Stickers. Kids LOVE them, and parents LOATHE them! Or, to be more accurate, parents loathe when stickers end up where they don't belong!
But parents do understand the mess: Stickers are irresistible to kids! And those parents were (of course) kids themselves, so they get it.
I distinctly remember decorating my white dresser with fuzzy red Sandy Lion heart stickers when I was four years old in the 1980s. It was much prettier after that (or at least I thought so - my mother was less than thrilled).
Then as a pre-teen, I remember decorating my school binders in bold die-cut stickers that lined up with the identity I was trying to create for myself: artsy cartoons, declarative "GIRL POWER" decals, colourful peace signs, etc.
Stickers make for great decor when used appropriately. And when they aren't, you can follow these simple steps, depending on the surface they're stuck to.
PLEASE NOTE: For each surface listed below, we’ve provided a non-toxic alternative to those stinky, solvent goo removers. However, we still recommend first testing on an inconspicuous spot to ensure the surface will not become damaged or stained.
1. How to remove stickers stuck to walls
Washable walls (gloss or semi-gloss paint, vinyl wallpaper, water resistant panels, etc.)
• Mix some hot water with a few drops of dishwash liquid and with a sponge, gently apply the solution over the stickers until they are damp.
• Let it sit until the glue softens and dissolves (this may take several minutes).
• Gently wipe away as much of the sticker as you can with the sponge or a cloth, repeating until completely gone.
• If you find any stubborn residue left behind, wipe the area with a little bit of vinegar or baby oil (allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes, or longer if necessary).
• Wipe the softened residue away or gently scrape it off using a flat object (the side of an old credit card works very well).
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Non washable walls (flat/eggshell paint, wallpaper, unsealed wood etc)
• Run a hairdryer over the sticker to soften the adhesive, before carefully peeling it off the wall.
• If necessary, use a flat object (like the side of an old credit card) to help remove the sticker.
2. How to remove stickers stuck to wood
Finished wood & wood furniture
• Run a hairdryer over the sticker to soften the adhesive, then use your fingers to remove as much of the sticker as possible.
• If there is any sticker residue left, use a little toothpaste or orange pumice hand cleaner on a damp cloth and gently run it back and forth over the remaining adhesive.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Raw wood
• Unfinished wood is porous and can stain, so avoid harsh cleaners, solvents, or anything that may damage or stain the wood. Your best choice is to use the hairdryer method to soften the sticker adhesive, removing as much as you can with your fingers.
• Remaining bits of sticker can be removed with tweezers, and stubborn residue can be gently removed with a lightly damp microfiber cloth.
• If necessary, dampen the cloth with a small amount of vinegar to help break down sticky residue.
3. How to remove stickers stuck to glass
Small glass objects
• Small glass objects can be soaked in a sink of hot water and dish soap to break down the sticker and adhesive.
• After soaking for 15-20 minutes, remove as much of the softened sticker as you can using your fingers/fingernails.
• Gently run the rough side of a dish sponge over the area to remove any stubborn residue.
Windows
• Soak the sticker thoroughly with a cotton ball and vinegar or oil (baby oil, mineral oil, vegetable oil).
• Allow to sit so that the glue dissolves.
• Scrape the sticker off with a flat object like a putty knife or the side of an old credit card.
• Wipe clean with a hot, soapy cloth.
4. How to remove stickers stuck to fabric
Clothes
• Remove as much of the sticker as possible with your fingernails or tweezers.
• Place the garment in the freezer until the remaining sticker pieces have hardened, then pull off as much as you can.
• Soak any remaining residue with laundry detergent or spot treatment and launder as normal.
Car or furniture upholstery
• Remove as much of the sticker as possible with your fingernails, tweezers or sticky tape.
• For stubborn residue, use a hairdryer to soften the adhesive, then use a blotting motion with a hot, damp cloth to pull up any remaining bits.
• For really stubborn spots, use hot vinegar instead of hot water.
5. How to remove stickers stuck to plastic
Take extra care with plastic surfaces: they are delicate and can be easily damaged by chemical or solvent adhesive removers, made dull by aggressive scrubbing, become scratched by sharp tools, or can become warped or even melted by heat.
• When removing stickers from plastic surfaces, your best bet is to apply a hot, soapy cloth to the sticker until it’s soaked, allowing it to sit so that glue dissolves. • Rub off as much as you can with your fingers.
• Repeat until the sticker is removed, using a microfibre cloth to wipe off any stubborn residue.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
6. How to remove stickers stuck to tile
• Run a hairdryer (or use a cloth soaked in warm vinegar) over the sticker until the adhesive has started to soften.
• Scrape the sticker off with a razor blade or the side of an old credit card.
• Use a magic eraser to remove any stubborn residue.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
7. How to remove stickers stuck to the inside of the dryer
• Stickers stuck to clothes or hidden in pockets can get seemingly welded to the inside of the dryer! Best bet is to use a hair dryer or a heat gun over the sticker to soften the glue, then scrape it off with a plastic putty knife or the side of an old credit card.
• If any residue remains, wipe the area with vinegar or oil (baby, mineral or vegetable), allow it to soften up, and then scrape again.
• Use a hot, soapy, microfiber cloth to remove any remaining bits and wipe clean.
8. How to remove stickers stuck to the exterior of a car
Be very careful when removing stickers from the body of a car: sharp objects can scratch the paint and chemical adhesive removers and solvents may corrode the surface. Always spot test first.
• Apply oil (mineral, baby, vegetable) to the sticker and allow it to soak in and sit until the glue dissolves.
• Remove as much of the sticker as possible with your fingers, followed by a microfiber cloth until all traces are gone.
• For stubborn adhesive residue: make a paste with a bit of oil and baking soda. Apply a small amount to a cloth and gently rub back and forth until all traces of the adhesive are gone.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
9. How to remove stickers stuck to skin
• Avoid using vinegar or rubbing alcohol when removing stickers from your skin.
• Instead, soak the sticker with a cotton ball and baby oil or vegetable oil.
• Allow the oil to sit for a few minutes to dissolve the sticker adhesive.
• Remove the sticker with your fingers, a baby wipe or soft cloth.
• Wash skin with soapy water.
10. How to remove a sticker stuck to another sticker
This can be tricky and, depending on the quality of the sticker, there are no guarantees they will come out in one piece, but your best bet for minimal damage is the hair dryer method.
• Run the hair dryer on low to soften the sticker adhesive, then gently try to pull up an edge using your fingernails.
• Once you’ve loosened a bit of the sticker, you can very gently pull it up (if it’s releasing).
• If not, try getting underneath the loose edge with a plastic scraper, a plastic razor blade or the side of an old credit card and gently pry the top sticker from the bottom sticker.
Now, after a list like that, you'd probably also like to know how to PREVENT stickers from getting stuck all over your house, car, furniture, and other places they don't belong!
The answer is simple: kids can comply with cleanliness/orderliness protocols when they have organizational strategies at hand. So, get your kids a sticker book! They'll have all the fun you want them to have, but in a way that makes you both happy — no cleanup necessary.
A sticker book from Sticker Party offers kids 20 pages (front and back) to fill up, organize, plan, design, and store their whole collection. Best of all, at 6.5 x 9", it fits on any bookshelf and in the little hands that will love it most.
Have fun and stay clean, friends!!
Rebecca... AKA Mom ;)