How to get sticky residue off plastic without rubbing alcohol

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Getting stickers off of plastic seems like it should be much easier than it is. You can simply try to pull the sticker off, but it may stay partially intact or leave residue. This is because many leading manufacturers use high-strength adhesives to keep labels on plastic. Whether you can't remove a sticker or want to clean up the residue, there are several ways, from peanut butter to rubbing alcohol, that could work for you.

Things You Should Know

• Soak the sticker in cooking oil to loosen the adhesive. Peel the sticker off the plastic with your fingers and remove stubborn areas with a razor blade.
• Saturate the sticker with lacquer thinner or rubbing alcohol. After a few minutes, scrape the sticker off the surface.
• Remove any gooey leftover adhesive with a wet wipe and table salt.

1. 

   1

   Soak the label in cooking oil. Submerge the plastic in a container of cooking oil for 12 to 24 hours. Canola, vegetable, and other oils will soak into the sticker and loosen the adhesive. This will make it easier to remove later. You can try the method again if it doesn’t work the first time and then gently peel the sticker off with a razor blade.[1]

   • If you are not able to soak the item in oil, then you can also use a cooking oil spray on it.

   EXPERT TIP

   Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

   

   Michelle Driscoll notes: "You can easily remove a sticker from hard plastic using a variety of products, including rubbing alcohol, degreaser, peanut butter, or a mixture of baking soda and olive oil. Apply the product to the plastic, let it soak for a few minutes, then scrub the sticker off using a rag."

2. 2

   Put peanut butter on the sticker residue. The oils in peanut butter will break down many adhesives. Cover the sticker in a thin layer of peanut butter—any type of peanut butter will do. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off with a sponge and warm, soapy water.[2]

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3. 3

   Use mayonnaise. The oil in the mayonnaise breaks down the sticky residue leftover from the sticker. Any type of mayonnaise will work for removal. Rub some mayonnaise over the residue. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes. Then, wipe it off with a dry cloth.

   • You may have to repeat this process if the residue is thick or does not come off the first time.

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1. 1

   Rub the sticker with lacquer thinner. This is a stronger solution, so you will only need to soak the sticker for 5 to 10 minutes. After you've let it soak, scrape up the sticker with a broad, flat item for an adhesive-free clean up. Some specialty products, like Goo Gone, function similarly.[3]

2. 2

   Lift the adhesive with rubbing alcohol. Get a carton of isopropyl alcohol—preferably a 90% solution. Pour a small amount on a rag and begin wiping the adhesive. The adhesive should begin to lift after a minute or so of scrubbing.[4]

3. 3

   Spray a degreaser onto the sticker. You can use a degreaser like WD-40 to wipe away the sticker. First, test the WD-40 on a patch of the plastic to make sure that it won’t harm the sticker if you plan to keep it. Then, spray degreaser on a clean cloth or directly on the sticky label or glue residue. Rub in a circular motion with a towel until the sticker pulls away.[5]

4. 4

   Soak the sticker in nail polish remover. Soak the sticker in a container of nail polish remover. If you don’t have enough nail polish remover, you can apply the remover with a cloth and scrub away the sticker. The sticker will be easier to remove if you give it a few minutes for the remover to react.[6]

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1. 1

   Use baking soda and warm water or oil to remove goo. Mix together a paste with 3 Tbs of baking soda and a small amount of water or oil (about 2 Tbs). Then use the paste and a cloth to scrub away the adhesive. If it is not coming off, wipe the paste on the adhesive and let it set for several minutes. [7]

2. 2

   Use table salt and a wet wipe. Apply a small amount of table salt to make the adhesive harden. Then, use a disinfectant wet wipe on the sticker until it begins to peel away. You may need to use several wet wipes.[8]

3. 3

   Rub an eraser over the residue. A regular eraser meant to remove pencil is okay to use. Vigorously rub the residue with an eraser until it begins to lift. Continue until most or all of the residue is removed. If there is still some left, you can use a blade to remove it.[9]

4. 4

   Use a blade. It is better to use a plastic blade to remove residue. You can find blades specifically made for removing stickers on Amazon or similar websites. Search for label and sticker removers. Work the tip of the blade under the residue. Then, move the blade back and forth until the residue begins to come off. Continue using the blade until most or all of the residue has been removed.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do you remove stubborn stickers?

  

  Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

  

  Founder, Mulberry Maids

  Expert Answer

  Stickers may seem stubborn if you are just trying to remove them with water. However, typically with the right product, they can come off with little fuss. Luckily, there are a lot of options, so if the sticker residue remains after trying one of the options, you can many more to try! Household products such as peanut butter, rubbing alcohol, lacquer thinner, nail polish remover, and a cooking oil/ baking soda mixture all work well for easy sticker removal.

• Question

  I put sticker labels on my phone case. What can I do to get the goo off without buying Goo Gone?

  

  Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

  

  Founder, Mulberry Maids

  Expert Answer

  You can make a homemade version of Goo Gone by mixing 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil with 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Apply the paste onto the sticker and rub it with your fingers to remove the adhesive.

• Question

  How do I get a sticker off of the thin plastic on my iPad case?

  

  Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

  

  Founder, Mulberry Maids

  Expert Answer

  Any of the above options mentioned in this article should work. You can use one of the chemical solutions or oil solutions mentioned above.

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• Make sure to wear gloves when using chemical solutions.

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• Soak the plastic in a mixture of hot water and dish-washing liquid. Scrub it with a brush to remove any lingering bits of your removal method, such as WD-40.

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• Instead of peanut butter, you can use margarine or hand lotion. These will work just as fine in dissolving the glue that sticks to the glass.

  As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

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• Be careful when using nail polish remover. Some brands contain acetone, which can melt plastic.

  As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

• Test the degreaser on a hidden part of the plastic item. Degreasers may melt some plastics.

  As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

To remove a stubborn sticker from plastic, use baby oil or vegetable oil. First, apply the oil to the sticker using a clean cloth so it’s fully saturated. Let the oil soak in for at least 5 minutes. Wipe the sticker away with a clean cloth, then wash off any leftover residue with soapy water. You can also use a hairdryer to get a sticker off of plastic. Point the hairdryer at the sticker for a couple of minutes, moving it around constantly so it doesn’t melt the plastic. The heat should loosen the adhesive so you can peel up a corner of the sticker. Continue heating the sticker as you pull it back until you’ve peeled the whole thing off. To learn more, like which chemical cleaners you can use to remove the sticker, keep reading!

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