Stickers usually have a pressure-sensitive adhesive that leaves behind a gummy residue. When those stickers end up on an appliance, such as a refrigerator or stove, you are left with a sticky area that becomes a magnet for any dirt or grime in the area. Whether the sticker was placed by the manufacturer or was placed later, proper removal gets rid of the residue without ruining the finish on the appliance.
1.
Insert the edge of a plastic knife or spatula beneath the edge of the sticker. Lift the corner up and peel off as much of the sticker as possible. If the sticker has a glossy coating, you must remove the entire glossy portion.
2.
Hold a blow dryer three inches away from the sticker if it won't peel off. Heat the sticker with the hot air from the dryer to loosen the adhesive, then peel it away with the knife or spatula.
3.
Dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or vinegar. Rub the alcohol or vinegar onto the adhesive, thoroughly soaking it.
4.
Buff the adhesive from the appliance surface with a rough wash cloth. Reapply the alcohol and rub a second time to remove any remaining adhesive.
5.
Spray a cleaner onto the appliance surface. Use a cleaner made for the material, such as a glass cleaner on oven glass or an all-purpose cleaner for an enamel surface. Wipe down the surface with a clean rag to remove any remaining residue or streaks.
Things You Will Need
Plastic knife or spatula
Blow dryer
Vinegar or rubbing alcohol
Cotton balls
Rough wash cloth
Rags
Cleaner
Tip
Sticker removal products and cleaning fluids, especially those containing acetone, can quickly remove adhesive, but they can damage some enamels and most plastics.
Stainless steel is a popular material found all over the home. Many people have stainless steel sinks, cookware and appliances. Occasionally, new stainless steel items come pack…
How to Remove Sticker Glue From Stainless. Stainless steel is a popular material found all over the home. Many people have stainless steel sinks, cookware and appliances. Occasionally, new stainless steel items come packaged with a label or sticker. These stickers can leave behind a mess that might seem nearly impossible to remove. The good news is...
How to Remove Sticker Glue From Stainless. Stainless steel is a popular material found all over the home. Many people have stainless steel sinks, cookware and appliances. Occasionally, new stainless steel items come packaged with a label or sticker. These stickers can leave behind a mess that might seem nearly impossible to remove. The good news is...
I just got a new fridge from the Sears Scratch and Dent store. Got it all installed and then peeled the stickers off the front. Two of the stickers left some reside behind on the fridge.
I did some Internet homework and have tried the following things that are supposed to work:
Clean with straight Vinegar and microfiber cloth.
Spray with WD40 and let sit for 10 minutes and then wipe away
Dab vegetable oil on with a cotton ball. Let sit for 10 minutes and then wipe away.
None of these have worked. The glue that's still on there is hard as a rock and not sticky. I don't want to use anything that might damage or discolor the stainless steel.
EDIT: Nail Polish remover made short work of the residue.
Denise asked: How do I remove sticky labels from my stainless steel oven door? I bought my oven, and when I got it home, it had a large label stuck to the outside front of the oven door. I removed the label, but have been left with a sticky, glue residue on the door. I don’t know how to remove it. I’m scared of scratching it and ruining the finish. Can you please advise me of
what to use? Thank you.
What makes stickers work so well is their adhesive, but sometimes it works a little too well and you are left with a residue when the sticker has served its purpose and been removed. Here are two methods for removing the adhesive using products you probably already have available.
Using WD-40
WD-40
You Will Need:
- WD-40
- Soft, non-abrasive cloth
Steps to Remove the Adhesive:
- Spray the sticky areas with WD-40.
- Wait several moments for it to break down the adhesive.
- Wipe at the adhesive with the cloth, making sure to move with the “grain” of the stainless steel.
- Repeat as needed. Depending on the type of adhesive, you may need a second or third application to remove it completely.
- Wipe away any remaining WD-40 with a clean section of the cloth.
Using Household Products
There are a variety of household products that can work well to remove residue. If one doesn’t work, try another until you find one that works best for your specific adhesive. These products can work on a variety of other sticky messes as well.
You Will Need:
- A solvent (choose one):
- Cooking oil
- Peanut butter
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Vodka
- Windex
- A cloth
Steps to Remove the Sticky Residue:
- Choose a solvent from the list above. Any of them can work.
- Pour a small amount of the solvent onto a cloth.
- Apply the solvent onto the residue and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen it.
- Gently rub the area to remove the residue, always going with the grain of the stainless steel.
- When the residue is gone, wash it with some soapy water on a cloth.
Using Heat
If you don’t have any of the above products or would prefer not to use a solvent, heat is another effective way to remove adhesive.
You Will Need:
- A hair dryer
- Hot water
- A cloth
Steps to Remove the Residue:
- Put a hair dryer on the warm setting and point it at the residue, holding it several inches away.
- Hold the hair dryer in place for a minute or two.
- Wet a cloth with hot water (not so hot you get burned!).
- Rub off the residue, always going with the grain of the stainless steel.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If necessary, use a small amount of mild dish soap on a wet paper towel to wipe away any oily residue from the WD-40. Wipe with the grain on the stainless steel, then dry immediately.
- If the residue is stubborn, there are commercial products you can try as well, such as Goo Gone or Un-Du. Be sure to test these products in a small hidden area first though as some, such as Goo Gone Original, could damage faux stainless steel.
- Scouring powders and other abrasive products, such as steel wool, should never be used on stainless steel as they can easily scratch the surface.
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About the Author
I'm a stay-at-home mom who used to run a small housecleaning business. These days I consider myself more or a mad cleaning-scientist. I do most of the testing for our articles - as well as helping Mark & Melanie write them.