The Fluster:
I’ve got this fabulous project that I worked on today, I’ll tell you all about it next week, it was super easy and took less than 20 minutes to complete. So your probably wondering what’s the Fluster? Well, it’s when I tried to make the container look pretty for the camera.
Have you ever tried removing stickers or labels from plastic? It sounds like an easy enough task, take off what you can, then soak in water and the label will peel right off. I wish!!!
Super glues got nothing on whatever they use to stick labels to these plastic containers.
When my brilliant idea to soak the label didn’t work, I turned to WikiHow, they offered 12 Ways to Remove Sticker Residue from plastic, I thought surely one of them would work.
After trying several of their suggestions, getting no results and ending up more flustered than I was before, I headed to the man cave, the garage, to see what I might find that would bust my fluster.
The Buster:
Behold, sitting on the shelf next to a roll of duct tape, was a can of WD-40. Why didn’t I think of that before tackling the WikiHow suggestions. Everyone knows WD-40 and Duct tape can fix anything, they even like to hang out together,
In just a matter of minutes, I’d say seconds but that would be a bit of an exaggeration my Fluster was busted.
I sprayed a small amount of WD-40 on the container and let it sit a couple of seconds.
Then I used a rag, that had a fairly rough texture, and wiped the area that I had sprayed.
In an instant, and with very little elbow grease, my fluster and the sticky reside were gone.
Now the container is pretty enough for pictures.
Do you have any helpful tips for removing labels?
I use rubbing alcohol to remove all kinds of things including sticker residue. It works like a charm! With some tough ones I soak a piece of cotton and let it sit for a minute on the offending sticky spot. Then it wipes right off.
I started using alcohol to clean spots on carpet after our carpet and upholstery cleaning guy recommended it. It works great. Even gets out pet stains.
No I try it on everything. I love how cheap it is, too. Let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear what results you get from it.
I love rubbing alcohol too. In fact, I did a post about all of the wonderful things that you can do with it. I have used rubbing alcohol to remove sticky residue, but I found the WD-40 used a little less elbow grease.
I used olive oil which worked great!
Great choice!
Great post. Thanks for sharing this at our party. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we get to party with you again! Lou Lou Girls
Hi,
I’ve used both WD-40 and Isopropyl Alcohol, 91%. Both work well, but I have found better results using Castor and Mineral oil, especially on difficult to remove labels. Both are relatively cheap based on the quantity and have other household uses. I use either oil with baby shampoo to clean make-up brushes as well as to clean ink, paint and acrylic mediums from craft tools, brushes, foam sponges, scrapers and so on. Both oils are great in sugar scrubs and are great carrier oils for essential oils. I’ve made lovely bath and massage oils as well as warming oils for household scent.
Rebecca,
I noticed your comment that you use mineral oil in sugar scrubs and as a carrier for essential oils. I wonder if you’ve ever heard that mineral is pretty bad for us, skin included.Here is an article about it, but there are several more out there if you google the topic.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/185370-why-is-mineral-oil-bad-for-your-skin/
I keep hearing alot about how great alcohol can be but I’ve put it & other ” answers” to the test more than once. The only thing that can be depended on for fast, clean use is the author’s suggested WD40!!
After swearing under my breath most of yesterday trying to remove mega stickiness from my brand new plastic storage tub left by the label, i tried today the recommended wd40. Absolutely brilliant, was gone in seconds, just wiped clean off. Thank you for the tip. I now have my sanity back!
I’m glad I was able to help get your sanity back!
OMG, a man admitting that a woman is RIGHT!
The WD-40 trick works great, but make sure you spray it over the sink and not the counter, and then wash THOROUGHLY.
Hahaha, you must not have many women in your life!! And yes, it is definitely a good idea to use it over the sink, especially a stainless steel sink. The overspray makes a really nice polish for your sink.