Simple Ways to Remove Stickers and Sticky Residue from Plastic

Trying to pull stickers off of plastic can be frustrating, as it often leaves stubborn pieces behind. Luckily, there are much easier ways to remove stickers. In this article, we’ll teach you the quickest way to remove a sticker from plastic, other removal methods, and how to get rid of stubborn residue. Plus, learn how to remove stickers from other household surfaces.

How do you get a sticker off plastic?

Dip a cloth in hot, soapy water, white vinegar, or nail polish remover, then hold it on the sticker for at least 15 minutes. This will loosen the glue and allow you to scrub the sticker away with a dry cloth. Scrape off any remaining residue with a flat edge, like a credit card.

Section 1 of 4:

Best Way to Get Stickers off Plastic

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Soak the sticker in soapy water, vinegar, or nail polish remover. Dip a cloth in hot, soapy water and place it on the sticker. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes so the sticker absorbs the moisture and begins to loosen from the plastic. If you think the sticker will be difficult to remove, substitute the water for white vinegar or nail polish remover, following the same process.^{[1]
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- Rubbing alcohol also works if you need something a bit stronger. A 90% solution works best.
Scrub the area with a dry cloth to remove the solution, sticker, and residue. Most, if not all, of the sticker should come off without much trouble. Then, use something with a flat edge (a scraper, credit card, or even your fingernail) to scrape off the remaining residue. Be careful not to scratch or puncture the plastic as you do so.^{[2]
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If any stubborn residue remains after scraping, soak the area again. If you tried soapy water the first time, opt for a stronger solution like vinegar or nail polish remover this time. Repeat as many times as needed until all the residue has been removed.^{[3]
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Once the sticker and residue have successfully been removed, scrub the area again with warm, soapy water. This is especially important if you used vinegar or nail polish remover to get rid of any lingering odors. Then, wipe the plastic dry with a clean cloth.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 4:

More Removal Methods for Stubborn Stickers

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Soak the label in cooking oil. Apply cooking oil directly to the sticker and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Canola, vegetable, and other oils will soak into the sticker and loosen the adhesive. After the oil has soaked in, peel the sticker off with a scraper or blade. Repeat the process as needed if the sticker doesn’t come off the first time.^{[5]
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- If you suspect the sticker will be difficult to remover, submerge the plastic in a container of cooking oil for 12 to 24 hours.
- Spraying the sticker with cooking spray also works.
- Be careful not to cut yourself or damage the plastic if using a blade.
EXPERT TIP

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids

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."
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Apply a commercial adhesive remover. Some specialty products, like Goo Gone, are specifically designed to remove stickers and other sticky residue. Follow the instructions provided by the product to apply it to the sticker, usually letting it soak for 5-10 minutes, then scrub or scrape the sticker off of the plastic.^{[6]
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- Lacquer thinner also works similarly.
Use a degreaser like WD-40 to wipe away the sticker. First, test the product on a patch of the plastic to make sure that it won’t harm the sticker if you plan to keep it. Then, spray the 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.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Remove Sticker Residue from Plastic

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Mix together a paste with 2 parts baking soda to 1 part coconut oil. Apply the paste evenly to the sticker residue, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Then, use your fingers or a cloth to scrub and pull away the adhesive. If it doesn’t come off, apply more paste and repeat the process. Wash the container with warm, soapy water when you’re done.^{[8]
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Scrape the residue off with a blade. 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. It’s best to use a plastic blade so you don’t damage the surface of the plastic.^{[9]
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- Find blades specifically made for removing stickers on Amazon or similar websites by searching for label and sticker removers.
- Be careful not to cut yourself.
Vigorously rub the residue with a rubber eraser until the adhesive begins to lift. Continue until most or all of the residue is removed. Use a blade to remove any stubborn bits, or apply a bit of vegetable oil to scrub them off.^{[10]
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As strange as it sounds, the oils in peanut butter will break down many adhesives. Cover the sticker residue 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.^{[11]
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Rub mayonnaise over the residue. Similar to peanut butter, the oil in mayonnaise breaks down the sticky residue leftover from the sticker. Any type of mayonnaise will work for removal. Rub the condiment over the sticker adhesive and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Then, wipe it off with a dry cloth.^{[12]
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- Repeat this process if the residue is thick or does not come off the first time.

Section 4 of 4:

Removing Stickers from Other Surfaces

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Use a hairdryer to remove stickers from metal. Heat helps loosen the sticker glue to make it easier to peel off. Set your hairdryer to warm—not hot—and hold it over the sticker, applying direct heat for 1-2 minutes. After this, the sticker will usually peel right off without leaving any residue behind.^{[13]
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- If residue does remain, scrub it away with a bit of hand sanitizer and a cloth or paper towel.
- A hairdryer may also work for some plastic surfaces, but heat can warp or melt plastic, so it might not be the best option.
- To remove a sticker from stainless steel, try soaking the surface with oil and then scrubbing the sticker off.
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Submerge glass in hot, soapy water. If you have a glass container with a stubborn sticker, fill a bowl or sink with hot, soapy water and let the container soak for at least half an hour. Then, simply peel the sticker off. It should come off easily, but if any residue remains, scrub it off with a sponge.^{[14]
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- To remove a stubborn sticker from glass, try soaking the container in a mixture of 1 part vinegar, 3 parts water overnight.
- For larger pieces of glass, like windows, use a moist cloth to dampen the sticker, then dip the cloth in nail polish remover and rub the area. When the sticker comes off, clean the glass with warm, soapy water or a glass cleaner.
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Soak wood in vegetable oil or furniture polish. Rub some vegetable oil onto the sticker and let it sit for about 2 hours, then wipe it clean with warm soapy water. For stubborn residue, apply a bit of heat with a warm hairdryer before wiping with the water. Alternatively, dab some furniture polish onto a clean cloth and rub the area. It may take more than one application to fully remove the sticker from the wood.^{[15]
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- Before applying any oil or polish, test it in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t harm the wood.

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Question

How do you remove stubborn stickers?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

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.

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Question

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

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

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.

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Question

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

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

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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Tips

Make sure to wear gloves when using chemical solutions.

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Margarine or hand lotion also work in place of peanut butter. These also help dissolve glue that’s stuck to glass.

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If your first removal method wasn’t totally successful, soak the plastic in a mixture of hot water and dish-washing liquid. Scrub it with a brush to remove any lingering bits of the sticker and its residue.

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In my opinion, if you're going to use peanut butter, just use peanut oil instead. The oil is a lot easier to clean off things and it'll work just as well as peanut butter.
If the plastic is heat-resistant, just run a heat gun over the sticker for 1-2 minutes. Then. pry it up with your finger and wipe the residue off.

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Warnings

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

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

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