apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

WD-40 also works wonders. not ideal to use with paper, of course, but for other surfaces...

the hairdryer is a great tool for getting price stickers off of plastic when you're giving a gift!

Wouldn't using a hairdryer to take off the labels be wasteful as well? It seems like it takes a long time, so wouldn't it be wasting energy?

*sigh* I wish I'd known about this before I sat for an hour with an exacto knife and a ceramic vase last Sunday.

My new mantra: "Do Not Accelerate Yourself"

Hmm.. Slight burning sensation, eh? Has anyone tried this method on a heat conductive surface, like ceramics or glass? It seems like it would get too hot to handle after a while. And say one has already been impatient and torn the label into many pieces.. Would the hairdryer work to get those sticky remaining pieces off?

i own this hairdryer. i've tried to find it again, just in case my first one ever burns out, but they don't make it anymore. that makes me sad...

This works on your car, too. You can take the name of the make and model off with a hair dryer and dental floss.

it's a handy thing to know, but for stuff that can get wet, i just scrub labels off in the sink.

i love any company that uses those removable labels. hallelujah!

My favorite part is.... you might feel like your fingers are burning but don't worry about it! haha

Dude... WEAR GLOVES! Then you won't feel that "burning sensation."

If you have already tried to get a label off without this method and it's in pieces (and it's on a hard surface, not paper) use Goo Gone. The stuff is amazing.

This is one of the most painfully long videos I've ever seen.

He could have just said "heat the label with a hair dryer."

Not to worry; dear "it's my sister's hairdryer, not mine, I swear" - I will not accelerate myself… Especially not when making howto-videos. Lest we get the point across in less than four minutes…

For this wisdom, I bow before you Lord hairy-hands...


(Yeah, but good tip anyhoo - just annoyingly long video... Though the "Do not accelerate yourself"-bit made my day.)

This is the most common technique used in the sign and sticker industries.
You need your fingers out there to 'feel' the product your peeling.
You are actually heating up the 'set' glue again.
The success depends on patience, correct heat, and the surfaces being separated.
Sometimes you may need to clean off (solvent base cleaner) some residual glue after the sticker removal.

I was loading my new dishes into the dishwasher and noticed the dreaded stickers on the bottoms. After unsuccessfully and slowly peeling a few off, I decided to try using my blowdryer. Still slow. Still left little pieces, and I realized that I was going to need a better method with 42 stickers to go. I got smart and put them in the microwave a stack at a time to heat up, and recommend this method for anything microwave-safe.

For housewares, I keep a single edge utility razor blade by the sink.
Or soak, then razor blade.

Orange essential oil also works wonders. You can buy a small bottle from health food stores. It's used in a lot of goo gone type products but if you use it concentrated, just a little dab on a cotton ball will take off sticky labels. Be careful tho' as it may corrode plastic if the excess is not removed properly!

Annessa, i had the same problem, but i just loaded the dishes in the dishwasher anyway. The heat and water of the dishwasher washed the labels right off, no residue to speak of. I just had to fish a few labels off the bottom of my dishwasher when all was said and done, no biggie.

annessa, I've got another good one for dishes. We got new ones about 6 months ago.

Fill the sink up with hot water, let them sit for a bit, pull them out, and they should peel off. The hot water works the same way as the hairdryer but it less tedious. If they don't come quietly, a stiff bristled brush will finish them off.

Now I hear you all yelling at me. Don't waste a sink full of water. I hear ya. It shouldn't take too long for this to happen, 15 minutes or so, the water should still be pretty hot, then use the sink of water to wash the dishes, since I don't think a lot of people wash things when they bring them home, and that's gross.

i'm amazed that it was removed from paper! great entertaining tip.

use lighter fluid....it removes labels/stickers

goo gone ...