Sticker Shift: How to Remove Stickers Safely

Last updated on April 17th, 2025 at 10:58 pm

In an ideal world, removing stickers would be as easy as taking off socks. Alas, stickers aren’t made equal. At best, they come off seamlessly the way a brand new phone’s protective film lifts easily as soon as you pull the tab. At worst, it’s like ripping an extra band-aid off the skin — painful and messy. But have no fear because we pooled tried and tested tips on how to remove stickers safely from various surfaces.

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How to Remove Stickers From Your Laptop

Remember when you said you’ll only add one sticker on your laptop only to realize and the next thing you know, you’ve sticker-bombed your computer? We get you. But we’re not here to talk about the past; we’re sure you have great sticker taste. Instead, we’re listing quick ways to remove stickers safely from your laptop.

• Using Rubbing Alcohol: Moisten a cotton ball or a makeup pad with rubbing alcohol and rub it gently against the sticker in circular motion. Wait until the sticker softens and then slowly peel it off starting from one edge. You can also use a plastic scraper to lift the sticker. Rub off any residue left with the same cotton ball or pad until the surface is smooth again.
• Using Mild Liquid Soap: Pour a few drops of mild liquid soap onto a cotton ball or a piece of non-abrasive cloth and rub it gently against the sticker until it softens. Peel the sticker off gently. Be mindful not to pour the soap directly onto the laptop to avoid damaging the device.
• Using Toothpaste: Apply a small amount of toothpaste, enough to cover the entire sticker, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wipe off the excess toothpaste with a damp cloth and gently peel off the sticker using a plastic scraper or a razor blade — just be careful not to scratch the surface of your computer.
• Using Baking Soda Paste: Prepare the paste by combining baking soda, water, and vinegar and mixing it until even. Apply the paste onto the sticker, making sure to cover its entire surface, and then let it dry. Rub the sticker with a warm, damp cloth until it comes off. Remember to clean the rest of the surface with a lint-free cloth to remove any sticker or paste residue.

How to Remove Stickers From Your Car

Sometimes, the most fun you can have while navigating traffic is knowing that your car stickers are excellent, and that’s perfectly fine! But when you’re ready to move on from the one sticker you no longer ~vibe~ with, here are some ways you can remove it safely.

Using a Hair Dryer: Set your hair dryer to hot and blast the air onto the sticker you want to remove for a few minutes. After warming up the adhesive, try carefully lifting the sticker from a corner and pulling the rest.

• Using Oil and Plastic Scraper: Douse the sticker with unused cooking oil (get the generic one for frying from your kitchen; no, it doesn’t have to be olive oil!) and let it soak for 15 minutes. Starting at one corner, push the sticker off the surface using a plastic scraper. You can also soak a piece of cloth in oil and rub it against the sticker to help lift the rest of the sticker or when you bump into some resistance. Use the same oil-soaked cloth to clear the surface of any residue, and then wipe it clean afterward.
• Using Warm White Vinegar: In the microwave, use a glass bowl to warm some white vinegar for 20 seconds. Moisten a piece of non-abrasive cloth with the warm vinegar, wipe it all over the sticker, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Using a plastic scraper, start removing the sticker from one edge until you’re able to remove the rest. Remember to rinse the area with clean water and buff it as desired.
• Using Warm, Soapy Water: Soak the sticker in a mixture of warm, soapy water, wash it repeatedly, and scrub until the sticker comes off.
• Using WD-40: Your trusty WD-40 can help you remove stickers, too. Just spray a generous amount of WD-40 on the sticker, let it sit for a few minutes, and then start scraping off using a blunt scraper.

How to Remove Stickers From Glass Surfaces

We realize there are different types of glass surfaces as much as there are various types of stickers, so we pulled together a quick guide on removing the latter from the former for when you’re ready.

