Remove a Sticker from Glass

In most cases, stickers are made with adhesive material that is designed to be repositioned. But in some cases, stickers on glass can be stubborn things to get off, leaving unsightly residue behind, especially stickers made to be stuck on permanently. With a little bit of help and lots of scrubbing power, paper and decal stickers and its goo can be removed from glass surfaces.

Steps

Using Hot Water and Soap

  1. Soak the glass object and sticker in hot soapy water. A good 10 to 30 minute soak should help soften the paper or vinyl of the sticker and make it easy to remove with your fingers.
    • The water and soap helps dissolve the glue and break its bond with the glass.
    • If you can't soak your glass object in water, soak a hot wet washcloth or sponge and dampen the sticker area.
  2. Remove the sticker. Use your fingers to gently lift the sticker off or use a dull knife to scrape off the sticker by gently prying a corner of the sticker off, then wedging the blade between the sticker and glass until it is completely removed.
    • Be sure to pick a knife that is dull and not sharp to touch. Dull knives have been through wear and tear so when you use it on a glass surface, you won't run the risk of scratching the surface.
    • Alternatively, you can purchase a razor scraper that is designed to remove adhesives off surfaces.

Using Baking Soda

  1. Soak the glass object and sticker in hot soapy water. A good 10 to 30 minute soak should help soften the paper or vinyl of the sticker and make it easy to remove with your fingers.
    • The water and soap helps dissolve the glue and break its bond with the glass.
    • If you can't soak your glass object in water, soak a hot wet washcloth or sponge and dampen the sticker area.
  2. Remove the sticker. Use your fingers to gently lift the sticker off or use a dull knife to scrape off the sticker by gently prying a corner of the sticker off, then wedging the blade between the sticker and glass until it is completely removed.
    • Be sure to pick a knife that is dull and not sharp to touch. Dull knives have been through wear and tear so when you use it on a glass surface, you won't run the risk of scratching the surface.
    • Alternatively, you can purchase a razor scraper that is designed to remove adhesives off surfaces.
    • In some cases, the sticker might come off very nicely after being treated with soap and hot water.
  3. Mix together equal amounts of baking soda and cooking oil.[1] Baking soda is non-toxic, natural, and safe to use around pets and children. It's a great universal cleaning agent that lifts and dissolves dirt and grease.[2] Adding oil to it makes it into a paste for easy application on any surface.
    • Any cooking oil will work. You can use olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
  4. Protect nearby surfaces you don't want cleaned or damaged. Cover these surfaces with cloth or paper and tape them up with masking tape to seal them off from paste leakages.
    • Surfaces you want to protect from include plastic, painted surfaces, wood, or fabric.
    • Baking soda is relatively safe so if you do accidentally drop paste on an unwanted surface or your skin, there should be little to no damage if you clean it off right away.
  5. Rub the baking soda and oil paste on the glass surface. Leave this on for a few minutes and let the baking soda do its magic.
    • For very stubborn stickers, leave the paste on overnight.
  6. Wipe away the paste. The residue glue and paper should have softened enough for you to wipe or scrub away the sticker clean.
    • Alternatively, you can use an abrasive cloth or sponge like steel wool to give extra scrubbing strength. However, be careful not to scratch the glass surface.

Using Washing Soda

  1. Fill a bucket or sink with hot water and washing soda. Half a cup to a cup of washing soda depending on how much water you're using should work.[3] The washing soda and hot water acts a dissolving agent that melts the sticker's glue to break its bond from the glass surface.
    • Use gloves when handling washing soda as it can cause skin irritation. Washing soda binds better with hard water, or water with many minerals dissolved in it, to create a more abrasive foam than baking soda and washing detergent to better clean surfaces and clothing.[4]
  2. Soak the object for 30 minutes. You can soak it even longer or overnight for more stubborn stickers.
  3. Pull the object out of the water. Since washing soda is a much stronger alkaline than baking soda, the sticker should slide off the glass surface or be very easy to lift off.
    • Remember to rinse the object thoroughly after soaking it in washing soda, especially if it is an objected used to consume food like a jar or glass cup.

Using Heat

  1. Heat up your glass surface. Use a blow dryer on its highest setting and dry the sticker for 1 to 2 minutes. Or you can place the object in the sun for a couple of hours. The heat should melt the adhesive, but the sticker should be promptly removed or the adhesive might cool off again and harden.
    • If you're trying to get a sticker off a window of your car, park your car in a very sunny place for 2 to 3 hours.
    • Heat a glass or plastic item with hot water. Wait 15 seconds or so. If the label is on a flat surface like a lid, for example, run the hot water on the opposite side of the label while peeling off the label.
  2. Peel the sticker off. Use your fingers to gently lift the sticker off. Be careful, the surface will be extremely hot. Alternatively, use a dull knife to scrape off the sticker by gently prying a corner of the sticker off, then wedging the blade between the sticker and glass until it is completely removed.
    • Be sure to pick a knife that is dull and not sharp to touch. Dull knives have been through wear and tear so when you use it on a glass surface, you won't run the risk of scratching the surface.
  3. Use soap, oil, or any glue removing agent. There may be some remaining sticky residue for stubborn stickers and extra steps may need to be taken.

Using Rubbing Alcohol

  1. Put some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel, napkin, cotton ball, cotton swab, or a cloth. This method is especially helpful of you can't soak the glass object in a bucket of water. It is also relatively mess-free.
    • Rubbing alcohol is flammable. So be careful where you use it. Do not use it on a stove or heated area. Use rubbing alcohol in a well ventilated place.[5]
  2. Rub the sticker with alcohol. The sticker should come off or you may have to repeat these steps until it lifts.
    • Rubbing alcohol is a solvent, or cleaning agent that dissolves other substances such as the sticky glue on stickers. It dries almost immediately so it can be used to clean electrical objects without risking water damage.
    • Try holding the alcohol dampened item over the glass surface to soak the sticker.

Using WD-40

  1. Protect yourself and surfaces that might be damaged. WD-40 is a powerful dissolvent that dissolves adhesives but is also a powerful chemical solution. Be sure not to get any on you, on fabrics, or even the glass surface.
  2. Spray WD-40 evenly on the sticker. In order to avoid getting any on the glass, you might want to spray WD-40 on a clean cloth and wipe it on the sticker instead.
    • Be sure to protect your hands by wearing gloves.
  3. Wipe the sticker away with a clean washcloth. The sticker or decal should come right off with a little but of scrubbing. For particularly stubborn stickers, you may have to use a razor scraper or dull knife to remove it.

Tips

  • There are many products out there that specialize in removing sticker goo. Read the labels and instructions carefully.
  • Nail polish remover with glycerin on a cotton ball can also work.

Warnings

  • Be careful with the solvent, it will often disfigure plastic, fabric or other sensitive surfaces.
  • The best thing to do is get a blade that is made of stainless steel as it will not scratch the surface.
  • If you're using a blow dryer or heater gun, be careful not to crack the glass
  • Wash hands thoroughly after using each solvent.
  • Be careful not to scratch your glass. Use light pressure when using razors, knives, and credit cards.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://creeklinehouse.com/2013/10/the-no-sweat-chemical-free-way-to.html
  2. ↑ http://oconto.uwex.edu/files/2011/02/baking-soda.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/02/a-super-simple-way-to-remove-labels-from-glass-bottles.html
  4. ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-washing-soda.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-isopropyl-alcohol.htm
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