Hacks that help with that sticker residue!

Posted on July 24, 2023 by Monica Reed

Sometimes, when you peel off a price tag sticker, look down and see a lot of sticky residue left behind? Then there is trying to remove the leftover glue, that NEVER goes well, and you’re left with an unattractive and sticky spot on your new item. Picking at the residue with your fingernails is tedious and typically doesn’t work, making the whole situation even more frustrating.

All of these hacks are not intended for use with all materials. Some will be better suited for certain types of surfaces and may even cause damage to others. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the item before proceeding. Here are all the different ways to remove those annoying stickers!

1. Use WD-40. WD-40 is a lubricant. When sprayed on a sticker or the residue left behind from one, it will work to loosen the adhesive’s bond, making it easier to remove. Start by removing as much of the sticker as possible. Then, spray the area with WD-40, and let it sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes. As the WD-40 sits over the adhesive, the lubricant will release the bond. After about 15 minutes, you’ll be able to wipe away the rest of the sticker residue.

2. Soak it in hot, soapy water. Sometimes, the best way to remove a price tag sticker will be to soak it in hot and soapy water. Clearly, this hack will not work for any items that are too bulky to soak in the sink or bathtub, or those made of wood or other materials that should not be submerged under water. However, for price tag sticker residue stuck on something made of glass or plastic, this hack offers one of the simplest solutions for your problem.

3. Use a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive. Set it to the hottest setting and hold it above the sticker — about 1.5 to 2 inches away. Slowly move the blow-dryer back and forth over the residue for about one minute (sometimes it could take closer to two). After a minute, turn the hair dryer off and try to peel the sticker off. It should peel off much more easily.

4. Scrub it with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can also come in handy when trying to remove. After peeling off as much of the sticker as possible, dampen the remainder using a wet towel. Then, you’ll want to rub some of the alcohol directly over the residue. Rub back and forth several times to make sure that the sticker becomes saturated with the alcohol. After 30 seconds or so, the alcohol should begin breaking down the residue. Once this happens, you should be able to easily wipe it away and rinse the alcohol off of your item.

5. Eraser. A standard pencil eraser can also help remove the sticker residue from a price tag sticker or a brand sticker.

6. Cover it with peanut butter. This sounds totally strange and weird! Peanut butter can actually help remove that annoying sticker residue! Who knew?? The reason it works is because of the oil saturates the adhesive. Leave it sitting on the sticky area for at least five minutes. Use a paper towel or a sponge to wipe the peanut butter and the residue off of the items.

7. Freeze clothing with sticker residue on it. Sometimes, price tag stickers are placed directly on an article of clothing. The stickers peel off easily. Sometimes the stickers’ adhesive is too strong, and they don’t come off without leaving the back of the sticker on your new shirt or jeans. Then there could be a time when you forget about that sticker and wash the new item and then, a forever reminder of said sticker!

8. Wipe it off with a Magic Eraser. This is self-explanatory.