How to remove stickers from plastic surfaces— tips from the pros

Our guide on how to remove stickers from plastic will save you a lot of work and frustration. Price stickers, glue residue and other adhesives can be stubborn. Learn the tricks that make the job a snap.

That fancy new waste bin looks great in your home office until you try to get the price label off. The label might seem impossible to remove or, at best, you’ve got a tough residue left to remind you every time you walk past it. Getting those labels off can be annoying. You might even be tempted to shave it off with a blade, but before you start making scratches, check out our guide on how to remove adhesive from plastic.

Here is what you’ll need to remove sticker glue from plastic:

• A clean cloth
• A plastic scraper
• Nail polish remover or vinegar
• Warm soapy water

1. Try soaking and wiping off with hot soapy water first if you think the label will remove easily. Vinegar or nail polish remover work better for more stubborn stains.
2. Wet a rag with the solution you’ve chosen and apply it to the glue residue area. Let it soak in for 15 minutes.
3. Wipe the area with a dry rag, removing as much of the glue residue as possible. 
4. Anything that has remained will need to be scraped off. Use a plastic scraper if you have one. You could also use a credit card, a tongue depressor or just a fingernail. Don't be too rough and scratch the plastic.
5. Repeat the above steps as necessary. Stubborn residue may need to soak longer.
6. Clean up with warm soapy water and dry with a clean cloth.

Try putting some vegetable oil on a paper towel and wiping the glue residue in a circular motion. For certain types of glue, this works very well. You can also try applying some spray lubricant on a paper towel and wiping the area with that. When the glue is gone, wash the surface with soap and water.

Looking to make a repair or attach something to a plastic surface rather than remove it? Which adhesive will you choose? LePage has a full range of adhesives for any type of project.

It’s hard to beat super glue for a quick, easy and permanent bond. While liquid super glue is best for smooth and tight-fitting surfaces, LePage Super Glue Gel Control bonds to virtually any surface and offers greater control as you apply it. It has a patented additive that allows it to work faster and hold stronger on more surfaces than ordinary adhesives.

If you need the super strength of epoxy in a fast-setting formula, try LePage Speed Set Epoxy. It forms a powerful bond to most plastics as well as metal, glass, ceramic, wood, china, fiberglass, and more.