# How to get a sticker's sticky stuff off of plastic **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424 "2009-02-11T21:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/1 "2009-02-11T21:02:38Z")
I have this Rubik’s cube on my desk and the stickers started wearing out and falling off. So I ordered a new set of stickers. In the meantime I took the rest of the stickers off, and now I am left with a monochromatic cube with gross sticky-stuff residue on its faces. What’s the best way to remove said Stuff so I can give it a thorough cleaning before applying the new stickers? Will some sort of solvent work? ETA: No, I don’t have to remove the stickers to solve it. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/2 "2009-02-11T21:09:04Z")
Have you tried Goo-gone? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/3 "2009-02-11T21:10:01Z")
Goo-Gone or WD-40 ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/4 "2009-02-11T21:11:00Z")
Depends on the type of plastic. Goof-Off, acetone (nail polish remover), and naptha (lighter fluid) are good solvents, but can dissolve plastics. Try just a little bit before going all out with it. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/5 "2009-02-11T21:13:23Z")
I find any cleaner with lemon or orange oil in it works pretty well at removing adhesives, and they don’t usually hurt plastic. You probably want to do a test first, because it’s sometimes hard to predict what a chemical will do to a plastic. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/6 "2009-02-11T21:21:01Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > ETA: No, I don’t have to remove the stickers to solve it. 🆒 What’s really cool is if you swap a couple of stickers. If they’re the side ones, someone will probably be able to get everything but one side and they’ll never understand why they can’t solve the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/7 "2009-02-11T22:14:35Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > Depends on the type of plastic. Goof-Off, acetone (nail polish remover), and naptha (lighter fluid) are good solvents, but can dissolve plastics. Acetone and Goof-Off, yes, but naptha doesn’t dissolve any plastics I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/8 "2009-02-11T22:25:20Z")
The [WD-40 No Mess Pen](http://www.wd40.com/products/no-mess-pen/) is a fantastic product. I can personally attest to its awesomeness on removing sticky glue residue, marks on walls, and shoe marks on hardwood / tile floors. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/9 "2009-02-12T04:20:20Z")
I use [Ronsonol](http://www.jamesdire.net/ronsonol.jpg) for anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/10 "2009-02-12T05:02:56Z")
Another product that works well for removing adhesive residue is Johnson’s Paste Wax or neutral shoe polish (virtually the same thing). They won’t harm the plastic and leave a nice shiny surface. Side note: Whatever you use to remove the sticky stuff will need to be cleaned off before you apply the new stickers. I have had good success with rubbing alcohol - it cleans the surface and evaporates quickly. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/11 "2009-02-12T05:32:38Z")
We use Zippo lighter fluid at work…Goo Gone leaves too much of a film behind. Let it soak for a few seconds, then wipe off. If the residue is really sticky, it may take a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/12 "2009-02-12T14:48:08Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > …naptha… > [@King\_Friday](#): > > …[Ronsonol](http://www.jamesdire.net/ronsonol.jpg)… > [@kittenblue](#): > > …Zippo lighter fluid… Just FYI–for everyone–these three things are the same. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/13 "2009-02-12T15:01:02Z")
Goo Gone is the best I’ve ever seen – even better than something petroleum-based. As **kittenblue** said, it can leave a film. I find Goop to be good at cutting that film. Then you can wash off Goop with plain water. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/14 "2009-02-12T15:11:59Z")
Use any plastic-safe oil. Vegetable oil will work. Put a little on, and let it sit for a while then rub it off. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/15 "2009-02-12T22:41:31Z")
I find that eucalyptus oil works better than most speacialist sticky-stuff-removers, but it has issues with the occasional plastic (I typically use it on CD cases, but it has problems with cases from CDs I buy from the cheap-import-shop). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/16 "2009-02-12T22:51:19Z")
Dabbing at it with a piece of duct tape or other very sticky adhesive material often works surprisingly well. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/17 "2009-02-12T22:57:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Dabbing at it with a piece of duct tape or other very sticky adhesive material often works surprisingly well. Only if the sticky stuff you’re dabbing with is stickier than the sticky stuff you’re trying to remove. Otherwise, you’re stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/18 "2009-02-12T23:26:13Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Only if the sticky stuff you’re dabbing with is stickier than the sticky stuff you’re trying to remove. Otherwise, you’re stuck. It only needs to be stickier than the surface to which the sticky is stuck - (perhaps not entirely justifiably)assuming some kind of cumulative stuckness occurs when two sticky things are united… ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/19 "2009-02-12T23:41:14Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > > [@King\_Friday](#): > > > > …Ronsonol… > > > [@kittenblue](#): > > > > …Zippo lighter fluid … > > > [@awldune](#): > > > > … naptha (lighter fluid) … > > Just FYI–for everyone–these three things are the same. Just so you know, these FOUR things… > [@Dinsdale](#): > > Have you tried Goo-gone? …are one and the same. (Except that Goo-gone also has citrus oil for scent.) ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424/20 "2009-02-13T04:30:37Z")
Yes, but Ronsonol stinks, Goo-Gone requires the use of another product to remove _it_, and naptha…well, you can’t buy it in line at the grocery store for $3. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-stickers-sticky-stuff-off-of-plastic/485424.md?page=2)