The adhesive residue on labels is troublesome and gives people a headache, but fortunately it is not difficult to remove. The method of removal depends on how stubborn the adhesive is. This article will introduce some good ways to remove adhesive.
1. Rub, press, and scrape
1. Use scissors, an old credit card, or a knife to scrape off the remaining adhesive. If the tool you use is very sharp, try to scrape sideways, otherwise it will easily leave scratches. If you use a credit card to scrape the adhesive, you don't have to worry about scratching the surface of the object, so you can operate it more freely.
Be careful when using a knife or scissors to handle adhesive on glass or metal objects, as these surfaces are easily scratched. It is best to use other methods to remove adhesive from such items.
Remember to scrape outward and do not point the blade towards yourself to avoid accidental injury.
2. Wrap the paper tape around your finger, and then use it to press the remaining adhesive. Wrap a circle of tape around your index and middle fingers, with the tape facing out. Press the remaining adhesive with your taped fingers and use the adhesive surface to pull off the adhesive. Repeat the pressing and pulling process to remove all the adhesive that can be removed.
If the tape loses its stickiness before you clean it off, you can turn it to the other side or use a new tape.
3. Use your fingers to roll the glue into balls. This method is very effective if the glue is freshly left and is not that strong yet. Use your fingers to gently rub all the adhesive together. The adhesive will slowly roll into a ball and can be easily peeled off.
4. Wipe off the remaining adhesive with a damp cloth. You can use regular wipes or disinfectant wipes. Wipe away any remaining adhesive with a damp cloth until it no longer feels sticky to the touch. You may need to wait for the surface to dry before repeating several times to completely remove the adhesive.
2. Use soapy water and vinegar
1. Fill the container with soapy water. This method works best for things like glass jars that can be soaked in water without being damaged. The container must be large enough to hold the items you want to wash and a few glasses of water, for example you can use a large bowl. Mix dishwashing detergent and hot water and pour it into a container.
Don’t fill it too full, otherwise the water will overflow when you soak objects in it.
2. Soak for half an hour. Taking glass jars as an example, the soapy water must completely cover the label and residual adhesive. After half an hour of soaking, the glue will have dissolved and the residue should come off easily.
3. Rub the surface of the object with soapy water. After half an hour of soaking, whatever residue remains should be easily removed. Wet a rag with soapy water and wipe away any residue.
4. Use vinegar to wipe off any remaining adhesive. Whatever the glue is, it should have softened after being soaked in soapy water for so long. Even if there is still some stubborn glue on the surface, it should be easily removed by treating it with diluted vinegar.
Vinegar cannot be used on marble, gemstones, aluminum and pig iron, as it will corrode and damage the surfaces of these objects.
3. Use other daily necessities
1. Wear disposable gloves to protect the work surface. Although some daily products can remove adhesive, they can irritate the skin. So wear latex gloves to avoid accidents. If you are working on a table or counter, be sure to lay out newspaper and take protective measures.
2. Choose the appropriate product based on the surface you want to clean. The choice of what to deal with adhesive depends not only on the material of the contact surface, but also on how much adhesive remains. Oil-based products should not be used on porous surfaces, and corrosive items such as vinegar should not be used on metal and stone.
Some everyday products are more effective than professional products for removing adhesive.
3. Use rubbing alcohol to clean most surfaces. Rubbing alcohol does not leave any stains, evaporates quickly, and can effectively offset the stickiness of adhesive, making it the best choice for removing adhesive. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can use vodka instead. But don't use sweet alcohol like rum, which can leave stains on surfaces.
Dip alcohol on a rag and rub the adhesive area vigorously.
After rubbing for 15 seconds, check whether there is any adhesive residue. If there is any left, rub it until it is completely removed.
4. Use cooking oil to clean the non-porous surface. They can be easily removed by letting a little cooking oil soak into the adhesive. Cooking oil does not contain any harsh chemicals and is suitable for cleaning delicate surfaces. Porous materials such as wood or fabric can absorb cooking oil and leave stains, so don't treat these materials with it. If you're not sure whether cooking oil will stain, find a secluded spot and test it first. If the cooking oil dries without leaving any stains, you can use cooking oil to treat the adhesive on the material.
Dip a small amount of cooking oil on a paper towel and cover it on the adhesive object.
Wait a few minutes for the cooking oil to penetrate into the glue.
Take off the paper towel and scrape off or wipe the adhesive clean.
5. Mix 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Mix baking soda and cooking oil to form a paste that can be used to remove residual glue from surfaces. Use your fingers to spread the mixture onto the remaining glue. Baking soda and cooking oil can remove adhesive residue without scratching the surface. Once the glue residue has been removed, you can wipe off any excess mixture with a paper towel.
Unused mixture can be stored in a plastic bag for later use.
6. Rub the sticky residue with vinegar. Vinegar can also make the adhesive come off more easily, but it takes more effort than rubbing it with alcohol. Vinegar needs to be properly diluted with water before use for best results. Vinegar can damage materials such as marble, gemstones, aluminum, and cast iron and should not be used on these surfaces.
Dip a little vinegar on a rag and wipe the adhesive area firmly.
After wiping for 15 seconds, check to see how much adhesive remains. Keep rubbing until there is no glue left at all.
7. Apply a thick layer of peanut butter on the remaining adhesive. Peanut butter is rich in oils and has a mild texture that can replace many acidic products in removing gum. If you're not sure what to use with your glue, the safest bet is to use peanut butter.
Spread the peanut butter on the adhesive and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Wipe off the peanut butter. At this point, most of the adhesive residue should also be removed.
8. Use professional adhesive removal products. Professional adhesive removal products are safe to use on many surfaces, but some may leave oily stains on the surface.
Follow directions on product packaging. It will indicate suitable materials and methods of use.
9. Use mayonnaise to treat the remaining glue. Mayonnaise contains vinegar and oil, which is great for dealing with sticky residue. But don't use it on porous materials like wood, plastic, or fabric, as it may leave oily stains.
Spread the mayonnaise onto the glue.
Use firm force to remove any remaining adhesive.
Tips
You can also use WD-40 lubricant, patented products, deodorant, perfume, oil-free nail polish remover, lighter fuel, etc. But remember, the more complex the product ingredients are, the easier it is to leave marks on surfaces such as wood, plastic, and cloth.
Plastic cutlery, old credit cards, bank cards, and special plastic paint shovels are all good for scraping away glue.
Pour a little nail polish remover on a napkin and gently wipe the adhesive area. Nail nail remover can easily remove adhesive.
Apply a layer of correction fluid to the adhesive on the metal surface, and then wipe it off with an eraser. This should remove all the adhesive without leaving any traces.
Be careful if you want to scrape labels off plastic, as you may scratch the plastic if you keep scratching it.
If you don't know how to treat the adhesive on a certain surface, try soaking it in soapy water. This method has the least chance of damaging the material.
Disinfecting wipes are also effective.
If there is any adhesive residue on your phone or phone case, you can easily remove it by wiping it with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. After removing the adhesive, remember to clean up any remaining nail polish remover.
Use sunscreen spray or sunscreen to remove the adhesive and it can be done in five minutes.