How to Remove Stickers

Stickers are a great way to showcase your personality and support businesses, brands, or causes that matter to you. They are easy to apply to any of your belongings or various surfaces that could do with a sticker face-lift.

While custom decals are amazing, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to remove them. Maybe the sticker on your laptop doesn’t fit your work environment, or you just don’t care for a certain brand anymore.

Either way, you may be left wondering how to remove stickers without ruining the surface they were stuck to. Well, no need to stress. We’ve got you covered with an ultimate guide to sticker removal!

We’ve done the research, so you don’t have to.

This guide provides simple tips and step-by-step instructions on how to remove stickers from a variety of surfaces. You’ll learn everything you need to know about safely removing stickers while avoiding damage to your prized possessions.

How Do You Get Sticky Labels Off?

No matter the surface or the type of sticker, always soak a wet paper towel or cotton ball with a glue-removal agent or spray the solvent onto the area. The trick is to leave the solvent on the sticker area for enough time to do its magic. Following this rule will help you get any sticker off.

How Do You Remove Dried Stickers?

Stickers are all the same, whether they’re old, new, dried or freshly placed on a surface. The only difference with dried stickers is that you’ll need to leave the solvent or soaked rag on the sticker longer than you would a freshly-placed sticker.

How Do You Remove Stickers Without Damaging Things?

To avoid damaging your products, you need patience, a gentle touch and tender love and care. Most importantly, you need a plastic scraper. It’s easy to remove stickers when you are gentle with your surfaces and use the right sticker-removal solvent.

Is Removing Stickers Hard?

Sticker removal is more challenging on some surfaces than on others, but it’s almost always possible. The quality of the stickers you used can also affect how much effort is required to remove them. In general, removing stickers is not hard.

But don’t worry; we’ll walk you through how to minimize damage to your things and successfully remove those stuck-on stickers easily.

What Are the Different Solutions Available?

Before we look into the different surfaces you’re going to tackle, let’s briefly examine the different types of solutions you can use to remove the stickers.

How to Remove Stickers With White Vinegar

White vinegar is always the first go-to for any offending sticky area. Remember to soak the rag thoroughly and place it on the sticker for about 30 minutes. Should vinegar not render the results you want, try using a plastic razor scraper.

How to Remove Stickers With Rubbing Alcohol

Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) is always an excellent sticker removal option. Thoroughly soak a rag with rubbing alcohol and place it on the sticker area for a minimum of 30 minutes. Submerging stickered items in a solution of warm water and washing soda for 30 minutes is also effective. Remember to always wipe the area down with a water-dampened cloth when finished.

How to Remove Stickers With Lemon Essential Oil

A couple of drops onto the sticker surface should do the trick. Let it sit for 10 minutes before removing the sticker and wiping the surface clean. 

How to Remove Stickers With Baking Soda and Coconut Oil

Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda with a few drops of coconut oil and form a paste. Apply and allow to sit for an hour.

Hair Dryer or Pencil Eraser

Should none of the above food items prove effective, reach for a hair dryer or pencil eraser. Low constant heat and friction are always suitable for sticker removal.

Always understand the type of surface you want to remove the sticker from first, no matter the solution or ingredient you’re using. This brings us to our next topic: How to remove stickers from different surfaces. Every item, material, and surface is different. Naturally, you need to use a variety of sticker-removal solutions and conventionally available products like Goo Gone and applications for different surfaces.

How to Remove Stickers From a Laptop

A laptop is a valuable item that should remain as clean as possible. Laptops need extra love and care when removing unwanted stickers to avoid scratches.

Why not try the plastic scraper technique with a vinegar-soaked rag? We recommend you spot-treat and avoid drenching your laptop in liquid; this is an electronic device after all, and therefore does not mix with water.

For more ways to use rubbing oil, white vinegar and warm water, foam scrub pads and cooking oil, check out our dedicated section on how to remove stickers from laptops.

How to Remove Stickers From Glass

Glass is actually on the simpler side of sticker removal. You have a world of options to choose from; all you need is a careful application to avoid glass breakage. 

• One of our favorite, tried-and-tested methods is a plastic razor scraper. With a plastic razor scraper and a solution of hot water and dish soap, rubbing alcohol, or commercially available products like Goo-Gone, sticker removal becomes a breeze. This technique can also be applied with oil, vinegar, or ready-made cleaners.
• Then there’s the everyday hair dryer. With low heat and a slow blast aimed at the sticker for 30 seconds, the sticker should peel right off. 

Discover more information on how to remove decals from glass.

How to Remove Stickers From Wood

Removing stickers effectively from wood requires an understanding of the type of wood. Is the wood varnished, raw, treated, untreated, or painted? 

Wood is an absorbent, soft, sensitive material, so test the wood first using a small spot area. Avoid damaging the wood using the wrong solution, corrosive material or heat.

• For untreated wood, vinegar, alcohol, and acetone sprayed onto the sticker works wonders. Leave it on for one minute and then scrape it off with a plastic razor scraper. 
• White vinegar is great for painted wood if heated in the microwave for 30 seconds and then applied briefly with a soaked rag.

