Alternatively, use your fingers to roll the adhesive bits into balls you can pluck off or use a rubber eraser to rub the residue away. [2] X Research source Plastic is unlikely to scratch glass or painted surfaces if you use it carefully. It’s usually best to try cleaners or chemicals to get sticky residue off glass, though. For tough residue on surfaces you don’t mind scratching up, try a metal paint scraper or a razor instead. Scrape away from you to avoid accidental injury.
Keep rubbing until the residue is gone or you’ve removed as much as possible (you may need to wipe the spot clean afterward to get rid of the rest). If the tape loses its stickiness, grab a new piece and continue rubbing. The adhesive on the tape will grab the sticker residue and pull it away.
If needed, follow up with a cloth dampened with soapy water or vinegar. Steer clear of plastics, which can melt under the heat, or surfaces that are part of electronics (like your laptop or a TV).
Remove the object and wipe away the remaining residue with a clean cloth (dab the cloth in some distilled, white vinegar if the residue is super stubborn). When you fill the bowl with water, leave enough space to add your sticky object without causing the bowl to overflow. If your object is too big to submerge, like a spot on a wall, soak a cotton pad or cloth in the soapy water and hold it to the sticky area instead.
If you’re not sure if oil will stain, drip a drop of oil onto a test spot and wipe it away. If it wipes away without a trace, then it’s safe to use. Oil is great for sensitive surfaces since it contains no strong chemicals or abrasive ingredients. Just keep it away from clothes or fabric, which could stain.
Only use oil-based cleaners on non-porous surfaces like glass, metal, or plastic. Oil can seep into and stain materials like fabric or wood. Store any unused paste in a plastic bag and use it to fight future sticky spots. Use baking soda to clean multiple things around the house like grout, sinks, laundry, and more.
The acid in vinegar can erode or damage things like marble or stone countertops or cast iron skillets. Use vinegar to clean windows, laundry, metal, grout, and more around the house.
Try peanut butter first if you’re not sure which cleaners or chemicals are safest for your surface. The oil in peanut butter will loosen residue without seeping into porous surfaces (unlike using just oil or an oil and baking powder paste).
Wipe the spot clean with a clean cloth to remove any last bits of mayo. Steer clear of mayonnaise for surfaces like wood or fabric, which can get stained by the oil in the mayo.
If you don’t have either chemical on hand, try substituting vodka (avoid sweet or flavored alcohols that can leave their own stickiness behind). Rubbing alcohol dries quickly and leaves no residue of its own behind, making it a great household product to clean with. Rubbing alcohol is usually the fastest and most effective method for metal and plastic surfaces.
If you’re out of rubbing alcohol, substitute and use vodka, white vinegar, nail polish remover, or commercial cleaning liquids like Goo Gone in the same way. Alternatively, spot clean the alcohol-soaked area with hot, soapy water and a soft-bristle brush. Rinse with a damp, clean cloth and let air dry.
Use acetone in a well-ventilated space so you don’t inhale any fumes accidentally.
Afterward, wash the spot with soapy water to remove any last traces of the WD-40. WD-40 has a variety of cleaning and repairing abilities. Use it around the house to break in leather, get grease out of clothes, and more.
Products like Goo Gone are safe to use on most surfaces, but may leave an oily residue behind. Use soapy water to clear up any leftover product.
