# The sticker on my non-stick pan is stuck.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 31, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237 "2014-01-31T22:26:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/1 "2014-01-31T22:26:05Z")
I bought a [pan](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1/1511733_10152177151798209_1319424567_n.jpg)a few days ago. Decided to try it out. I tried to remove the sticker and… nope. It would not come out. I tried again ans was able to peel the top layer of the sticker. Using water I was able to remove most of the lower paper, but there is still a lot of glue on the pan. Could it be that the really hot, dry weather we are experiencing here in São Paulo is the cause for this problem? There is still a lot of glue on the pan. I filled the pan with water. I don’t want to use abrasives or any strong product…
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/2 "2014-01-31T22:29:24Z")
Coat the sticker and glue with cooking oil, and let it sit for awhile.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/3 "2014-01-31T22:33:49Z")
I was going to suggest just filling the pan with boiling hot water and letting it sit for a while. That should loosen the glue enough to let you wipe it off with a sponge.
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/4 "2014-01-31T22:34:27Z")
There is also a wonderful citrus-based product called Goo-Gone, but I don’t know if it’s available in Brazil. It’s made for just that sort of situation. Maybe mix some orange oil into the cooking oil that \*\*beowulff \*\*suggested.
Roddy
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### Author:  [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/5 "2014-01-31T22:41:29Z")
If you can’t find Goo-Gone, try WD-40 or mineral spirits/paint thinner. Wash thoroughly with dish soap afterwards.
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### Author:  [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/6 "2014-01-31T23:29:41Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> There is also a wonderful citrus-based product called Goo-Gone, but I don’t know if it’s available in Brazil. It’s made for just that sort of situation. Maybe mix some orange oil into the cooking oil that \*\*beowulff \*\*suggested.
> Roddy
Well, we have that here with another name. Anyway. Wont this remove the non-stick coating?
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### Author:  [@SacFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SacFly)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/7 "2014-01-31T23:33:03Z")
Try lemon juice.
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### Author:  [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/8 "2014-02-01T00:21:23Z")
Here’s a theoretical approach to deciding if a solvent attacks Telfon or not
[http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum\_modules/Properties/module\_3/activity4.htm](http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Properties/module_3/activity4.htm)
Here’s a practical approach
[http://www.calpaclab.com/PTFE-PFA-and-Teflon-Chemical-Compatibility-Chart-s/832.htm](http://www.calpaclab.com/PTFE-PFA-and-Teflon-Chemical-Compatibility-Chart-s/832.htm)
As you can see, even solvents listed as attacking PTFE by the TAMU.EDU page are listed as safe by [Calpacalb.com](http://Calpacalb.com) Only Flourine, high temperature lithium and supernovae were described as being harmful to PTFE ?
Why the difference between theory and practice ?
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/9 "2014-02-01T07:06:06Z")
Or just accept that anything that sticks to a non-stick pan becomes, _by definition, part of the pan._
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### Author:  [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/10 "2014-02-02T01:28:29Z")
> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> Or just accept that anything that sticks to a non-stick pan becomes, _by definition, part of the pan._
I don’t want to cook with chinese glue and paper ☹
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/11 "2014-02-02T05:28:44Z")
> [@demian\_travis](#):
>
> Well, we have that here with another name. Anyway. Wont this remove the non-stick coating?
I have in front of me a container of a similar product called De-Solv-It. It contains “organic hydrocarbons, citrus oils, and organic wetting agents. Do not use near heat.” So as long as the pan is cool, I don’t see how that could harm the non-stick surface at all.
Roddy
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/12 "2014-02-02T13:56:27Z")
> [@Isilder](#):
>
> Here’s a theoretical approach to deciding if a solvent attacks Telfon or not
>
> [http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum\_modules/Properties/module\_3/activity4.htm](http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Properties/module_3/activity4.htm)
>
> Here’s a practical approach
>
> [http://www.calpaclab.com/PTFE-PFA-and-Teflon-Chemical-Compatibility-Chart-s/832.htm](http://www.calpaclab.com/PTFE-PFA-and-Teflon-Chemical-Compatibility-Chart-s/832.htm)
>
> As you can see, even solvents listed as attacking PTFE by the TAMU.EDU page are listed as safe by [Calpacalb.com](http://Calpacalb.com) Only Flourine, high temperature lithium and supernovae were described as being harmful to PTFE ?
>
> Why the difference between theory and practice ?
I wound up dissolving the coating on my electric skillet with body soap that hat shea butter in it. I think there must be flaws in the practical test, like possibly assuming a perfectly even, unused surface.
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### Author:  [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/13 "2014-02-02T22:59:38Z")
I just want to take this opportunity to thank the few remaining manufacturers that do not use industrial super glues to attach annoying practically irremovable stickers the surfaces of their products. Double points if those stickers are not attached to surfaces that need to be sticker free to use the product as intended.
Considering that you are not even supposed to look at the latest non-stick surfaces the wrong way, let alone use goo-gone on them, this is pretty annoying.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sticker-on-my-non-stick-pan-is-stuck/680237/14 "2014-02-03T02:08:35Z")
Nail polish remover (with acetone) will take it right off.
If you’re afraid to try that then put it in the freezer overnight. The glue should get brittle and chip right off with a fingernail.