• Using a Hair Dryer: Blast the glass surface with hot air using your hair dryer to soften the adhesive of the sticker. After heating the sticker, lift it from one corner and slowly pull the rest until the entire sticker comes off.
• Using Warm, Soapy Water: Create a liquid soap and warm water solution in a spray bottle; don’t pour boiling water lest you burn your hand or the plastic container. Spray a generous amount of the solution on the sticker and let it soak to soften the adhesive. Gently remove the sticker using a plastic scraper and spray the solution onto the sticker if you run into resistance.
• Using Vinegar: Vinegar is great at softening adhesive, which means you can also use it to remove stickers from glass surfaces. Soak a cotton ball or pad in vinegar, apply it to the sticker, and let it seep into the material before peeling off the sticker carefully.
• Using Rubbing Alcohol: You can also dissolve a sticker’s adhesive that’s stuck to a glass surface, like windows or doors, using rubbing alcohol. Spray the sticker generously with rubbing alcohol and soak it for 10–30 minutes. Use a razor blade or a plastic scraper to lift the sticker from the glass.
• Using Oil: Grab some vegetable oil from your kitchen and generously coat the sticker you wish to remove with it. Give it several minutes to soak, and then pull the sticker starting at one edge.
• Using Ice: Applying ice to a sticker can also help weaken the adhesive. Let an ice bag sit on top of your sticker and give it time to get undone. Remove the sticker with a razor blade or simply pull it with your hand.
• Using WD-40: This garage and household staple works wonders on sticker removal. Simply spray a generous amount of WD-40 on the sticker, let it sit for a while, and then lift the sticker as usual.

How to Remove Stickers from Wooden Surfaces

Wood is a delicate surface to remove stickers from because it can be ruined if you’re not careful. Luckily, there are ways to remove stickers that you can try at home.

• Using a Hair Dryer: You read it right — our handy hair dryer takes center stage again. Apply heat to the sticker for a few minutes to weaken the adhesive. Use a blunt plastic scraper when removing the sticker to avoid scratching the wood by accident
• Using Rubbing Alcohol: Just like with other surfaces, a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and then applied to a sticker can help you remove them on wooden surfaces. Be careful with letting the cotton ball stay on too long, as it might cause discoloration on the wood.
• Using Oil: You can use fresh vegetable oil or oil polish specifically made for wood to soften stickers and peel them off a wooden surface. Oils are also great for removing any residue left and keeping a wooden surface’s natural sheen.

A Few Reminders When Removing Stickers

Before you go test these household materials to remove every sticker in plain sight, here are some helpful reminders to take note of:

• Check for warranty seals and manufacturer’s guide. This especially applies to devices like laptops, phones, and other electronic devices or appliances — make sure that you’re not removing any warranty stickers before the warranty has lapsed. You might lose your warranty benefits if you remove these stickers prematurely. You should also check the user manual to see if your device requires specific cleaning instructions. In case you don’t have the printed manual, you can look up your device’s model online and check if the user guide is available, send an inquiry to the manufacturer directly, or read user forums.
• Power down devices and unplug them. Safety first! Avoid the risk of electrocution by powering down devices and unplugging them before cleaning and removing stickers, especially if you’re using liquids. It’s also better to work in an area with proper ventilation.
• Be mindful of gaps. It’s common for laptops to have grooves and crannies, so avoid those when applying liquid removers for removing stickers. If you’re taking out a sticker that’s close to any gaps, cover them first with masking tape.
• Use gloves if you have sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, put on gloves before applying any solvents or removers on the sticker. Your kitchen gloves would do, or you can use the latex or nitrile ones you can get at pharmacies.
• Use good quality stickers. This can be a hit or miss and it can be tough to tell whether a sticker will be easy to remove eventually, so pay mind to reviews about stickers before you purchase or apply them. And if you’re the creative type and are keen to customize your own stickers, choose a good sticker printing partner like UPrinting.com. We only use high quality materials and adhesive to give you excellent stickers, you’d think twice about removing them.

Skip worrying and start stickering because from now on, you can remove stickers off surfaces with ease. Bookmark this guide and forward it to fellow sticker stans so that when it’s time to make room for a new sticker, you’ll know what to do with ones you need to peel off.