A sticker label is a representation of a brand. You can find a sticker label on almost any container for a consumer product, such as bottles and jars. To make the most out of these containers, many people remove their product labels to repurpose them for personal use.
However, removing a sticker is one thing, but removing leftover adhesive residue is another. Removing label residue can pose challenges, especially if the label is made from durable material and stuck on a resilient surface.
Using the Right Cleaning Materials
We list down some tools you can use to remove product label residue. here are some top contenders you can add to your cleaning inventory:
- Rubbing Alcohol: Using rubbing alcohol to remove label residue works on various surfaces, such as plastic, glass, and wood. For tougher labels, apply a wet rag or cloth over the label for a few minutes, softening the adhesive. After that, you can remove it by slowly peeling it from the sides with a razor or sharp-edged object
- Water: Fill your sink with hot water and add dish soap. Submerge the product and leave it for at least 15 minutes (the water shouldn’t be too hot), though the length of time needed will depend on the label’s adhesive strength. Once done, you can slowly peel the label off from a corner. You should get to wipe off the leftover residue with a clean cloth.
- Vinegar: Get an ample amount of vinegar and warm it without boiling. After that, you can either submerge the container in the vinegar or get a cloth, soak it, and apply it to the label. You should be able to peel the label from a corner, then scrape the leftover residue off with a razor.
- Hairdryer: With a hairdryer, you’ll need to set it on warm and heat the area around the label for about a minute. The trick to this method is the heat that melts the adhesive. You can remove the label and use a razor to scrape off any leftover residue.
- Goo Gone Spray: Using a goo gone spray is highly effective on any sticker label residue. First, spray it over the affected area then press a towel against it for at least 15 minutes. Afterwards, you can remove the label from the corners and again use a razor or a sponge to scrape or scrub any residue left.
Cleaning Residue from Specific Surfaces
Now, you have a general idea of the materials you can use to remove sticker residue. Here are some of the most common surfaces where product labels are often placed:
- Plastic: Usually, plastic is a tricky surface that product labels have a hard time sticking to. For this reason, manufacturers recommend a variety of products to remove them, such as nail polish remover on top of the substances mentioned above.
- Glass: Glass is one of the more resilient surfaces for product labels, but it’s also easy to remove labels from them. Generally, all you need to do is to submerge them in warm water without soap.
- Ceramic/Porcelain: On these surfaces, paper labels are the ones that are extensively used. They’re usually easy to remove but may tear up halfway through, which leaves behind a sticky surface. Vinegar is the best substance to use on these surfaces.
- Metal/Tin: The easiest way to remove stickers and leftover label residue on metal or shiny surfaces is to soak them with a wet rag and leave them be until the adhesive becomes weak.
Conclusion
Sticker labels are a good icon, but people will want to remove them to reuse a product container. You should use the materials mentioned above to avoid spending a long time removing leftover adhesive by hand.
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