Removing stickers from hard plastic

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hso

hso

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Getting those labels off can be easy if you have some yellow bottle Ronson lighter fluid.

Put just a little on the sticker and wait ten minutes. Use an old credit card like a scraper and just slide it under the sticker and lift it off. Wipe with a rag with a very small amount of Ronson on it and you'll be free of any residue.
 
It depends on the plastic. The petroleum distillates like lighter fluid, Goof-Off, and non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner, or even WD-40 are not going to react with polyethylene and polypropylene, but they can potentially dissolve ABS and PVC types as well as acetate and acrylics.

For sticker removal, I recommend this tool from Lisle:

510PeiiFklL._AC_SX679_.jpg

Rather than starting with the metal razor blades it comes with, use these ABS blades from Foshio instead:

71rYRJZDrPL._AC_SX679_.jpg

If the plastic is compatible, Goof-Off or Acetone are good adhesive removers. Note that the orange ABS blade will suffer, but they're disposable. They are better than credit cards because their edge is sharper. Credit cards are PVC and will also suffer from use with solvents. Step-up to the metal blades for stubborn jobs or if the surface is hard enough like glass or metal with a flat surface that won't be scratched. If the plastic is not compatible with a solvent, I recommend Goo-Gone.

719SHIiPZPL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

61R6UFjKp9L._AC_SY879_.jpg


Depending on the tolerance of the material for heat, a heat-gun can also help. Sometimes just mild heat at hair-dryer levels will soften the adhesive and help lift it off. If the paper sticker is on a heat tolerant material, it might be possible to burn it off with the heat gun or a propane torch.
 
Got bottles of "Hand Sanitizer" all over the place ... I do ...
Discovered it removes adhesive labels and all the residue cleanly and isn't messy to use .
I had a bunch of jars of homemade pickles , labeled wrong , applied the hand sanitizer , let soak through paper labels and then wiped off ... no worries about WD40 , lighter fluid or acetone getting into food or getting on glass ... The hand sanitizer is alcohol based , clean , sanitary , wipes off all traces with a damp cloth .
It's one of the best adhesive label removers I've ever stumbled onto and who doesn't have several bottles sitting around the house .
Gary
 
peanut butter is my go to for removing the glue residue once you peel the sticker off one way or another. just rub it on and wipe it off.
 
I was in the auto body area for a few years and when we had to remove VIN number decals we would put clear scotch tape over the decal, then use a razor blade on an angle to remove the decal. When we had to reinstall the decal we would put a little rubber adhesive on the back and just put the decal back on. The Clear Tape helps not tearing up the decal. l That is how I was taught and to remove the existing adhesive we used Acetone.
 
westernrover said:
It depends on the plastic. The petroleum distillates like lighter fluid, Goof-Off, and non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner, or even WD-40 are not going to react with polyethylene and polypropylene, but they can potentially dissolve ABS and PVC types as well as acetate and acrylics.

For sticker removal, I recommend this tool from Lisle:

View attachment 1102245

Rather than starting with the metal razor blades it comes with, use these ABS blades from Foshio instead:

View attachment 1102246

If the plastic is compatible, Goof-Off or Acetone are good adhesive removers. Note that the orange ABS blade will suffer, but they're disposable. They are better than credit cards because their edge is sharper. Credit cards are PVC and will also suffer from use with solvents. Step-up to the metal blades for stubborn jobs or if the surface is hard enough like glass or metal with a flat surface that won't be scratched. If the plastic is not compatible with a solvent, I recommend Goo-Gone.

View attachment 1102247

View attachment 1102248


Depending on the tolerance of the material for heat, a heat-gun can also help. Sometimes just mild heat at hair-dryer levels will soften the adhesive and help lift it off. If the paper sticker is on a heat tolerant material, it might be possible to burn it off with the heat gun or a propane torch.
Click to expand...


I have never seen the plastic razor blades for gasket scraper tools. That is a great idea! I have one of those tools, I need to look into some of those plastic scraper blades.
 
Hoppe's #9 get most of the glues used with stickers. The few it didn't I used WD-40 an it did the job. Rubbing alcohol removes the Hoppe's or WD-40 oiliness left. Non-acetone fingernail polish remover also works well at goo getting. All these items are something I have around the house and I have never failed to get the goo or damaged anything with them.

Just in case anyone is thinking I paint my nails, forget it. I discovered the nail polish remover using the bottle my wife had. Now I keep a pint bottle on the shelf over my work table. It also also good for cleaning the glasses I wear for really close up work.
 
I like Costco nuts and use their plastic containers for a lot of storage. If you fill them with hot water and wait a couple of minutes, you can peel them off with no problem. The newer ones do leave a little residue, but that cleans up with WD-40.
 
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