March 27, 2023

How to Remove Sticker Residue

It has happened to all of us, you open your washing machine to put your clothes in the dryer, and you are greeted by a mess of sticky glue residue. You somehow missed a sticker on one of your new clothing items, and now that it’s been washed, it’s a mess.

Thankfully, removing sticker residue from your clothes (or from any household surface!) doesn’t have to be a huge chore. Here are some tried-and-true strategies to test the next time you face a sticky situation (pun intended).

Before You Begin

Removing that stubborn sticker residue doesn’t have to be a huge chore, especially with just a bit of prep work beforehand. No more dragging your garments on the subway to make it to the dry cleaners before they close!

If you’re removing sticker residue from clothes, try to get as much residue off with your fingers as possible before moving on to additional treatment methods. The less residue you have to deal with, the easier it will be to get your clothes looking like new again!

On top of that, do not dry your wet clothes after you discover sticker residue. The residue will be much harder to remove after it’s dried. If you don’t see the residue until the garment has already been through the dryer, don’t panic. It can still be removed; you just may need to use a little bit of extra elbow grease.

Removing Sticker Residue from Clothes

Size or price stickers on clothes can be easy to miss when you’re throwing things in the washing machine. If you’ve made the mistake of washing a sticker, you can easily eliminate the residue with substances you likely already have around your home.

For clothing made with natural fibers like cotton or linen, you can use acetone nail polish remover to break down hardened adhesive from stickers. Pour a small amount of nail polish remover onto a cloth or cotton ball and gently apply it to the adhesive, then you can slowly pick away at the sticker as it releases from the fabric.

Synthetic fabrics should be treated with warm water and dish soap to remove sticker residue. Nail polish remover can harm your more sensitive fabrics, but soap and water will keep your clothes from getting ruined while also effectively removing any stickiness. To make things even easier, stick the garment in the freezer for an hour before trying to remove the adhesive.

For particularly stubborn stickers, consider purchasing a specific stain-removing solvent, such as Carbona Stain Devils No. 1. Just be sure to check your preferred solvent to ensure it’s safe for use on the fabric you’re working with.

Clothes marked as “dry clean only” should be treated by a professional. Still, you can use dry cleaning solvent to spot-treat the area before taking your item to the dry cleaner.

Removing Sticker Residue from Glass

Glass items like drinking glasses, flatware, picture frames, and others often have stickers. These stickers tend to come off cleanly and easily, but sometimes, you are left with a bit of residue.

Thankfully, getting sticker residue off glass usually is not difficult and involves a bit of hot water and dishwashing soap. Soak the glass in your hot, soapy water for at least an hour before scrubbing at the residue with a dish sponge. If the glass can’t be placed in the sink or tub, you can soak a towel in the cleaning solution and apply it to the glass every 15 minutes or so.

Once all the residue is removed from the glass, you can use a standard glass cleaner like Windex to remove any fingerprints or remnants of stickiness.

Removing Sticker Residue from Metal

When you are trying to get a sticker off a metal surface, you shouldn’t have to work too hard. To remove sticker residue from metal, put a small amount of baby oil on the affected area. After 20 minutes, use a cotton ball or rag soaked in baby oil to rub the sticker residue away. If baby oil alone doesn’t remove the residue, you can also use WD-40.

While you shouldn’t have to put in a lot of effort, you’ll want to be conscious of how hard you’re scrubbing. If you scrub your bare metal too hard, you could cause accidental buffing or discoloration. If you’re working with painted metal, you can use equal parts coconut oil and baking soda to create a cleaning solution that won’t scratch the paint.

Removing Sticker Residue from Plastic

Just like with metal surfaces, plastic is susceptible to damage if scrubbed too hard. Instead of aggressively working at sticker residue with a sponge, you can use a gentler removal method to retain the look and integrity of your plastic.

Fill up a sink or small tub, then add a cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of dish soap and stir. Let your plastic item soak in the mixture for 20 minutes, then rub at the residue until it’s gone. Since a sponge can easily scratch your plastic, it’s best to remove the residue with your fingers.

Removing Sticker Residue from Wood

Last but not least, you might be dealing with sticker residue on wood. This situation is a particularly tricky one; since wood is quite porous, sticker adhesive can get buried in the grain, becoming nearly impossible to remove. However, you don’t have to grab a sander to get the residue off. 

To remove sticker residue from wood, grab a hairdryer or heat gun and turn it to the lowest setting. Gently heat the residue, then use some hand cleaner with pumice to rub the residue back and forth with the grain. Once the surface feels clean, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.

Working with White Glove Cleaner

Sticker residue is just one part of cleaning and maintaining your space. Regular cleaning can easily get overwhelming, especially when you live in the fast-paced world of NYC. That’s why White Glove Cleaner is proud to serve clients around the city and provide top-quality cleaning services for homes and apartments in Manhattan.

Opt for a one-time deep clean of your space or get started with recurring cleaning services every week, two weeks, or month. We’ll get all the nooks and crannies of your space and ensure your home is the tidy and welcoming place it should be. In addition to our standard cleaning services, we also offer add-on services like organization, laundry service, and more. Contact White Glove Cleaner today to learn more about all our New York City cleaning services!