# removing sticky stuff **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482 "2005-06-23T02:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/1 "2005-06-23T02:42:09Z")
I got a new apt and I think the last person here had contact paper in some of the cabinets. They removed the paper, but the sticky stuff is left behind. So when I put something in the cabinet it kind of gets stuck to the shelf. Any ideas how to clean that stuff off the cabinets? Maybe just hot water and soap? ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/2 "2005-06-23T02:49:21Z")
I’ve had great luck with a product called “Goo-Gone”. Great for removing adhesive residue. (ObWarning: Test it on an inconspicuous spot first; I had it remove the paint along with the sticky stuff once…) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/3 "2005-06-23T02:50:25Z")
[Goo Gone!](http://www.autobarn.net/mgcgg12.html) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/4 "2005-06-23T03:04:51Z")
I belive goo-gone is naptha (but I could be wrong), which is the same as paint thinner, so that will work as well. Also, if you don’t want to run to the store, the first thing I usually try us WD-40, that tends to work on the same things the goo-gone or naptha works on. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/5 "2005-06-23T03:09:54Z")
Safer, cheaper, and more readily available than Goo Gone… Peanut Butter. Not to mention, non -toxic. I’m serious as a heart attack. Rub the PB agressively into or onto the adhesive. Leave it alone for a 30 minutes or so. Wash off with hot soapy water. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/6 "2005-06-23T03:18:43Z")
A small amout of charcoal lighter on a soft cloth will remove adhesive gum. And no, it is not a fire hazard. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/7 "2005-06-23T03:58:55Z")
Cooking oil will remove some adhesives. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/8 "2005-06-23T04:04:38Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > A small amout of charcoal lighter on a soft cloth will remove adhesive gum. And no, it is not a fire hazard. Lighter fluid perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/9 "2005-06-23T04:10:51Z")
I’ve tried all of the above (except peanut butter) with pretty good results. But my favorite is Johnson’s Paste wax. Not only will it remove adhesive residue, it’s also very effective on crayon marks, latex paint (if not too old), scuff marks on wood and linoleum and similar problems. It has the side effect of being an excellent treatment for wood furniture, floors or any other finished wood product. Of course, all of these products work the same way - with petroleum distillates (except the peanut butter and vegetable oil - but they have a similar mechanism in their oils), but the paste wax is a little kinder to your nose and won’t attract ants. ps - my can of Goo Gone says it contains Xylene and the warnings claim that prolonged exposure can cause cancer and dain bramage. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/10 "2005-06-23T04:28:18Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > A small amout of charcoal lighter on a soft cloth will remove adhesive gum. And no, it is not a fire hazard. Lighter fluid is 99% naptha, which is a combustible liquid. If using in a kitchen, extinguish range and oven pilots, provide adequate ventilation, and do not relight pilots until the area is free of fumes (which are heavier than air). I’d recommend 1-1-1 Trichloroethane, but they pulled that off the market because it causes dain bramage, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/11 "2005-06-23T04:45:11Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Lighter fluid is 99% naptha, which is a combustible liquid. If using in a kitchen, extinguish range and oven pilots, provide adequate ventilation, and do not relight pilots until the area is free of fumes (which are heavier than air). > > I’d recommend 1-1-1 Trichloroethane, but they pulled that off the market because it causes dain bramage, too. 😉 The trichloroethane was pulled because it kills the ozone layer. (I think it was once known as R-111). However, for an excellent adhesive/brain cell remover, you just can’t beat good old MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/12 "2005-06-23T15:30:29Z")
Do _not_ use Goo-Gone for such a simple task. It is nasty stuff and can damage the finish of the cabinets, etc. Try a citrus-based adhesive remover such as “De-Solv-It”. A much safer product. The right tool for the right job. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/13 "2005-06-23T15:49:50Z")
Nasty, based on what? From the [Household Products Database](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=13009002): > [@](#): > > Acute Health Effects: From MSDS: > > Inhalation: Not considered a hazard. > Eye Contact: Contact is non-irritating. > Skin Contact: Ordinary contact with normal individuals is not considered hazardous. > Ingestion: If swallowed, may cause a laxative effect. Not considered hazardous. Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Contact may aggravate dermatitis in sensitive individuals. > > Chronic Health Effects [from] MSDS: No chronic effects known. > Carcinogenicity [from] MSDS: The ingredients in this product are not identified as carcinogens by NTP, IARC and OSHA. > Health Rating: 0 > Flammability Rating: 2 > Reactivity Rating: 0 > HMIS Rating Scale: 0 = Minimal; 1 = Slight; 2 = Moderate; 3 = Serious; 4 = Severe; > N = No information provided by manufacturer; \* = Chronic Health Hazard It contains a small amount of petroluem distilates, but it smells more like orange oil than anything else. I’ve used it on plastics that ordinary solvents would have dissolved. But having said all that, I’d probably try something oily first (mineral oil perhaps) since I think it’s the oily component that does the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/14 "2005-06-23T17:12:51Z")
I’ve had great success with 91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Do not use lower strengths-- they don’t work! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/15 "2005-06-23T18:51:47Z")
> [@Rhubarb](#): > > The trichloroethane was pulled because it kills the ozone layer. (I think it was once known as R-111). > > However, for an excellent adhesive/brain cell remover, you just can’t beat good old MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone). Pretty close. R-111 is C[sub]2[/sub]Cl[sub]5[/sub]F or pentachlorofluoroethane, while 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (aka Methyl Chloroform) is CH[sub]3[/sub]CCl[sub]3[/sub]. 1,1,1-Trichlor is a liquid at atmospheric pressure-it was originally developed IIRC to replace carbon tetrachloride, but it would also change the twist of the helix in your DNA, so they made it go away. It’s a great degreaser and solvent-I bought up a few gallons of it when it was being phased out, so it’s in the shop, next to the MEK. :toxic chemical smiley: ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/16 "2005-06-23T23:43:00Z")
Thanks for the replies. I think I will try some of the less toxic solutions this weekend. If they fail, I will give the toxic ones a try, that way I can listen to Stairway to Heaven without even turning on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/17 "2005-06-24T03:16:05Z")
Here’s a non-toxic alternative… …put new Contact paper over the old residue. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/18 "2005-06-24T03:27:10Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > Here’s a non-toxic alternative… > > …put new Contact paper over the old residue. That was one thought I had. I tend to take the path of least resistance though. :dubious: \<— NOT the tool man. ---
**Author:** ![rewindforward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f19dbf/32.png) [@rewindforward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rewindforward)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-sticky-stuff/309482/19 "2005-06-24T04:43:02Z")
lotsa rubbing alcohol and a rag.