How to remove sticker residue from a book

Let me start out with a disclaimer: this post is intended for helping with cheap paperbacks and ex-library hardbacks ordered from warehouses that use inventory stickers and the such – NOT for expensive rare books. So please, don’t email us if you ruin a signed first edition of Portnoy’s Complaint.

That said, I love to purchase reading copies, cheap paperbacks, and ex-library books, but I don’t love all the stickers that are often on the covers. I dedicated one afternoon to figuring out how to easily remove them. After my day of scientific research and experimentation, my results were simple, cheap, and easy:

A hair dryer + Goo Gone (found for $1 at the Dollar Tree). If you don’t have Goo Gone in your area, any gum remover should work.

Yep. That’s it!

Carefully apply heat from the hairdryer and once the sticker heats up enough, it should be easy to remove.

Next, wipe the sticky residue off with a washcloth or paper towel dabbed with a small amount of Goo Gone (have another clean cloth to wipe it again- it’s kinda smelly and greasy).

Worst of all, the sticker must be in place and placed correctly. How to remove stickers from books? Continue reading to learn more about best ways to get stickers out the books.

Did you ever think about the impact of the sticker residue on books? Is it more likely that you will buy a book if it says hot read or contains a thrilling excerpt from a new book? It is a sticker that evokes the thought that this book might be good or better than the Hunger Games.

You decide to buy it in the hope that you will be investing in an enjoyable book. There’s always a chance you might disagree with the sticker. You can try to get your money back.

To find the best way to remove stickers from books, we did a lot of scientific research. Many methods can be used to remove stickers from books.

A word of caution. Please be aware of the cover treatment on the book you are trying to remove the sticker. If it has a matte/soft-touch/velvety feel, the grease and goo from the sticker will probably not budge. It would help if you were cautious with the number of liquids you use to remove the sticker from a paper cover.

Contents

1. How To Remove Stickers From Books?
   1. Hairdryer
   2. Goo Gone
   3. Nail Polish Remover And Rubbing Alcohol
   4. Lighter Fluid
   5. Utilize Your Nails
   6. Apply An Iron
   7. Baby Oil
2. FAQs
   1. Will WD 40 Remove stickers?
   2. How do you remove stubborn stickers from plastic?
   3. How do you remove tape residue?
   4. Is WD-40 safe for car paint?
3. Conclusion

How To Remove Stickers From Books?

Hairdryer

I must agree with you. This was not going to work. As I heated my book, I thought it would catch fire.

But it was amazing.

This beauty is amazing. Although there are some sticky residue spots, the sticker was removed in one pull. It’s magic, you all.

How to remove stickers from books using a hairdryer The dryer heats the sticker’s adhesive. The sticky residue should be removed gently.

Take care not to burn your hands while you peel! If the sticker is particularly sticky, take breaks!

To remove any stickers, you can use one of these methods: nail polish remover or Goo Gone.

Goo Gone

Before the hairdryer epiphany, Goo Gone was my favorite. You’ll find it makes your house (and books) smell citrusy for a while, but it gets rid of all the sticky residue.

How to remove stickers from books using Goo Gone. Peel off as much sticker as possible and then rub the goo off with a cotton swab that has been dipped into Goo Gone.

The book was matte, and the Goo Gone left it a little greasy. It’s better than a large, unattractive sticker.

Nail Polish Remover And Rubbing Alcohol

These are not recommended for use.

How to remove stickers from books using rubbing alcohol and nail varnish remover. First, peel off the sticker. Next, use a cotton swab dipped into rubbing alcohol or nail Polish Remover to eliminate any remaining sticker goo. This is best left as a last resort.

The book felt more gritty and papery than usual, and the sticker would not come off. Nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol started to dry the ink. I scrubbed the book until it became thinner, and eventually, I had to rip the cover. Oops!

Lighter Fluid

I don’t have lighter fluid and am afraid to use it. So here is a tip from another experienced Rioter: “Lighter fluid will remove the sticker and clean up any residue. It’s as effective as Goo Gone but with less grease. However, it will dry your hands.” If this is your thing, you can go for it.

Go forth, be merry, and use stickerless books!

Utilize Your Nails

This is the most straightforward way to get a sticker off a book, but it only works with adhesives that aren’t very resilient. However, if you have fingernails, utilizing them as a starting point is a fantastic idea. If it doesn’t, you may try the following more powerful technique below.

Start by carefully easing your fingernail beneath the sticker’s bottom left corner. Once a little portion has been taken from the book’s surface, hold it between your finger and thumb and gently raise it up and away from the page.

Apply An Iron

Like the hairdryer approach above, this simple two-step technique also employs heat to eliminate obstinate stickers. The glue is melted by the iron’s heat, allowing the entire thing to peel off in one pleasant sweep.

Step 1: Lay your book, sticker side up, on a flat, heatproof surface and cover it with a thin towel or t-shirt to provide a fabric layer of protection. For about 40–60 seconds, gently move your iron back and forth over the top of the barrier fabric layer while it is set to medium heat.

Keep the iron moving at all times and avoid letting it stand still for more than a few seconds to avoid burning the book.

Step 2: Put the iron in a safe place, take the cover off the book, and start working at the sticker’s edge with your fingernails or one of the thin objects suggested in Method #2 until you can peel it back in one piece.

Stop immediately, repeat step 1 until all of the adhesives have melted, and then attempt peeling again if there is any resistance.

Baby Oil

You may remove sticker residue with baby oil or other colorless oils like mineral or coconut oil.

Oil is considerably kinder than some of the things I’ve mentioned above. It won’t likely strip a book cover of its color or a protective covering. However, it does carry a particular set of hazards.

You have to be cautious while using this procedure since oil may penetrate the paper and leave a lasting oil stain behind. Never use oil on porous book covers; always do a patch test on a discrete, tiny area to ensure that it won’t leave a stain.

To prevent accidental spills or splatters, I also advise using a layer of wax paper to separate the cover from the page block.

To begin, softly dab the cotton swab on the sticker residue after soaking it in a bit of oil. Apply sufficient oil to completely cover the area, then let it alone for 30 to 60 seconds.

As soon as the cotton swab takes all of the remaining muck away, continue softly rubbing it against the sticker residue. Once the surface is arid, use a clean swab or paper towel to remove any remaining oil.

FAQs

Will WD 40 Remove stickers?

WD-40 is the best lubricant, and it can also be used to remove sticky substances like sticker residue. After the formula has been applied, allow it to sit for several minutes before wiping off any residue.

How do you remove stubborn stickers from plastic?

For more stubborn stains, vinegar or nail polish remover are better options. Apply the solution to the glue residue with a wet rag. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Use a dry cloth to wipe away as much glue residue as you can.

How do you remove tape residue?

You can use a rag with some texture, such as terry cloth, to soak a small portion of the rag in WD-40 and then scrub off any residue. Spray the residue if there is too much. Let it sit for a few minutes before you scrub.

See more: https://www.echotape.com/blog/ten-simple-solutions-to-remove-tape-residue

Is WD-40 safe for car paint?

WD-40 is safe for your car and won’t cause damage to the paint. WD-40, which is mineral oil based, adds corrosion protection to the finish. It also protects the clear coating. You should wipe it off immediately, or else your vehicle could look greasy and attract dust.

Conclusion

If you need to remove a sticker from a book, the best way is to use a hairdryer. Heat the sticker with the hairdryer for a few seconds and then peel it off. If the sticker is stubborn, you can use a putty knife to help scrape it off. Thank you for reading!

How do you get dried sticker residue off?

How do you remove tape residue from paper?