If we stop for a moment and look at our house, we can see that we have a lot of stickers stuck to the walls or other surfaces, and maybe we don’t want them to be there. Fashions pass, and past choices may make us want to remove them. For this reason, we will give you the best tricks to remove adhesive remains from products.
The stickers and adhesives have powerful glues, meaning that when we want to remove them, they do not come off well, and we get frustrated. Many new products come with stickers with factory information, price, or features.
Removing barcodes and stickers without damaging the product can be difficult. We will tell you how to remove them effectively according to the surface type.
Contents
How to remove adhesive residue depending on the surface
To remove the remains of the adhesive, you have to consider the surface. Indeed, there are homemade remover products that you can use on some but not on others. In addition, depending on them, it will also be more or less laborious. Let’s see how to remove the sticky remains of the hand with homemade tricks.
1. Remove traces of adhesive on the glass
Glass may be one of the most challenging surfaces for decals to clean. This is because heat cannot be used due to the risk of breaking the glass or pointing objects for fear of scratching it. Please take note of how and what you need to achieve it.
Utensils
- Absorbent paper or a paper towel.
- Glass cleaner.
- Blade or smooth scraper with handle.
- Solvent: white spirit, acetone, degreaser, industrial cleaners, etc.
What should you do?
- Firstly, spray the area where the adhesive is located with the cleaner and dry well. You have to clean the surface so that it does not have traces of dust.
- Once dry, use the chosen solvent and apply it with the help of the paper. Apply it on the adhesive and let it act for a few minutes. Ideally, start with less abrasive solvents such as alcohol or acetone.
- Then, with the help of the scraper, carefully remove the sticker and clean the remains of the glue. Once everything is removed, cleanse the crystals with the specific product.
Ensure that the solvent does not contact other materials, as it could damage them. Also, work with comfortable gloves so that your hands are not damaged.
2. Remove adhesive residue on wood or plastic
If the item you purchased can get wet, it is ideal to soak it in hot water for one minute. Then you can see that the sticker is very easy to remove.
To finish, clean with a soft sponge so there are no remains. If there are still marks, soak and wash with hot water.
You can also add a little dish soap to hot water. This product is beneficial as it can help break down the adhesive on the sticker and make it easier to clean the surface.
It is best to use these tricks in an inconspicuous area to ensure the product will not be damaged. In case the previous schemes fail, an industrial solvent should be used. However, this will damage the paint on the product, so repainting will be necessary.
3. Remove adhesive residue on delicate surfaces
Another way to remove adhesive residue is by applying heat with a hair dryer. The procedure works as in the previous case:
- Apply heat to the sticker, and after a few seconds, try to remove it carefully.
- If part of the sticker remains stuck, pour a little oil on top of it: this way, it will be easier to remove it with the help of a sponge.
4. Remove adhesive residue from clothing
Removing the remains of adhesive from any article of clothing can be very difficult, so we bring you some tricks so that you can drag this stain and show off your garment without any inconvenience. You must avoid washing stained clothes with other clothes to prevent damaging them.
- Apply a quality detergent directly to the stain.
- Let it act for a few hours.
- Carry out a regular wash of the garment below 40 °C.
- If the stain is not removed in the first wash, you can repeat the process by scrubbing gently with a brush.
5. Remove adhesive stains on metal products
The difficulty in removing adhesive residue from a metal surface will depend on the sticker’s characteristics and the metal itself. In this sense, aluminum surfaces are more delicate and prone to scratches. Also, using industrial solvents on painted objects can damage the paint.
- Ideally, moisten the surface with hot water, trying to remove the remains with the help of a sponge and mild soap.
- Hot air can also be applied with a stripper gun or a hair dryer, increasing the temperature progressively.
- Alcohol, citrus-based cleaners, and industrial paint strippers can be helpful, although they can affect paint.
Tricks to remove adhesive residue effectively
Now that you know how to proceed depending on the surface, we bring you some homemade tricks you can use in a general way. In addition to removing the remains of adhesives, they can also help you recover the lost shine.
1. Olive, sunflower, or almond oil
The oil you use does not matter: the important thing is that it is very hypocritical and helps remove all traces of the adhesive. Of course, if you choose the olive one, you will have a powerful antibacterial, according to this study by the Istituto di Scienze dell’Alimentazione-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy).
- Apply a little oil to a cloth that won’t scratch or mar the surface.
- Carefully rub the surface and the remains of the sticker.
- Help yourself with your hands to remove it from a corner of the adhesive.
Although this method is beneficial, you must remember that oil is a greasy element and can stain the surface: make sure beforehand that it will not affect your furniture, glass, or metals.
Instead of oil, it is also possible to use peanut butter. It is a product with a high-fat content that can also facilitate the removal of the sticker. However, it would be best to keep in mind that cleaning peanut butter from the surface can be somewhat laborious and stain some objects.
2. Alcohol, acetone, or nail polish remover
Perhaps they are the products that most people use to remove the stickers. However, we must emphasize that alcohol or acetone cannot be used for all the surfaces we want. For example, it is corrosive to plastics.
- With the help of a soft cloth, apply a little alcohol. It can be used for medical use. If not, take advantage of the acetone or nail polish remover you have at home.
- Rub very carefully since we do not want the material to break.
If, when passing the cloth, you notice that the surface changes color or its texture is not smooth but scratchy, do not continue because you may damage the material. In that case, you can follow the many tricks we have told you about.
If you use a stripper or an industrial remover, you must wear a mask and gloves. Experts warn about the chemicals that most of these include, which can cause problems in the mucous membranes and the lungs when interacting with them.
3. Screen cleaning foam
You may not have this product at home regularly or are simply unaware of its existence. It doesn’t matter; maybe from now on, you want to have a jar at home: in addition to keeping the screens clean, it will help you remove stickers and glue residue.
- Apply a generous layer on top of the adhesive and on the cloth you want to use.
- Rub vigorously, and you will see how the entire surface is disintegrated and cleaned.
This trick is likely to be a little heavier because it is not a very strong product, but instead, we will know that it will be very safe and careful.
4. Duct tape
Although it may be paradoxical, if the above does not work, you can try to remove the adhesive residue with more adhesive. That is, take some adhesive tape, spread it in the areas where there are remains of this type, wait a few seconds, and then remove it with force. Do it several times so that, little by little, you are detaching the problematic residues.
Many tricks that adapt to each surface
As you can see, there are a large number of different techniques and products that help remove adhesive residue from products. Best of all, you can apply them to other surfaces depending on the delicacy of each product. To enhance its effectiveness, do not hesitate to combine several alternatives.