Sticker residue can be tough to remove and there certainly are tricks to removing it from clothing, glass or wherever you may find it. Whenever you buy a new object for your house, you’re bound to come across stickers of some sort that showcase the brand of the product or the inventory management details from the retailer itself. These can often ruin the aesthetic and you’ll want to remove them before you use the item. However, getting rid of those stickers can be easier said than done.

When you pull the stickers off, they tend to leave residue behind which can be frustrating to get off. Luckily, there are some easy and efficient ways to remove the sticker residue that you can take advantage of. In this article, we’ll run through how to do this with various materials so that you never have to struggle again with residue that just won’t come off.

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Glass

Sticker residue on glass really sticks out like a sore thumb and it’s not the sort of appearance that you want with your glass products. So, in order to remove the sticker residue, your best bet is to start with heat.

Heat is your best friend because it helps to loosen the sticker’s adhesive nature and lets you pull the sticker off in one go, rather than by scratching at it time and time again. The easiest way to do this is by using a hairdryer, lightly blowing the hot air onto the sticker to heat it up. Once it’s heated up a bit, you should be able to scrape off the sticker with something plastic like a credit card. Just be careful not to scratch the glass when you do so.

If you find that you need a little more heat, you can also pour hot water over the sticker which will accelerate the heating process significantly.

As a last resort, you can also try peanut butter as a more natural lubricant, or a synthetic liquid like acetone, rubbing alcohol, or paint thinner. The glass is more than robust enough to handle these substances and so you’ll be sure to get the sticker off without damaging the glass.

If you happen to find sticker residue on your glass shower or mirrors in your bathroom you may be interested in this article where we How to Clean your Glass Shower Doors like a Pro.

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Clothes

Clothing always comes with lots of stickers and the residue is something that we all have to deal with. If the clothing is brand new and it hasn’t been washed yet then it should come off relatively easily if you just grab a corner and pull gently. However, if it’s been through a wash cycle, it can get a little bit trickier.

In these cases, you have three different options to try:

1. If the item is of a synthetic material, try putting it into the freezer for an hour or so. This might sound strange but when you pull it out, it’s likely that the sticker residue has hardened slightly, making it easier to come off. If you need a little extra power, try some dish soap to loosen the sticker further.
2. On natural fibers, you’ll want to use something like acetone or nail polish remover. Apply it to a clean cloth, gently rub the item, and you should see the sticker loosen relatively easily.
3. Masking tape is another option that you can try. Stick a piece of masking tape over the sticker and it can often remove the majority of the sticker with it because of its adhesive properties. Finish up the last bits with another one of the options and you should be good to go in no time!

There you have it. Try these techniques and you’ll be able to rid your new clothes of those pesky stickers once and for all.

How to Remove Sticker Residue from Plastic

Keeping your plastic smooth and clear after removing the sticker residue is what we’re after here and the way that you do it is with vinegar and dish washing liquid.

Fill a sink or a tub with hot water to start, before adding a cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of dish washing liquid. Stir them vigorously to combine them and then you can submerge the plastic item underneath the water. Leave this to soak for 20 minutes and then rub the sticker gently with your fingers while the item is still submerged.

This simple method will work to remove the sticker residue without scratching or damaging the plastic. You don’t want to use acetone or anything like that because you might just burn through the plastic itself.

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Metal

Removing sticker residue from metal can be quite straightforward, but there’s always the risk of causing discoloration or buffing if you’re not careful. The way you should think about this will depend on whether the metal is bare or painted.

If the metal is bare, you’ll want to use a small amount of baby oil that is applied to the sticker for around 20 minutes. Once it has sat there for a while, take a small ball of cotton wool and soak that with baby oil as well. Rub the ball on the residue gently and you should see it start to disappear. Once you’ve got all the residue off, wipe it dry with a cloth or a towel.

If the metal is painted, you’ll need to create a unique concoction of coconut oil and baking soda at a 1:1 ratio. You might find that you need to warm the oil in order to get them to mix. Next, soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and rub that gently over the residue with your finger. Once it’s gone, dry the metal with a clean microfiber cloth. This works because it’s relatively gentle on the metal and won’t damage the surface or the color of the paint.

As you can see, every different material requires a slightly different technique in order to remove the sticker residue without damaging anything. However, if you use these simple strategies, you’ll never have to worry about a sticker ever again.

With the sticker gone, you’re free to enjoy those items in all their glory!