How to remove glue from stickers on different surfaces: life hacks

No product today can do without stickers. Informational, protective, advertising, service, and ultimately, price tags - they all spoil the look of things. That's why we often want to get rid of them. But the problem is the rather strong glue that holds them on.

OBOZREVATEL looked into methods of glue removal. It's important to remember that there is no universal method. Much depends on the material on which the sticker was placed.

Glass Surfaces

Glass is one of the easiest surfaces to remove adhesive from. The smooth and resistant material can withstand quite radical means and influences. You can remove the sticker from the glass by blowing a hairdryer on the appropriate place or pouring hot water on it. Under the influence of temperature, the adhesive substance will lose its properties, and the paper it holds can be easily removed.

To remove the label, the glass object can be immersed in hot water for 10-15 minutes, and then gently pry it off by the corner. The only thing left to do is to wipe off small traces of the adhesive with hot water or a solvent.

You can also hold the stickers over steam or heat them with a hairdryer for a few minutes. This also weakens the adhesive and allows you to remove the label by the corner.

If you are afraid of damaging the glass with high temperatures, you can use a melamine sponge to wipe off the adhesive. As far as possible, mechanically clean the object from the paper part of the sticker, moisten the sponge, and rub it on the contaminated area. It is better not to use this method if you are cleaning an item that will come into contact with food.

Metal Surfaces

Another resistant and usually smooth material that can be safely cleaned of glue. Even oils, alcohol, and other solvents are suitable. To speed up the cleaning process, heat the area with the sticker beforehand to loosen the adhesive.

Acids such as vinegar, citric acid, or citrus juices are good for cleaning metal. Apply the liquid to the contaminated area and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then remove the sticker and wash the area with water.

Oil-based products also destroy the adhesive. Place a paper or cloth on the work surface to avoid stains, moisten a napkin with grease, and rub the sticker with it. Allow the product to work, and then gently wipe the label off to avoid scratching the surface. You can repeat the procedure several times to achieve the perfect result.

If the metal surface on which the label is placed is painted, find out what kind of paint it is covered with and choose the adhesive solvent accordingly. Solvents can damage the coating.

Textiles

Clothing and other textiles are more sensitive to the products used to treat them. Fabrics are easily stained; their dyes can be accidentally dissolved, and friction can damage the fibers. Therefore, any chosen product should first be tested on an invisible area of the product.

You can remove the glue from the fabric with alcohol. Soak a sponge or napkin with pure alcohol or an alcohol-containing liquid and soak the sticker with it. After a few minutes, when the alcohol has worked, wipe off the label with a sponge. The same method can be used to clean textiles with vinegar or a solution of laundry soap.

Thicker fabrics can be cleaned with tape - thin and delicate items can be damaged. Press a strip of tape to the area from which you want to remove the sticker and then tear it off immediately. The procedure will most likely have to be repeated several times.

The sticker can also be removed with an iron. To do this, turn the item inside out, place a piece of paper under the label, and run a hot iron over it. The label will gradually stick to the paper, and in a few approaches, you will remove it completely.

You can also treat fabrics with special textile cleaning sprays. They help clean cuffs and collars and remove adhesive residue.

Wooden Surfaces

Due to the texture of wood, removing stickers from it is not so easy. Oils, alcohol, and erasers can help.

If the wood is painted, vegetable oil will help clean it. Soak a paper towel with the product and treat the glue residue properly. When the grease penetrates the adhesive, you can scrape off the residue with a knife and wash off the oil with a suitable degreaser, such as dishwashing liquid.

An ordinary school eraser will help to mechanically remove the glue from the wood. Remove as much of the paper and glue as you can, and then rub the residue well. Over time, they will be removed, and the place where the sticker was will only need to be washed.

Plastic Surfaces

Plastic can be very sensitive to solvents, various substances, and high temperatures. Therefore, before applying one of the above methods to plastic, simply test it on an inconspicuous area of the object.

A paste-like mixture of baking soda, water, and detergent gel can also help remove stickers from plastic. It should be applied to the glue residue, left for several minutes, and gently wiped off with a sponge.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you how to get rid of scratches on your smartphone.

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