How To Remove Stickers With Common Household Items
The question of how to remove stickers is a common one, because certain adhesives and labels can really put up a fight! Luckily, the only thing more stubborn than sticky residue is yours truly, and I’ve tested dozens of different theories on how to remove sticky labels from various surfaces over the years.
As it turns out, there are several effective ways to get rid of sticker residue, and I’ll be sharing 11 of them with you in this post! (Why so many? First, because some methods work better on certain types of surfaces, and second, because the more options you have, the more likely it is that you won’t have to go out and buy something you don’t already have on hand.)
Related: This Is The One Cheap DIY You Need In A Sticky Situation
To remove sticky labels from glass, plastic, or metal, soak the item in a sink full of warm water and 1/2 cup of washing soda for 30 minutes — the label and sticky residue will slide right off!
To remove sticker residue, tape residue, and other types of adhesive, spread a generous amount of oil, peanut butter, or mayonnaise on the residue and leave it for one hour, after which the residue will wipe off easily.
For more options and further detail on how to remove sticky labels, read on!
How To Remove Sticker Residue And Sticky Labels: 12 Easy Methods
1. Remove Stickers And Labels With Washing Soda
Not only can you use washing soda to remove sticky labels from glass bottles, but it’s also a handy way to remove sticky residue from just about anything you can submerge in water. Fill your sink with warm water, add around 1/2 cup of washing soda and stir, then soak the item for 30 minutes. The sticker or label should slide right off!
Related: The Easiest Way To Remove Labels From Jars
2. Remove Sticker Residue With Peanut Butter
The oil content in peanut butter makes it surprisingly effective at dissolving adhesives. Just smear a thick layer of peanut butter across the sticker you want to remove, then let it sit for an hour or so. After that, you should be able to remove sticker residue easily with a damp cloth.
Related: These Easy Peanut Butter Bars Are Good For The Soul
3. Remove Stickers With A Hair Dryer
Wondering how to get sticky residue off plastic? Heat from a hair dryer will usually make short work of it, and it can also prove useful for removing old bumper stickers from cars. Turn your hair dryer on, hold it close to the sticker you want to remove, and hold it there for about 30 seconds.
The sticker should peel away easily, but if it’s still giving you trouble, another 30 seconds of heat should do it.
Related: 23 Unexpected Things You Can Do With Your Hair Dryer
4. Remove Sticky Residue With A Pencil Eraser
If you’ve removed the paper part of a sticker but are struggling with the remaining sticky residue, grab a pencil eraser! The rubber will grip and drag the adhesive away from the surface so you can scrape it off more easily.
More Ideas You'll Love
Related: 9 Unexpected Problems You Can Solve With A Pencil Eraser
5. Get Rid Of Price Tags With Rubbing Alcohol
You can use several different alcohol-based products to remove sticker adhesive, like rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or even vodka. Soak a paper towel in your alcohol-based product of choice, then wrap the damp towel around the sticker you want to remove. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so, then wipe the sticker and adhesive away.
Related: 9 More Of The Most Useful Things You Can Do With Rubbing Alcohol
6. Use Baking Soda And Coconut Oil For Stubborn Sticker Removal
Baking soda and coconut oil (or olive oil, vegetable oil, or any oil you happen to have on hand) can pack a powerful punch against stubborn stickers. Oil saturates and loosens the paper and adhesive, while the baking soda helps scrub the mess away.
Mix enough coconut oil and baking soda to create a paste, then smear the paste across the sticker. Let it sit for an hour, then scrub with a sponge or brush.
7. Use Mayonnaise To Remove Stickers And Adhesive
Mayo is yet another oily substance that’s surprisingly useful for removing stickers! Just spread a thick layer of mayo onto a sticker, let it sit for half an hour or so, then wipe the sticker and adhesive away from the surface.
Related: 17 Surprisingly Clever Uses For Mayonnaise
8. Use A Razor Blade To Remove Stickers From Glass
You can remove stickers from glass manually with the help of a razor scraper or an X-ACTO knife. Start by holding the blade at an angle and gently pushing it under the edge of the sticker. Use the lifted edge to peel the sticker away from the surface, working in sections if necessary, repeating until the whole sticker is gone.
This method is particularly useful for removing stickers on glass, but it may not be the best choice for other surfaces (especially painted ones). Using a plastic razor blade instead of a metal one can cut down on the risk of scratching up a surface.
9. Use WD-40 For Sticker Removal
WD-40 has gotten me out of plenty of sticky situations, literally and figuratively, so it’s not a surprise to me that it can also remove stubborn stickers. Spray the lubricant onto the sticker, price tag, or sticky label you want to remove, then let it soak in for a while to get sticky residue off.
