How to Remove an Iron on Transfer From Clothes

Co-authored by Rani Gorgis

Last Updated: August 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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Iron-on transfers can be a great way to express your own personal style, and make a cool addition to many different items of clothing. However, you may decide after having an iron-on transfer for a while that you are tired of looking at it. Unfortunately, most iron-on transfers are permanent. However, you can try to remove the transfer using one or more of the approaches in the steps below.

Things You Should Know

Spray the back of the patch with a solvent like acetone, rubbing alcohol, or Goo Gone. Stretch the fabric and peel or scratch the patch off, then wash.
Alternatively, loosen the patch with heat from a hair dryer or steam from a hot, wet towel. Scrape the patch off with a sharp knife and wipe away any residue.
If it’s still stuck, grab an iron on high heat and place a sheet of parchment paper over the patch. Iron it with quick strokes to melt the adhesive.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Chemical Solvents to Remove Transfer

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There are solvents made for this specific purpose,^{[1]
X
Research source} but you could try household solvents such as nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, or an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone.
Putting the item in the dryer on high heat for a few minutes will heat the adhesive and possibly loosen it a little.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.}

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The transfer should be on the inside. You should locate the area of the transfer and place your garment so that the inside of the shirt with the transfer behind it is facing up (so that if you could see through the shirt, you would see the back side of the transfer).^{[3]
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Research source}
Before applying solvent all over the garment, test a discreet area to be sure that the chemical does not damage the garment.
Apply the solvent liberally to the areas of the garment that have the transfer on the other side. ^{[4]
X
Research source} The idea is that the solvent will soak through the fabric and loosen the adhesive between the fabric and the transfer.
Stretching and wiggling the fabric will help the solvent soak through the fabric and penetrate the adhesive. After stretching, you may want to apply more solvent. ^{[5]
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Research source}
If the solvent has worked, you should be able to peel the transfer off of the garment. You may need to encourage the transfer to peel off by using a knife to scrape it up or by applying additional heat with a hair dryer.
After the transfer has been removed, you may find some adhesive left over. You can try removing it with rubbing alcohol or an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone. Be sure to check a discreet corner of the material for reaction before using any chemical on the fabric.
Wash the garment alone, either by hand or in the washing machine. Washing it with other garments may cause the solvent to damage other items of clothing. Be sure to wash the garment well, using extra detergent, before wearing to avoid skin contact with the solvent.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Heat and Steam to Remove Transfer

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An ironing board or tabletop covered with a towel would work. Be sure the surface that you are using is not sensitive to heat.
Placing a small towel or rag inside the shirt may help prevent any damage to the other side of your garment. If the towel is making your work surface difficult because it is too soft, try a piece of cardboard or very thin plywood instead.
Heating the garment beyond recommended settings may cause damage to the material. Some materials, such as polyester, may actually melt if overheated.
A hairdryer on its hottest setting, held very close to the letters, may heat the adhesive on the back of the transfer enough for it to become malleable and be removed.^{[6]
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Research source}
Alternately, you can use steam to treat the transfer. Place a wet towel over the transfer and put a very hot iron on top of it. ^{[7]
X
Research source} The steam may heat the adhesive on the back of the transfer enough for it to become malleable and be removed.
Once the transfer has loosened with the heat, scrape a sharp knife along the edge to pry up the iron-on transfer. ^{[8]
X
Research source} Once part of the transfer has been pried up, it should be easier to continue pulling up the transfer a little at a time.
You may need to do one very small area of the transfer at a time to keep it very hot in order to keep scraping it away.
This method may take a long time. Put on some of your favorite music and challenge yourself to stick with it until it is all finished.
After the transfer has been removed, you may find some adhesive left over. You can try removing it with rubbing alcohol or an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone. Be sure to check a discreet corner of the material for reaction before using any chemical on the fabric.
After you have removed the transfer and residue, launder the garment as you normally do. Be sure to do this if you used any kind of chemical to remove leftover residue, as chemicals may irritate or harm your skin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing a Transfer With An Iron

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Be sure that the transfer is facing up, and lay the garment out completely flat. If you do not have an ironing board, you can lay a towel across a hard surface such as a table, counter, washing machine, or dryer.
Placing a small towel or rag inside the shirt may help prevent any damage to the other side of your garment. If the towel is making your work surface difficult because it is too soft, try a piece of cardboard or very thin plywood instead.
Heating the garment beyond recommended settings may cause damage to the material. Some materials, such as polyester, may actually melt if overheated. This method involves direct heat and runs a higher risk of damaging the garment than other methods.
The iron should be as hot as possible. This may mean that the iron will be hotter than the care instructions for the garment allow. If you are worried about damaging the garment, you may want to try a different method. You could try starting with a medium heat and slowly turning the iron hotter to find the right temperature that will remove the transfer but not damage the garment.
If the transfer is made of vinyl, place parchment paper over the letters and iron directly on the parchment paper. The vinyl transfer will essentially melt and stick to the parchment paper, and you can peel the letters away from the shirt by removing the parchment paper. This only works with vinyl transfers.
The heat from the iron should essentially melt the transfer away. ^{[9]
X
Research source} Start with a corner and work your way across the transfer.
Once a corner has come off, make quick movements with your iron in the direction of the transfer. ^{[10]
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Research source} It should continue to peel up and possibly burn off as you go.
Repeat the strokes of the iron directly on the transfer until it has been completely removed. If you garment appears to be getting damaged, you may want to turn down the heat a bit.
After the transfer has been removed, you may find some adhesive left over. You can try removing it with rubbing alcohol or an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone. Be sure to check a discreet corner of the material for reaction before using any chemical on the fabric.
After you have removed the transfer and residue, launder the garment as you normally do. Be sure to do this if you used any kind of chemical to remove leftover residue, as chemicals may irritate or harm your skin.

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Question

How do you remove iron-on transfer glue from fabric?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If there’s still adhesive sticking to the fabric after taking off the decal, you might be able to remove it by blotting the area with a cloth or cotton ball soaked in acetone (nail polish remover). Next, blot the area with a clean cloth to try to pick up the glue. If you’re worried about the acetone staining or damaging the fabric, an alternative method is to put the garment in the freezer to freeze the glue, then scrape it off with a spoon or a dull knife while it’s still brittle and hard.

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Is there a way to remove iron-on transfer paper if it gets stuck to a shirt?

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If paper gets stuck to the shirt, that usually means that the transfer didn’t completely take. Try laying the transfer back down and pressing it again. If you notice a few pieces of paper still sticking, spritz the shirt lightly with water, lay a sheet of Teflon over the transfer, and press it again. The remaining fragments should come off.

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How do you take off an iron-on patch?

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Staff Answer

Iron-on patches are applied with heat-activated glue. Put a piece of cloth or parchment paper over the patch and run your iron over it to heat it up and soften the glue again, then carefully peel off the patch. You can then use a fabric-safe adhesive remover to take off any glue residue.

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Tips

Combine several of the methods above if desired. You may need to use more than one approach to remove your transfer.

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Your ability to remove the transfer partly depends on the type of transfer and the adhesive that was used. Remember that most transfers are meant to be permanent.

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Be aware that the effectiveness of transfer solvents is diminished the longer the transfer has been on the clothing.

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