More techniques for removing stickers from wood include: 

• The rubber eraser technique.
• Soaking the sticker area in cooking oil for 10 to 15 minutes.

Learn more about these applications and solutions concerning how to remove decals from wood/metal appliances.

How to Remove Stickers From Metal

Luckily, when it comes to removing stickers from metal surfaces, there are plenty of options. You can remove stickers from metal by: 

• Soaking the sticker spot with soapy water.
• Applying a baking soda solution.
• Using baby oil or coconut oil and a plastic razor scraper (this technique is enhanced if you also apply heat).
• Using nail polish remover (acetone).

How to Remove Stickers From Plastic

When removing stickers from plastic, use any of the following methods: 

• With cooking oil, spray on the sticker area and leave for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrape it off with a plastic razor scraper. 
• Commercially available products like Goo-Gone. These are easy to use. Spray onto the area, wait 10 minutes and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

How to Remove Stickers From a Car

Stickers can add a fun layer of personalization to your car! However, if you want to

change things up with new stickers, you’ll need to start by removing the old ones. 

• Remove stickers from a car using a low-heat hair dryer. Blast the area for about 30 seconds, and then use a plastic razor scraper to remove the sticker. Always use fresh wax and a car-safe buffer pad to make that area shine afterwards. 
• You can also remove stickers using vinegar. Soak a rag with white vinegar and leave it in the area for at least 30 minutes. Should it not soak the sticker right off, repeat the process. Afterwards, as mentioned above, buff the area with wax. 

How to Remove Stickers From Clothing

Stickers can be a fun accessory to clothing. When you want to update your wardrobe with a sticker change-up, we’ve got the answers to the question. 

Before adding any solution to the fabric, check the clothing label and ensure the item is colorfast (meaning the colors won’t fade or run). 

• Try using acetone or dish soap.
• Make your cleaning solution using warm water.
• Try rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and rub this onto the sticker, followed by a gentle scrape with a spoon or the back of a butter knife.

Become the expert in removing stickers!

How to Remove Stickers From a Fridge

Stickers have become an integral part of fridge doors in family kitchens everywhere, along with the plethora of family photos, grocery lists, and Post-Its. We recommend customized magnets for your fridge instead of traditional stickers. Fortunately for you, you can get these customized stickers from us at StickerYou.

Easily remove stickers from your fridge by soaking a rag in olive oil, cooking oil, baby oil, or mineral oil. Next, dab it onto the entire sticker and allow the oil to seep into the edges. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping it off or using a plastic razor scraper. 

How to Remove Stickers From Books

Books are priceless and fragile treasures. This type of surface needs extra love and care when removing stickers.

So, before using any solution or removal application, pay close attention to the book’s cover and see whether it’s matte, soft-touch, velvet, or paper; this will help you choose the right solution and application.

• First, always start with a hair dryer before opting for liquid solutions. Aim the hair dryer at the corner of the sticker on low heat. Start peeling the corner of the sticker off while keeping aim. Peel off gently. 
• If the sticker is more stubborn, apply nail polish removal with a cotton swab. 

Conclusion

Stickers can be a long-term commitment. While they serve a great purpose in affiliating with brands and developing one’s unique personality and culture, choosing the wrong sticker on the wrong surface can lead to an unwanted long-term commitment. 

However, with this informative guide from our team, it’s easy to get out of your sticky situation and remove unwanted stickers without damaging or dirtying surfaces. This guide will embolden you to confidently change up your sticker and label collections! 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What scrubbing pad or scraper should you use?

Never opt for metal scrapers or wired scrubbing pads. Always opt for a soft nylon or melamine foam scrub pad. To soften the pad, always soak it in water first for a long time so its more rigid texture becomes soft and flexible.

How do I make an all-natural label residue mixture?

Mix two tablespoons of baking soda, one tablespoon of coconut oil, and one drop of orange essential oil in a small bowl. Allow it to form a paste. Keep it in a jar and use it when needed.

What surfaces are best for stickers and make sticker removal easy?

Tiles, laminate, vinyl, and linoleum surfaces are typically the best for stickers. They also release stickers easily from their surface grip.

Do stickers ruin paint?

Stickers and labels do not damage paint-covered surfaces. However, damage can occur if the sticker is removed incorrectly. 

What surfaces do stickers not adhere to? 

Textured surfaces like stucco are not a sticker’s best friend. If there is no smooth surface, stickers generally fall off. 

Are glossy stickers harder to remove from surfaces? 

While glossy stickers are known to last longer, along with highly durable matte and transparent stickers, there are still simple removal solutions for this type of sticker. 

Do stickers wash off? 

Generally, stickers and labels can be washed by wiping over the surface with a damp cloth lightly soaked with a solution of water and soap. 

What is the difference between regular and vinyl stickers?

When it comes to paper stickers, they are more easily marked, and the design can run if water or oil touches the sticker. Vinyl stickers are significantly more durable and last longer, so they also peel off easier when compared to paper stickers. When trying to peel them off, paper stickers generally break apart into smaller pieces.