How to Remove Sticker Residue Using Items You Have at Home

Oct 15, 2024

Try one of our clever solutions to removing sticker residue using products you already have at home.

Coryanne Ettiene left her job in the corporate sector and began developing recipes and blogging about her lifestyle for her brand, Housewife Bliss. She has written for magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Home, and Women's Day and founded Kitchen Living and Ettiene Market (a local market for toxin-free, sustainable household products) in addition to Housewife Bliss.

Jan is a former home improvement writer for Better Homes & Gardens.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics that range from film and beauty to science and the automobile industry. Her plant biology degree has a focus on sustainable agriculture, and she's an expert on growing your own food, environmental sciences, and all topics relating to houseplants.

When you peel off an adhesive-back sticker or label from a surface, you might be stuck with stubborn sticker residue. If you are tempted to scrape the spot with a putty knife or metal blade, don’t. Those tools can scratch the surface. Follow these methods to learn how to remove sticker residue using supplies you already have at home.

Remove as much of the sticker residue with your fingers as possible. Roll the sticky adhesive into balls with your fingertips and pluck them off. Then, follow any of the methods below.

With all these methods, test the surface in an inconspicuous area to make sure the technique doesn’t stain or cause other damage.

Use a plastic scraper, such as the edge of an old gift card or the blade of a plastic knife, to safely scrape the adhesive without scratching the surface of the object. This works well to get sticker residue off plastic or glass surfaces.

Put a few drops of dish detergent into a sink or container full of hot water and immerse the item (if practical) in the water to soak until the residue softens. Scrape away the gunk with a plastic scraper or your fingers.

Using a hair dryer is one of the best methods for removing sticker residue. Aim a hair dryer at the sticker residue, turn it on, and allow the hot air to loosen the adhesive. Scrape to remove.

Rubbing alcohol is an effective solvent that’s safe for most plastic, wood, and glass surfaces. Vodka is a good substitute. Wet a paper towel or clean cloth with rubbing alcohol, and rub the residue to lift it off. For stubborn stickers, place an alcohol-soaked cloth on the area and let it sit for several minutes to soften the residue. Use the cloth to rub off what’s left behind.

Apply peanut butter to wood, glass, or plastic surfaces by dabbing it on the spot and letting it sit until the sticker residue softens. Use a clean cloth to lift off the peanut butter and residue.

The lubricant spray WD-40 has a lot of uses throughout the home, and removing sticker residue is one of them. Spritz the solution onto the sticker spot and let it sit for several minutes. Then, use a rag to wipe away the residue.

Applying cooking oil can help soften sticker residue. Scrape away the remainder with your fingers, a plastic scraper, or a plastic knife. You can also try rubbing with a clean rag. After the sticker residue has been removed, wipe away the excess oil.

Soak a cloth or paper towel in vinegar and lay it across the sticky area. Let it soak for a few minutes to soften the residue, and then wipe or scrape to remove it.

You can use a rubber eraser to remove sticker residue from most surfaces. The rubber surface rolls the residue away.

A few commercial products, such as Goo Gone, are formulated to remove sticker residue. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, but in most cases, you apply the product to the residue, let it sit, and then scrape or wipe with a cloth to remove it.

Mix together a paste using two parts coconut oil and one part baking soda. Apply the paste to the sticker and let sit for several minutes. Scrub and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

This method works best for smaller pieces of sticker and residue left over after using a different method.

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise over the sticker residue, and let it sit for 15 minutes. The mayonnaise's acidity will break down the residue. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Toothpaste works to remove sticker residue on some surfaces, but it shouldn’t be used on natural materials (like wood) or fabrics, as the ingredients in toothpaste may bleach or stain the surface. To use toothpaste to remove sticker residue (avoid gel-based pastes) from non-natural surfaces, apply a small amount of toothpaste to the sticky residue. Wipe it away immediately while applying slight pressure.

You can remove sticker residue on natural fibers by rubbing the spot with acetone (or nail polish remover) applied to a clean cloth. To remove sticker residue on synthetic fabrics, place the item in the freezer for 45 to 90 minutes, and immediately pluck off as many of the hardened bits after you take it out. Then, moisten the spot with water, add a drop or two of mild dish soap, and rub the remainder of the sticker residue off using a microfiber cloth.