minutes or so, then wipe off with a wet cloth and a bit of soap.

jeano53

jeano53 said

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on 7/15/2007 On pots and pans with very hard to remove stickers, I spray a bit of cooking spray, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then wipe it off with soap and water. It helps to pull of as much of the sticker as you can before you do this.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 9/27/2006 Use a piece of Scotch tape, repeatedly stick it down and pull it off. Little bits of the old sticker/glue will come off with each step. After a few dozen stick/remove cycles, you can pretty much clean off any sticker residue, totally cleanly.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/29/2006 Spray some glass cleaner on the sticker and let it penetrate for a couple minutes. All the gooey stuff comes right off with a cloth. By far, this is the quickest, least smelliest, non-toxic, and efficient method.

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eHow Article: How to Remove Stickers

eHow Home & Garden Editor

eHow Home & Garden Editor

Category: Home & Garden

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