More Ideas You'll Love
Related: 12 Ways That WD-40 Is The Ultimate Problem Solver
10. Use A White Vinegar Soak To Remove Labels
Soak a washcloth in white vinegar, then wrap the cloth around the area where the sticker is. Let it soak for half an hour or so, and the sticker should wipe off easily. White vinegar also works well to remove sticker residue from clothing and fabrics.
Related: 50 Amazing Uses For Vinegar You’ll Want To Know
11. Use Lemon Essential Oil To Remove Adhesive And Tape Residue
The grease-cutting abilities of citrus oils are really handy for tackling sticky residue. Apply a drop or two of lemon essential oil directly to the area, let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then wipe the sticker and adhesive away. (Just avoid using lemon oil on plastic, as it can cause damage to the surface.)
Related: 20 Of The Best Things You Can Do With Lemon Essential Oil
12. Use Your Freezer To Remove Stickers From Clothes And Fabric
To remove stickers from clothing and fabrics, put the item in the freezer for a couple of hours, then take it out and immediately pick off as much of the hardened bits of sticker as you can. Moisten the spot with water, add a drop or so of mild dish soap, and rub off the rest of the sticker residue with a microfiber cloth. Then launder as usual.
What About Store-Bought Gunk Removers?
- In certain rare cases, like if a sticker is very old or has been exposed to the sun, you may need something a bit more powerful to remove all the residue.
- Here are some store-bought products I’ve found useful, and that may be just the thing to handle those extra tough stickers:
- Goo Gone Original Liquid – Great for tackling almost any type of sticky, waxy, or oily mess, and safe to use on most surfaces.
- Goo Gone Automotive – Great for removing stubborn bumper stickers, tree sap, bug splatters, and other messes without damaging your car’s paint job.
Do you have a preferred method for getting rid of stickers or adhesive?
How To Remove Stickers And Sticky Residue From Anything
Equipment
- Sink
- Hair Dryer
- Pencil eraser
- Razor blade
- Clean cloths
- Freezer
Ingredients
- Washing soda
- Peanut butter
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baking soda
- Coconut oil
- Mayonnaise
- WD-40
- White vinegar
- Lemon essential oil
- Dish soap
Instructions
- If you can submerge the article in water, use a sink with warm water and 1/2 cup of washing soda. Soak for 30 minutes and the label or sticker should slide off.
- Remove label residue by smearing peanut butter on it. Let sit for an hour and wipe off with a damp cloth.
- Use a hair dryer to get sticky residue and labels off plastic and glass, car bumpers, etc. Just hold the heat on it for about 30 seconds and try peeling it off. It may need additional heating time.
- Get sticky residue from a partially removed sticker off with a pencil eraser.
- Use rubbing alcohol to remove the sticker residue from ceramic dishes and mugs.
- Make a paste with baking soda and coconut oil and smear it on the sticker. Let sit for an hour then rub with a sponge or brush.
- A thick layer of mayonnaise left on a sticker for an hour or so will let you wipe the sticker away.
- Use a razor blade at an angle to remove a sticker from glass. Work slowly and peel as you go.
- Spray WD-40 on a sticker, let it soak for a while, then wipe it away.
- To remove labels from bottles, soak a cloth in white vinegar and wrap the wet cloth around the bottle. After half an hour or so the label should come off easily.
- For those annoying price sticker residues, use a couple of drops of lemon essential oil. Let it sit for ten minutes or so and wipe it away. (Lemon oil can damage the surface of plastic, so use this on glass or ceramics)
- Your freezer can help remove stickers from fabric and clothing. Freeze for a couple of hours, pick off as much as possible, then rub off the rest with a microfiber cloth moistened with water and a drop or two of dish soap. Launder as directed.
I’ve used hand sanitizer to remove the sticker residue. I actually discovered that when I was working in retail. Little kids or my goofball teenage co-workers would put the stickers on the bagging area when it was slow. It helps to loosen the stickers they are easier to remove.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband used packing tape to keep the drawers of a wooden chest from coming out while moving.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve tried Goo Gone and oil, but it still won’t come off.
Anyone have any ideas on what will work without ruining the finish?
This was so timely — would you believe I just took a sticker off a soap bottle this morning, leaving residue, and then your email arrived? Now I will have fun deciding which method to try. I think I might go with coconut oil and baking soda.
