# Getting Bumper Sticker Residue Off..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557 "2002-03-16T01:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/1 "2002-03-16T01:10:13Z")
… a plastic bumper? Don’t wanna use a scraper, and this adhesive remover I looked at at the parts store says not for use on plastic. So what do y’all receommend? Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/2 "2002-03-16T01:22:12Z")
Eucalyptus oil. But test it on an inconspicuous spot first. ---
**Author:** ![Barney111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Barney111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barney111)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/3 "2002-03-16T01:40:53Z")
Orange oil works great. Spray it on, let it sit for a while, and wipe away the gunk. Sometimes it takes a little elbow grease, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/4 "2002-03-16T01:47:23Z")
That famous wonder liquid… WD-40. Best stuff made for taking off adhesive residues and won’t hurt your paint job either. Spray some on the adhesive, and a bit on an old towel and scrub a bit. Lighter fluid will work too, but not quite as well. Takes a bit more elbow grease. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/5 "2002-03-16T04:43:01Z")
1. Goo Gone (says do not use on rubber–are you sure the bumpers are plastic?) 2. Mineral oil (baby oil). 3. Any other kind of oil (vegetable oil, etc.) 4. Peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/6 "2002-03-16T04:54:31Z")
I’ll second the WD-40 recommendation. Great stuff. Second only to duct tape in all-around usefullness. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/7 "2002-03-16T05:10:54Z")
Another vote for WD-40, which is also very effective at removing used chewing gum from your bumpers. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/8 "2002-03-16T05:27:11Z")
All of you **WD-40** fans may enjoy their [**site**](http://www.wd40.com/). It contains 2000 uses for WD-40 and you can become a super fan for as little as $15.95. For those who don’t have the time here are some of the uses: [ul]• Removes crusted gunk from bird cages • Lubricates metal joints on old wooden toys • Removes roofing tar from shoes • Coat electric guitar pickups to prevent rusting • Removes gum from bottom of shoes • Use for science project on rust prevention • Cleans and protects cowboy boots • Cleans and protects handcuffs • Cleans synthesizer keys • Loosens crud around stoppers on antique perfume bottles • Keeps dog collars squeak-free • Cleans rusty jewelry • Removes rust from steam irons[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![ringmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9e8a1a/32.png) [@ringmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ringmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/9 "2002-03-16T05:28:52Z")
A hair dryer might help break down the stuff enough for you to scrape of with your fingernail. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/10 "2002-03-16T12:56:02Z")
Simple Green (in the spray bottle, not the aerosol) might help. Again, lots of elbow grease required. My other 2 cents is that this is best accomplished as soon as you get the sticker off, before the adhesive has a chance to dry/air cure. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/11 "2002-03-16T13:53:00Z")
Another vote from the WD-40 camp. That stuff works wonders! I carry a little can in my exterminator-mobile to keep the locks on the cap working smoothly, and it also takes glue-board adhesive off my Maglite[sup]tm[/sup] instantly. I would follow **Turbo Dog’s** advice to the letter. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-bumper-sticker-residue-off/98557/12 "2002-03-17T16:21:05Z")
Try any vegetable oil first.