Getting the stickers off stuff

[Fat Guy]

I'm wrestling with some very stubborn price/product/sku stickers on a few items ranging from ceramic bowls to plastic organizer baskets. What is the definitive trick for getting rid of them?

[AAQuesada]

The trick I use is to rub a bit of oil on the sticker, let it soak in for at least 15 min. or over night if you are patient. Usually that loosens them up.

[Fat Guy]

By oil you mean something like vegetable oil?

[AAQuesada]

yep

[runwestierun]

Goo-Gone. Works on the most stubborn stickers. Great to have around.

[Joe Blowe]

Zippo Lighter Fluid.

[Lisa Shock]

Zippo Lighter Fluid.

Agreed. It doesn't leave a residue like Goo Gone can, and, it will remove almost any adhesive without damaging paper. It's a favorite in collector circles because it won't damage packaging -for items where the package may represent half or more of the value of the item.

[annachan]

Friend taught me to use WD40. Works very well. If none on hand, some oil (vegetable, butter, etc) will work.

[nibor]

If the object can take the heat, use a hair dryer. Heat and peel carefully.

[Mjx]

Depends on the adhesive: some respond best to heat/moisture, some to oil and organic solvents (not so many these days, in my experience), others are best carefully scraped off with a blade (you may want to test before applying a solvent like lighter fluid to plastic).

I usually start by soaking the sorts of things you describe in hot water, if the label doesn't peel off, or peels off incompletely. Then I just rub at the label or spot of residue, which takes care of most cases.

[dougal]

Yes, it all depends ...

... on the adhesive, as Mjx said.

... on the label material. Plastic labels are pretty impermeable, so soaking them in anything doesn't do much. They are usually strong enough to peel though, especially with a bit of warmth (from hairdryers, central heating radiators, sunshine, or even a low oven). When peeling, and trying to get a delicate label to hold together, go slowly. A smaller force for a longer time will separate the adhesive with less risk of tearing the label.

... and on the substrate. A pan scourer will remove stubborn residues from glass, but don't think of using one on plastics. Be very careful with plastics and organic chemical solvents - whether proprietary sprays, lighter fluid, nail varnish remover, or whatever. Surface damage may not appear immediately, so 'testing on an inconspicuous area" may lead to overconfidence. And of course, be careful with (thermo)plastics and heat.

For removing stubborn sticky traces from delicate surfaces, including soft plastics, try using fresh clear sticky tape (Sellotape/Scotch tape), in a repeated touch and peel motion. The old adhesive sticks to the new adhesive, so you can (again gently) peel it away.

WD40 is a remarkable solvent. It worked beautifully the other day to remove sticky resinous sap after cutting a Cupressus Leylandii - and that is one very tenacious natural adhesive!

[mbhank]

acetone

[Marlene]

Ditto on the Goo gone.

[Fat Guy]

Coincidentally, in unpacking a box from storage over the weekend, I found two bottles of Goo Gone. I didn't even know we had any. How is it applied? Does it really not do any damage to the underlying material?

[David A. Goldfarb]

Naphtha, which is the base for lighter fluid.

[Linda Rose]

Goo Gone usually leaves an oily residue that needs soap and water to remove. Otherwise it doesn't hurt the surface it's working on.

Soak a piece of cotton or a corner of paper towel and scrub with that on the sticky. Leaving the soaked cotton on the sticky for a minute or two also makes the job easier.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Linda Rose (log)

[ChrisTaylor]

Can you get eucalyptus oil where you are? When I worked in a book store we used it to remove labels.

[Darienne]

One more: lacquer thinner, my go-to sticker remover. Of course, it's toxic as can be but I have it handy in my studio where I used to use it with regularity. Can't use it on some plastics...it takes the plastic too.

[natasha1270]

Oil works well for some items. I also use rubbing alchol to remove any remaining sticker and oil residue. In a pinch, I've found a dab of vodka will do the trick as well.

[Rico]

Used goo gone yesterday, in fact, to get rid of a sticker on a new dutch oven. Worked like a charm.

[andiesenji]

acetone

It melts plastic, so can't be used on it.

I don't like GooGone or the other similar removers.

For many, many years I have used Avon's Skin So Soft bath oil. If the sticker is on the bottom of a bowl and there is a depression, I dribble some on and allow it to soak for an hour or so then lift the label off, wash the bowl.

If it's on a convex surface, I soak either cotton or a paper towel in the oil cover the label and check it from time to time.

Plastic coated labels respond to gentle heating, but often leave a sticky residue that comes off with the Avon product.

Edited May 2, 2011 by andiesenji (log)

[Kerry Beal]

My go to for removing labels is Eucerin skin lotion - even better if you can get the original formulation with lanolin.

[MSRadell]

I've always used WD-40 with excellent results, it's never damaged anything. A little soap and water afterwards is required to remove the residue.

[ChefCrash]

"Original Windex" the one with ammonia.

[MelissaH]

I keep Goo-Gone in my kitchen for exactly this purpose.

MelissaH