On a somewhat related matter, I recently pulled up a bathroom rug and (very embarrassingly) there is glue residue on the flooring. Not so much sticky, more like cement. Anyone have thoughts on that? I think there is a product I can get at home improvement store, but wondered about suggestions. (Sorry to change the topic but it is kind of on topic, no?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.PAM or any type of baking/cooking spray works fast. Spray on sticky surface, wait a few minutes removes sticker residue easily
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love all the ways to remove the labels thank you for sharing. Now my question is please tell me some of the ways to use these bottles after you soak the labels off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Use for leftovers instead of plastic. Food stays fresher, jars take up less room, you can see what’s in the jar better than plastic, cheaper (free!) than buying plastic, freeze stuff in jars easily, safely. Example, you can store a dozen eggs (cracked) in a jar, cut lemons, nuts in jars. They stay fresh much longer and can also freeze them of even a longer time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please be advised that Goo Gone and Goof Off removers definitely are not interchangeable.Goo Gone is orange oil based and can be used on pretty much any surface, while Goof Off is petroleum based and absolutely will destroy the finish of anything other than glass or metal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Al, thanks for sharing this information. Your comments always add great value to our OGT community. Thanks! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I usually use the peanut butter method when I can’t get a label off by soaking. But did you know you can also use HAND SANITIZER on most paper labels. It’s a great way to use it up if you have any that’s expired(as far as the sanitizer effectiveness) and it works great. I just squirt some on and let it sit and the label comes right off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing this tip, Lynn!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Orange oil, like lemon oil, works well too. It’s good at getting off the adhesive residue that sometimes remains after removing a label or sticker. Also, if you have some patience, plain old water works well removing some labels, especially paper based labels like on wine bottles. Submerge the container to cover the label or at least make sure the label area is in contact with the water and let it sit overnight. Some labels often just fall off in one piece.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Used the mayonnaise and worked a treat. My husband was going to throw the item out but you saved my storage jar. Thank you
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried the peanut butter method to remove the sticky residue on a plastic container I wanted to recycle.
Once the original wrap around sticker was removed, there was the sticky residuE over the surface. Peanut buttered the entire container and left overnight. Everything came off easily the next morning!
Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried this with tahini and it worked even better.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite solution to the sticker-removal dilemma is to use lighter fluid! I have several bottles of it around the house; one in the kitchen, one in the laundry room, and one in my craft room. Squirt on the fluid, wait about a minute and the sticker should lift right off. Once in a while, a particularly difficult sticker will need to be soaked for longer and may necessitate being enclosed in a plastic bag for a while to make sure to marinate the sticker while not allowing the fluid to evaporate.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Spray furniture polish to remove sticky residue.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are good ideas.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using equal amounts of baking soda and evoo for years and it works great.
Will give the hairdryer a chance. Also, like the WD40 idea.
Isn’t nail polish remover acetone, not alcohol?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes it is, and I have used it on labels for years. It‘s cheap enough to buy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Acetone on clear plastic will ruin your clear plastic, so if the stubborn sticker is on something made of clear plastic use peanut butter.
Thanks for this warning, Carla! :-)
I use nail polish remover or acetone to remove sticky substances and it works great! Just don’t use it over a design as it might remove the design as well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Eucalyptus oil gets rid of any sticker. Not sure if it is available world wide or if it is an Australian product only.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.GooGone is all you need to remove sticky anything, and just a drop does it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I spray baby oil on my front car bumper to remove the bugs. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then use a green scotch scrubbie to clean those pests off! Way cheaper than some of those car cleaning supplies at the store!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use shortening to remove road tar spatters on my car. It also works well on vertival stickers that other oils would slide off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When you use a razor blade on glass you need to use water or glass cleaner. If you try to scrape off the sticker dry you may (probably) scratch the glass. You can find plastic razor blades for this in automotive stores. I have found them in Walmart in the auto section. If residue is left, a melamine sponge will take the rest off easy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for this added tip, Marlene!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, you want to first clean the glass so you are not scratching it with the minute particles of dirt on the glass while scraping it with the blade.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is not quite a sticky but how could I remove a small name on a piece of clothing. I was given a dress that says Mexico but would like to remove this . Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I soak jars in warm water and Blue Dawn. Blue Dawn is the “g0-to” cleaner for everything! If I remember correctly, it is one of your tips. You’re right, any oily substance works great also. Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s so nice to have all these options. I don’t always have the goo gone stuff in the house or when I’m helping clients. Knowing I can use some of these items we all have on hand is refreshing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use tea tree oil to remove labels, especially for the sticky residue left behind.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used regular cooking oil (just a few drops on a paper towel) for years.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve got a can of adhesive label remover from the automotive store. It works on glass , but can make certain plastics cloudy. I love having options! Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can Goo Gone original liquid remove sticky on the cabinet in the kitchen?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, you can use it on cabinets as long as they have a finish on them. Most kitchen cabinets do have a finish on them.
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