Nothing can evoke PTSD in me quicker than the memory of life before I knew how to properly remove a sticker from a newly-purchased item: the sticky fingers, the glue residue which never goes away and the frustration are all side-effects of unsuccessful sticker removal. Setting aside the fact that I will never understand why stores go out of their way to place price stickers in the most inconvenient spots, stickers are a regular hassle and once I learned two different ways to remove them, I carried on to live a more normal, balanced, happy life.
In my world, you can remove stickers 1 of 2 ways. Option 1 requires Spray Cleaner, Goo Gone & Paper Towels. Some of you may not be familiar with Goo Gone but I can tell you that it is as essential to my household as toothpaste and laundry detergent: invest in brand-name Goo Gone.
Option 2 requires a hair-dryer.
Let's explain further:
OPTION 1:
Last week, I was strolling through Ross when I came upon this adorable little TV Stand for 9 dollars. I had to swoop it on up. True to form, the store put the price right where you wouldn't want it. So proper sticker removal skills were key.
(1) Upper Left: The sticker I started with.
(2) Upper Right: Drop Goo Gone over the sticker to saturate it completely.
(2) Upper Right: Drop Goo Gone over the sticker to saturate it completely.
(3) Lower Left: The submerged sticker soaking in the Goo Gone.
(4) Lower Right: Place paper towel over the saturated sticker and hold it there for 5-10 minutes.
(4) Lower Right: Place paper towel over the saturated sticker and hold it there for 5-10 minutes.
********
(5) Upper Left: When the sticker is ready, it will pull up easily. If it is NOT ready, it will not. Do not force it.
(7) Bottom: Finally, use any type of regular household cleaner to spray away the small amount of Goo Gone, wipe and you are done! It's as if it had never been there at all.
OPTION 2:
Though I always prefer Option 1 to 2; 2 will get you out in a bind. Simply grab your hairdryer and spray HOT air on the sticker for 4-9 minutes. Eventually, the glue is compromised enough where the sticker will lift up without friction. The downside is that it kinda hurts your fingers but hey- it definitely works.
Any more tips- how do you remove your unsightly stickers?
25 comments:
Wow, that will be very helpful, hate those stupid stickers as I pick them off and then have to keep picking the little bits off that won't come.
I will have to remember this! I have always just soaked the sticker with cleaner (usually Windex) and then used a razor blade to scrape it off. This will be SO much less damaging to my newly purchased items!
Ohmigosh Caitlin I LOVE you for this post! Why? I have a stunning pair of shoes that have price stickers on the sole; thus, I refuse to wear them. Totally trying this out ASAP! :)
Good advice :) I bought a pair of shoes last year that someone had put stickers on.. they were suede.. it did not work out well :(
It's so true that the stickers often are applied in the worst possible locations on the products (like covering the holes on bath powder or obscuring critical information on health products) and, of course, just looking really tacky.
Your sticker removal methods look very practical. The Goo Gone looks like a good product. I wonder if it works on that annoying glue they put on the "agreements" behind credit cards when they send the cards in the mail? Just one note about the hairdryer: Be careful! That air stream is really hot close to the dryer and can melt or blister some things. It would work great for removing stickers and labels put on with "hot glue".
I have generally removed stickers with neurotic time consuming application of fingernail peeling skill I've developed over the year. I have to admit that sometimes the surface underneath wants to come up with it and there's often a yucky residue. Some really tough stickers (on glass for instance) I have soaked and tried a plastic scraper first followed by a razor blade if that didn't work. I'll be on the look-out for Goo Gone.
I didn't know the hairdryer trick! thanks :) Enjoy your 4th!!
I love goo gone! A great invention!
Great tips and lord those stickers annoy me to no end. I find a little soap and water helps too. However, stores just need a better adhesive! Why make us do all the work? hahah
this is pretty nifty, i never would have thought!
I always have Goo Gone. Always!
Whoa great post! My boyfriend and I just bought a coffee table and had the worst time trying to get off the sticker... may have to show him this post!
xx
The Urban Umbrella
xoxo
http://www.theurbanumbrella.com/
These stickers are the bane of my existence. WHY do they put them in the worst places?
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
Great advice! I wonder if they sell Goo Gone here in Australia - i will have to investigate :) xx
Goo gone! :)
um, this made me laugh. these stickers must drive you INSANE! I CAN'T STAND when they leave that unsightly residue. STUPID! i am glad there are ways around it! i used to HATE when i would see sticker residue on a cd cover. it ruins the entire aesthetic! yes, i am irritable like that! lol
this isn't REALLY related, but this idiot i went to high school with got himself a sticker price gun, and went to the grocery store and re-priced items as he saw fit. like reducing the price of a pack of steaks to 99 cents. and so on. and then he took all of the items he repriced to the check out and could not BELIEVE when they knew what he had done and had him arrested. IDIOT! his name was jerome, but he went by rome. lol
boy, i am babbling! again! sorry! and happy 4th to you!
I don't thnk we have goo gone here but I've always used eucalyptus oil and it works pretty well.. I've never tried the dryer trick so thanks for sharing I'll definitely keep it in mind for next time!
Well that was easy enough, thanks! Now following on Bloglovin!
xo,
Courtney
girlavantgarde.wordpress.com
these things are a pain in the ass and are almost always, the death of me! some stores actually have the glossy ones that don't stick and some still use the ugly paper thin let me stick myself on this item you just paid for a ridiculous amount of money for the rest of your life type of price tag paper. ugh.
these things are a pain in the ass and are almost always, the death of me! some stores actually have the glossy ones that don't stick and some still use the ugly paper thin let me stick myself on this item you just paid for a ridiculous amount of money for the rest of your life type of price tag paper. ugh.
ohhh tips! i love tips like this cos they are ESSENTIAL!! everyone will ALWAYS deal with that one fucking sticker that wont come off! lol and i use the goo-gone method :)
Stores like Ross & Marshalls put sticker prices where they know it will annoy people, hate that.
I just usually get a cloth & alil water to take the sticker off, however there is the sticky stuff still on. "Goo Gone", that's funny, I want some of that.
Great find on the TV stand, I love Ross for home goods (& shoes/bags!)
Oh. My. God. This just saved my life forever and ever and ever.
This is amazing - thank you for this!! i always hate those nasty stickers so I definitely will be trying goo goo gone for sure!
Thank you, you wonderful angel!!
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