How to Remove Sticker Residue With Household Hacks

Published August 6, 2020
touching stickers stuck on wall

When it comes to how to remove sticker residue, there are a lot of different hacks you can try. While all these hacks work to remove stickers and sticker residue, they work better on some surfaces than others. Learn different ways you can remove sticker residue around your home using common items.

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Wood

Price stickers or that cat sticker your child stuck to your wood table have to go. However, getting rid of them is easier said than done due to the tacky mess they leave behind. Rather than chipping at that gooey gunk for hours, give these sticker residue hacks for wood a try.

Cooking Oil

Who doesn't have a little canola or olive oil sitting around? You'll need to grab your oil and a cloth.

  1. Soak a section of your cloth with cooking oil.

  2. Apply it to the sticker residue.

  3. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so.

  4. Use a clean area of the rag to rub the softened residue off.

  5. Wash with a bit of soapy water.

Pouring extra virgin olive oil

Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka

Another great hack for removing sticker residue from wood is rubbing alcohol. If you don't have that on hand, look for vodka. Grab your alcohol of choice and a cloth.

  1. Wet a section of the cloth with rubbing alcohol.

  2. Lay the wet section on the sticker for a minute or two.

  3. Use a clean area of the cloth to rub off the sticker.

How to Remove Stickers From Plastic and Windows

Are you having trouble getting that Hello Kitty sticker off your window? While cooking oil and rubbing alcohol can work for this job, you have options for your windows and Tupperware.

Peanut Butter

Much like canola oil, the oil in peanut butter works to soften the sticky mess.

  1. Peel away as much of the paper of the sticker as you can.

  2. Apply peanut butter to the sticker residue.

  3. Let it sit for a few minutes.

  4. Wipe it away.

  5. Use a cleaner to remove any remaining oil.

WD-40

When they say WD-40 can lubricate anything, they mean anything. It also works great for breaking down sticker residue.

  1. Peel away as much of the sticker as you can.

  2. Apply WD-40 to the residue.

  3. Let it sit, softening it for a few minutes.

  4. Wipe it away.

Acetone

If fingernail polish can remove the color from your nails, it can definitely remove residue from glass and plastic. And, it's super easy.

  1. Peel away most of the paper by rolling it with your finger.

  2. Apply a little acetone to a cloth.

  3. Wipe away the residue.

  4. Lay the cloth with the acetone over the area for stubborn residue.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is acidic. That means it's great for vanquishing sticker residue in a hurry.

  1. Apply straight vinegar to a cloth.

  2. Allow it to sit on the residue for up to 5 minutes.

  3. Wipe it away.

You can also soak the sticker in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar for about 5 minutes.

white vinegar in spray bottle

Removing Sticker Residue From Metal or Ceramics

Ceramics and metal have non-porous surfaces that can take a bit more cleaning. Therefore, if you have a sticker stuck on your tub, counter, or sink, you might want to give these hacks a try.

Mayonnaise

Are you looking for a 1-2 punch when it comes to sticker residue? Reach for the mayonnaise. Why? Because mayonnaise has both vinegar and oil.

  1. Peel away as much of the sticker as you can.

  2. Apply mayonnaise over the sticky residue.

  3. Let it sit for 2-5 minutes.

  4. Wipe it away.

  5. Clean area with alcohol if any oil or residue remains.

Baking soda

Another perfect hack for removing the tackiness is baking soda. It's a light, abrasive mixture that has the sticky gone in a snap.

  1. Mix equal parts baking soda and water into a paste.

  2. Apply the paste to the residue.

  3. Use a cloth to scrub it away gently.

Baking soda in wooden spoon

How To Remove Stickers From Laptops

Laptops take a bit of a gentle touch because they have all those moving parts. Therefore, you must be careful of any liquids you use. When it comes to removing stickers from laptops, try these easy hacks.

Scraper

One of the simplest methods is scraping the sticker off using a plastic scraper, spatula, or even old credit card. Not only is it easy, but it's effective. You can then remove any remaining residue with a pinch of alcohol on a cloth.

Hairdryer

Heat is good to liquefy the residue on stickers. Therefore, you can grab your blow dryer to remove residue from the computers.

  1. Set the hairdryer to low and heat up the sticker.

  2. Use your finger to roll it away.

  3. Use a bit of alcohol on a cloth for any remaining stick.

How to Get Sticker Residue off Clothes

Laundry and clothing can be a special case when it comes to how to remove sticker residue. However, getting it off isn't as hard as you think. Before you give any of these hacks a try, pick off as much of the sticker as you can.

Dawn for Synthetic Fibers

Once you've picked off the sticker from your synthetic fibers, grab the Dawn out of your kitchen.

  1. Wet a cloth and add a drop or two of Dawn.

  2. Work it into the fabric to remove the residue.

  3. Throw it in the wash.

If Dawn isn't enough, add a little vinegar to the mix.

Alcohol or Acetone for Natural Fibers

When it comes to your natural fibers, you can reach for the alcohol or acetone. Using these two methods is as easy as following the steps above. However, remember this is only good for natural fibers; you could harm your synthetic fibers like spandex and rayon.

Getting Sticker Residue off for Good

Stickers are everywhere, from that new frame you bought to your son's latest artwork. Need to remove them fast? Not to worry, there is a hack for that. Now learn how to remove tape residue, another sticky problem around the house.

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How to Remove Sticker Residue With Household Hacks