How to remove sticker residue

It will soon be time to put Christmas away for another year. It may only be days since Boxing Day but Christmas will already be dusted away from some homes.

It's usually as you begin the post-Christmas clear up that you wish you had given more thought to sticking Christmas cards on glass and cute looking santas on walls.

After you have taken the Christmas cards and decorations, or birthday day cards down, you may find remnants linger on -- in the form of sticker residue.

There are many tried and tested ways to remove sticker residue but caution needs to be exercised. You will need to bear in mind a few simple rules before you begin the job in hand.

Some stickers are fairly easy to remove whilst others seem to have far too much adhesive applied to them. The ease of removal will also depend upon the item that the sticker was attached to. Obviously some surfaces will offer better adhesion than others.

Getting started

Let’s start with the actual item. The method of removal of any residue will depend on the material that the item is made out of.

​For example, soft scouring pads are fine for some surfaces but may scratch others. A sponge, with a liberal amount of warm soapy water, can, alternatively, treat some surfaces. Read any manufacturer’s instructions before you begin as these may offer advice and warnings.

Methods to remove sticker or label residue

It is best to start with the least destructive and intrusive method initially. For many items, this may be as simple as using an eraser. If the residue is on glass, an eraser may do the trick first time. Work on a small corner of the residue at first, so that you can check the results.

The next option to try should be sticky tape

This may sound silly but using a heavy duty sticky tape and applying just a little pressure, could remove any sticky residue from clothing, curtains and other such material items. Take care when choosing the tape, so that you do not leave any additional residue on the surface. Duct tape will often be the best option.

It may be possible to remove the residue if you first freeze the item. This will only be suitable for small items. It works on the same principle as freezing chewing gum, so that it can be easily removed from items.

Art Galleries often use a tiny amount of methylated or surgical spirits to remove sticky residues. You could also try a surgical hand wash, alcohol gel or even alcohol. Again it is vital that you have assessed the material first. Obviously such products should be fine of glass and some plastics.

Various oil based products that you may have around your home, could help remove sticker residue from furniture. Oil based furniture polish and cooking oil are good examples. Take care however.

There are many branded sticker residue removing products on the market. These can be expensive and usually unnecessary. Most of us can find what we need in our homes already. However, if you have any concerns invest in one of these branded products.

Remember, if your attempts at sticker residue removal fail, it could cost you lots of money in the long run.

Next Christmas will you think before you 'stick'?

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