How to Clean The Stuff Left By A Peeled Off Label

Instead of potentially harmless chemicals, I use vegetable/canola oil to clean the residue left when you peel the label off a jar or bottle, or when trying to soak a label off. Just put a little bit of oil (doesn’t have to be soaking wet) on a cotton ball, and rub the excess glue off the plastic bottle/jar, or container. Then wash with a little bit of soap to get rid of the oil. Don’t use on anything that the oil might stain, or that you couldn’t wash with water.

Sometimes oil needs to soak for long periods to break down adhesives, and you need a scrubbing agent. Some surfaces (especially plastics) can be scratched by cleansers, brushes or scrubbing pads.

Isopropyl alcohol will quickly soften or remove many label adhesives, but can damage some surfaces.

PEANUT BUTTER to the rescue. It contains oil that breaks down most adhesives and is a gentle abrasive that rarely scratches anything when rubbed against it but provides the extra bite into label adhesives. Chunky bites even harder. Wash out with soap.

Tried and tested.
WD-40

Coca Cola and fine steel wool, or very very fine wet sandpaper, the kind they buff cars to get the oxidation off.
Works for me.

Zippo fluid. It’s just as effective as Goo Gone for removing adhesives. Put a little on a cotton ball or paper towel, and rub. The Zippo fluid evaporates off after the adhesive’s gone. No need to clean it afterward. Plus, lighter fluid is also pretty good for cleaning CD’s. If a CD skips, but doesn’t have any really deep gouges, pour a little Zippo fluid directly onto the play surface of the disc. Tilt it around so the lighter fluid covers the entire surface, and wait for it to evaporate. I’ve also used Goo Gone (NOT the gel kind!) to do the same thing, even with discs that looked so scratched they were practically unplayable.

Although this method doesn’t work for everything, for some stickers on glass, ceramic, and even wood, I found that just letting it soak for about five minutes in very cold water, or cold water with a little mild dish detergent will loosen the glue (hot water seems to bind the glue and make it more sticky). I then take a textured cloth or a dish washing brush and gently scrub it off. No residue left over, and no chemicals!

An eraser works great. Simply use an eraser to ‘erase’ the residue adhesives. The eraser shavings will absorb all of the adhesives, and all you have to do is rinse it with water.

I don’t agree with using harsh chemicals either but in a pinch, acetone will work too.

If this is residue from a price tag or self-adhesive label, simply putting a piece of tape over the spot and pulling it back off works really well. Duct tape is the best, but scotch tape works, too.

SSS (Skin So Soft) Sold by Avon. Get soaked cotton ball rub off goo.

Not to promote harsh chemicals or anything, but Goo Gone is the best thing I’ve ever seen for getting off stuck on labels. I think it’s made with citrus oil or something.

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-American-GG12-Goo-Gone/dp/B00006IBNJ