Removing Sticker Residue with Soap and Water
Fill a sink or bowl with warm water. The size of the container will depend on the garment size. It should be large enough for you to immerse the garment completely. For larger garments, like jeans, use a bathtub or a large, clean bin instead of a sink. This method is gentle and suitable for many types of fabrics (such as cottons or polycottons, although delicate and dry-clean-only garments will need other treatments.
Add a few drops of liquid dish soap or laundry detergent. Some cleaners recommend using Dawn Dish Soap because of its degreasing qualities. If using laundry detergent, check the bottle’s label to make sure it’s suitable for the fabric you’ll be treating—and bleach-free! Add just enough for the water to become soapy—no need to pour in more than a few drops. If you’re using laundry detergent, wear gloves during this process to prevent skin irritation.
Soak the garment in the water for 20-30 minutes. Set a timer so you don’t forget about your garment! The sticker residue should be completely immersed in the soapy water. Drain or empty the water when time is up.
Dab the sticker residue with a dry microfiber cloth. Do so over the empty sink or tub to avoid dripping on the floor. The adhesive should be soft and pliable from the soap bath. Dab at it with the cloth until the residue is no longer visible. You can also gently scrape at the residue with your fingers.
Wash the garment as normal. Follow the laundering instructions on the garment tag and run your washing machine accordingly. Air-dry the clothing after washing it so you can inspect the dry garment for any remaining residue. Only put the garment in the dryer if the residue is completely gone after washing. Otherwise, the adhesive can harden and become harder to remove. If residue remains, repeat the process or move on to a more abrasive method.
Removing Sticker Residue with Distilled White Vinegar
Heat a small bowl of pure, distilled white vinegar in the microwave. You only need enough vinegar to saturate the residue area and not the entire garment. The vinegar should be warm after 1-2 minutes. Wear oven mitts or other heat protection when removing the bowl from the microwave. If you don’t have a microwave or you’re in a hurry, you can skip heating the vinegar and use it at room temperature.
Use a sponge or cloth to saturate the sticker residue with vinegar. Dip your sponge or cloth into the warm vinegar solution before gently pressing it onto the stained area. Do this while the vinegar is still warm. When the area is damp, set the sponge or cloth and bowl of vinegar aside.
Scrape the residue off with a dull edge. This could be an old credit card, a putty knife, the flat end of a butter knife, or the straight edge of a spatula. Be gentle when you scrape—you don’t want to damage the garment. Feel free to add another dab of vinegar if the stained area is drying up while you scrape.
Rinse the garment with cool water before washing. This will remove any excess vinegar. Once rinsed, wash the garment in your laundry machine as you normally would. Let it air-dry before checking for any remaining residue that might require you to treat it again.
Removing Sticker Residue with Acetone
Check your garment’s fabric type. Acetone melts acetate fibers, so make sure your fabric is natural (for example, 100% cotton) or synthetic but acetate-free. Otherwise, you risk damaging the fabric and losing your clothes. You can purchase pure acetone or non-oily, clear nail polish removers containing acetone at most drug stores. Acetone produces toxic fumes. Use it in a well-ventilated workspace (feel free to open a window!), and avoid breathing in the fumes while you work on the residue removal.
Test the garment for colorfastness. Check to see if the garment’s colors won’t run or leach off when you apply the acetone. Start by applying a small dab of acetone to an inconspicuous area, such as an inner seam or an armpit. Touch the dab with a cotton swab and see if the color transfers to it. If not, you’re good to proceed. If the garment is not colorfast, choose a gentler method to maintain the look of your clothes.
Lay the garment on an old towel. Ideally, find a white or light-colored towel so the acetone doesn’t affect its color—acetone can bleach fabrics. The sticky residue should be in contact with the towel because you’ll be treating the back of the residue stain. Double-check the towel’s tag to make sure it does not have acetate fibers.
Apply your pure acetone or clear acetone nail polish remover to the back of the stain. Dab it on the target area using a clean cloth or a cotton swab. Once the acetone is soaked through, you can gently rub the garment onto the towel as the residue dissolves to absorb any excess acetone or color dye.
Rinse the garment with water before washing it as normal. Use cool water to maintain the garment’s colors and the integrity of the fabric. . Once the acetone is rinsed out, you can machine-wash the garment as usual. Make sure to let it air-dry. Finally, inspect for any remaining sticker residue.
Removing Sticker Residue with Rubbing Alcohol
Apply rubbing alcohol directly to the sticker residue. Use a well-soaked cloth to dab it onto delicate fabrics. Or, soak the target area of the garment in a small bowl of rubbing alcohol if the garment’s size allows. After 5-10 minutes, the adhesive residue should soften because the rubbing alcohol is a solvent.
Scrape the residue off the garment. An old credit card you no longer use, or the straight edge of a spatula or butter knife, are helpful tools for residue removal. Scrape gently to avoid damaging the garment.
Rinse, wash, and air-dry the garment as you normally would. Rinse with cool water—warm or hot water can dull the colors of some fabrics. Once the rubbing alcohol is rinsed out, wash the garment in your laundry machine and let it air-dry completely. If any residue remains, try another method to remove it.
Removing Sticker Residue with a Freezer
Put your garment in the freezer for 45-90 minutes. Place it in a plastic grocery or trash bag to avoid contact with frozen foods and ice. This method is especially suitable for synthetic fabrics that might melt or damage easily with more abrasive methods. After a while, the adhesive will freeze and become easier to remove.
