As much as I love reusing jars in my kitchen, peeling all the little bits, pieces, and residue off of a stubborn sticker sure can be a nuisance. Oftentimes, the trouble it takes to get that sticky mess off is enough to make me ignore the stickers completely and leave them on indefinitely. Yes, I’m that person — but in an effort to class it up in my kitchen, I decided it was high time to actually remove all of the stickers and labels from my dishes, glass jars, and the like. So, what’s the easiest, best way to get that sticky residue off?
To get to the bottom of it, I put seven popular methods for how to remove sticker residue to the test. My efforts paid off and there was one clear winner! Read on for more.
How I Tested the Methods for Removing Sticky Stickers (and Residue!)
To start, I did some research into what the best, most common tricks are, then I picked the seven methods that seemed to come up again and again. I gathered seven of the same white plates with the stickers left on and tried each method on a separate plate so I could really see which worked best, though it should work similarly on glass and metal. The results of my test blew me away!
Ratings: Each method received a 1 to 5 rating; 1 was given for minimal results, 5 for the most effective results. Along with the rating, you’ll find notes on how easy or difficult the method was, how much elbow grease it took, and how much time it took to remove overall.
Sticker Removal Method: Rubbing Alcohol
The method: Hold the plate over the sink and pour rubbing alcohol directly onto the sticker. Let it sit for a few minutes, then run under warm water while using a plastic scraper to remove the label.
How it went: Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that the alcohol made any impact on the sticker. It felt as though I was just washing the plate and scrubbing under plain warm water. On a positive note, I did not feel the need to wear gloves (like I did for some of the other, more icky methods), though I did moisturize with hand cream to prevent the alcohol from drying out my skin. If you have rubbing alcohol on hand, it is worth a try, but it’s not the substance I would source to remove a sticky sticker. It may also work better if you soak a paper towel in rubbing alcohol and let it sit on the sticker for a few minutes, but just pouring it didn’t do much.
Sticker Removal Method: Peanut Butter
The method: Cover the sticker with peanut butter and let it sit for at least 5 minutes (depending on the thickness of the sticker, it may need more time to soak through). Use a spatula to scrape the peanut butter and sticker off the dish. Rinse with soap and warm water.
How it went: It took much longer than 5 minutes for the oil in the peanut butter to soak through the price tag, so I let it sit for an extra 30 minutes before testing it again and realizing it wasn’t doing much. I wiped the peanut butter off and used a spatula to scrape the paper off.
Then, I tried the peanut butter again on just the leftover sticky residue, and it worked wonders! In about 5 minutes, the residue came off completely. I don’t recommend this method to remove thick stickers or price tags, but it’s fantastic for removing the leftover residue itself. I will say, though, it’s a little messy!
Sticker Removal Method: Goo Gone
The method: Spray the Goo Gone directly on the sticker, then allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to penetrate through the sticker. Rinse under warm water while scraping it with a plastic scraper. Clean with hot, soapy water.
How it went: After 10 minutes, I still found it challenging to remove the label from the plate, even with the included scraper. On a positive note, Goo Gone is made with citrus oils, which lent a pleasant aroma to the process; the texture is a thick gel, and I was more comfortable handling the plate and scraping while wearing gloves. I would reserve this product for non-food vessels like decorative plates, ensuring they’re thoroughly washed with soap and water afterwards, as the instructions on the label suggest. While this wasn’t my favorite method, it certainly proved helpful in removing some of the stubborn sticker residue.
Sticker Removal Method: Coconut Oil & Baking Soda
The method: Start by removing as much of the sticker as you can before mixing a paste of coconut oil and baking soda. To create the paste, mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part coconut oil. Spread generously over the sticker, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Work the paste around with your fingers to remove the sticker. Rinse with warm, soapy water.
How it went: I tried removing what remained of the sticker after letting the paste sit for 15 minutes, but nothing happened, so I let the paste sit for another 30 minutes. I was able to remove some of the sticker, but it was clear that this method is best for removing minimal leftover sticker residue — and not much else. After a total of 45 minutes, I grabbed a spatula and was able to remove the remaining bits.
Sticker Removal Method: Blowdryer
The method: Using the highest heat setting, hold the blowdryer 1 to 2 inches above the sticker, and keep it there for 1 to 3 minutes. Then, peel the sticker off. (This is Martha Stewart’s favorite trick!).
How it went: The sticker came off easily but left residue behind. This was the easiest, cleanest method for removing the large portion of the paper sticker, but unfortunately, it only did the first part of the job. This is a good method if you’re in a pinch, but definitely needs to be followed up with, say, the peanut butter method to remove the remaining residue.
Sticker Removal Method: WD-40
The method: Saturate the sticker with WD-40 and let it sit for 3 minutes. Remove the sticker using a spatula. Wipe dry, then clean with warm, soapy water.
How it went: After 3 minutes, I used a spatula and removed the sticker from the bottom of the plate. It came up with ease and brought along the sticky residue, too! On the downside, this process was messy and stinky. I can’t say I was excited about spraying a pool of chemicals on my plate, but it was just the bottom of it, and the ingredients don’t seem all that bad! This method worked well — and quickly, especially if you already have some on-hand.
Sticker Removal Method: Vinegar Soak
The method: Soak a paper towel or cotton ball with vinegar and lay it over the sticker. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes, then lift the sticker off the surface.
How it went: After 5 minutes, I lifted the vinegar-soaked paper towel and tried peeling the sticker corner up. To my surprise, it came up with no trouble at all — sticker and residue included! Again, depending on the thickness of the sticker, you may need to let the vinegar do its thing for a bit longer than 5 minutes, but it’s easy enough to tell. This was absolutely the best method for removing stickers and all that sticky residue from dishware. It worked so well that I won’t even be bothering with the other methods in the future!
To be fair, all of these methods sort of worked in their own way, but vinegar stood out above the rest. The vinegar soak doesn’t take long at all, and it gets both the sticker and the residue, and is a pretty versatile trick. You can soak a paper towel or cotton ball, mold it to any shape, and it’ll work. The best part? It’s a pantry staple you probably already have (that has so many uses!). As an avid thrifter, learning the secret art of sticky tag removal is a revelation! I’m happy to report my kitchen dishes are now all completely sticker-free with minimal effort.
How do you remove sticky stickers from your dishware? Tell us in the comments below!