Scrape the sticker residue off the chilled garment. Use an old credit card, putty knife, the flat edge of a butter knife, or the straight edge of a spatula. Be careful not to distress or damage the fabric.
Let the garment air-dry. It may have become damp in the freezer. If adhesive residue remains, run the garment through the washing machine and air-dry again before moving on to another method.
Removing Sticker Residue with Stain-Removing Solvent
Soak the residue area in the solvent. Fill a small bowl with the solvent and soak the adhesive-covered spot. You can also apply the solvent directly to the sticker residue using a cloth if it’s a small stain. Common solvents includeGoo Gone,Carbona Stain Devils Number One, andTide Rescue Laundry Stain Remover. Read the product’s instructions to make sure it’s safe to use on your fabric.
Scrape the residue away. Use a tool with a dull edge to peel it off—for example, an old credit card, a putty knife, or the straight edge of a spatula. The stain-remover should have softened the adhesive, so no need to apply too much pressure when scraping.
Rinse the stain-remover out and wash the clothing as normal. While optional, rinsing with cool water can help remove any remaining residue particles. Once rinsed, run your laundry machine as you normally would to clean the garment completely. Let it air-dry and inspect for any remaining residue. Re-apply the solvent and repeat the other steps as needed—stubborn sticker residue may not come off on the first treatment.
Removing Sticker Residue with an Iron
Place the garment on your ironing board. The sticker residue should be touching the ironing surface. If you’re worried about getting sticker residue on the board surface, place a small, clean cloth between the garment and the board.
Heat the iron to the highest suitable setting. This will depend on the fabric type—check the garment’s tag or look up the fabric type to see what temperature setting will not damage the fabric. Synthetic fabrics typically require low settings (for example, below 275°F/135°C) while cotton and denim require high settings.
Iron the area behind the residue. The heat should help soften the adhesive for easier removal. Move the iron around so that it doesn’t stay over one spot for longer than 5-10 seconds. Otherwise, you could scorch your clothing! Turn the iron off when you’re done.
Scrape the residue off the clothing with a dull edge. This could be an old credit card, a putty knife, the flat end of a butter knife, or the straight edge of a spatula. Be gentle when you scrape—you don’t want to damage the garment.
Removing Sticker Residue with Masking Tape
Firmly press masking tape over the sticker residue. Cut the tape before applying it to the garment. It will be harder to remove it if you leave it attached to the tape roll. It’s important to use masking tape rather than duct or clear tape, as these can leave even more adhesive residue on your garment.
Slowly peel the tape from the garment. There’s no need to quickly or powerfully yank it off—this can damage the clothing. Slowly peel away the tape with one hand while holding the garment down with your other hand. The adhesive should come off with the tape. You can scrape any leftover residue off using a dull edge, such as a spatula. Repeat with additional strips of tape as needed. This method works best for minimal adhesive residue—a larger or stickier stain will require a more abrasive method.
Removing Sticker Residue with Baby or Vegetable Oil
Apply a small amount of oil to a cotton swab or clean cloth. Oil can help break down the adhesive bonds so the sticker residue comes off more easily. You don’t need to use a large amount of oil—just enough to coat the residue on the garment. Check the fabric type and care instructions on your clothing’s tag before applying any baby or vegetable oil. This method can create oil stains that you’ll have to treat separately after getting rid of the adhesive residue. Oil can stain porous surfaces like wooden floors. Apply it to your swab or cloth over a sink to avoid spilling onto your floor.
Dab the oil onto the sticker residue. Completely coat the residue area with oil to help the adhesive dissolve. Once the oil is applied, let the garment sit for 10-15 minutes so the adhesive bonds have time to break down.
Rub the residue away. Use your fingers or a cloth to gently lift the residue off the garment. Take care not to be too rough, as this could damage the garment. If needed, apply more oil to any stubborn residue before rubbing it away again.
Dab away excess oil and wash the garment as normal. Use a clean, dry towel to sop up the excess oil. Once you’re done, you can wash the garment as you usually would in your laundry machine. Let it air-dry and inspect for remaining residue. If you put it through a dryer cycle with residue still on it, the stain can set into the garment.
Removing Sticker Residue with Dry-Cleaning Solvent
Blot dry-cleaning solvent onto the sticker residue. Use a cotton swab or sponge to gently apply the solvent to the adhesive stain. Try to keep the solvent to the residue area only to avoid fabric damage or discoloration. Blotting instead of rubbing will help the garment stay in-tact. Dry-cleaning solvent is meant for garments that are dry-clean only. If the garment is particularly delicate, such as a silk dress, it’s best to let a professional dry cleaning service handle the sticker residue. Brands such as Woolite and Dryel sell at-home dry cleaning kits that include cloths or stain removers that are safe to apply to dry-clean-only garments.
Carefully scrape away remaining residue. Use a tool with a dull edge, such as a putty knife or spatula, to gently scrape the sticker adhesive off the clothing. After you’re done scraping, rinse the tool to get rid of any remaining solvent or adhesive—especially if it’s a kitchen utensil.
Let the garment air-dry. If residue remains, take the garment to a professional dry cleaner. Inform them of the sticker residue before they treat the garment so they know what kind of stain they’re treating.
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