Suggestions for removing tough sticker residue?

[MrMaguire]

What's the best way to remove tough sticker residue from painted plastic? I've tried citrus cleaners with limonen, scratching and rubbing off the residue with my fingers, and heating it up with a hair dryer, then scraping it away with a Subway card. So far the hair dryer and Subway card method is working the best, but it's still not effective enough, I have a long way to go...

These stickers were the metallic type, and their residue is lingering like a bad cold. So, what can you guys recommend? I don't have any isopropyl alcohol right now, but I may be able to pick some up if that'll do what I want.

[rkawakami]

C4?

I've heard that Goo Gone works pretty good. My usual technique to remove sticker residue is to find some of the strongest (i.e., non-tearing) stickiest tape and to quickly apply and remove a strip of it from the sticky spots on the case. Good quality clear packing tape does well. Rapid pressing then peeling back should lift most of the stuff off the laptop. Then I use some isopropyl alcohol to get any remaining spots.

Use the forum's Search link at the top of the page to find "sticker residue" and you should locate additional tips. WD40, Simple Green and Windex can work too.

[brchan]

Whatever you do, don't try to repeatedly rub the area that has sticker residue. You will end up making the plastic very shiny and smooth.

[MrMaguire]

That's what I'm trying to avoid. Along with scratching the paint, and unintentionally removing it.

Goo Gone: I'm pretty sure that they don't sell that over here, but I'll check.

Strong tape: I did try some regular tape, but the residue ripped the adhesive off the tape and made the problem even worse! I suppose some strong tape would work. I have used that method before, and it did work really well.

WD-40: I'm reluctant to try that because of the residue and smell that WD-40 leaves behind.

Windex: I've used that to clean the contacts on Nintendo games before. I'll probably try it for this.

Simple Green: Like Goo Gone, I've heard good things about it, but I don't think it's sold here.

I actually did perform a search for Sticker Residue, and found mostly posts in the marketplace, I'll look at some more results.

[hhhd1]

ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or acetone may work or something similar, maybe not as good as isopropyl alcohol, but may do the job.

put it in a little napikin or toilet paper, and try to leave it on it for a minute if it didn't come out quickly.

[rkawakami]

Depending upon the type of plastic, acetone + plastic = goo. In other words, the sticker residue may no longer be the problem but the dissolved plastic may be a new one.

[MisterB]

Isopropyl alcohol and a soft cotton cloth is what I use. Soak the cloth throughly and let the alcohol penetrate the goo and it rubs off.

[Neil]

My usual routine is a petroleum based glue softener followed by isopropyl alcohol to clean up the remaining residue.

[tom lightbody]

kerosene==paraffin is what I use

[ajkula66]

For tough stuff, Goo Gone.

For finer imperfections, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

[600X]

If by any chance you're talking about a Intel/Windows sticker that you find on ThinkPads, simply using the removed sticker with some residue left to remove whatever is still on the palmrest works really well. The leftovers on the palmrest bind with the residue left on the stick and thus come off easily from the plastic.

I used to use Isopropanol and a microfibre cloth, which worked as well, but involved a lot of time and scratching, as well as goo getting on my hands.

[hhhd1]

Depending upon the type of plastic, acetone + plastic = goo. In other words, the sticker residue may no longer be the problem but the dissolved plastic may be a new one.

Thanks for info,
I never tried acetone for similar problem, only tried ethanol and it worked.

[Temetka]

Glad you got some good suggestions.

I read the thread title and my inner smart [censored] immediately thought "power sander and 40 grit paper will clean that right up."

Someone also mentioned the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and I cannot +1 that enough. It works wonders.

[tarvoke]

(just keep an eye out for your DNA if working with any ketone-based-something.)

still never owned/tried a magic eraser, though I aspire to one day.

mineral/baby/machine oil. 3-in-1 actually now makes a silicone-based one, haven't used outside intended purpose but it's good stuff.

-or-

naphtha.
naphtha.
naphtha.
(can otherwise be bought as zippo fuel, ronson fuel, coleman fuel)
((yes it will smell bad. tho not residual-wd40-levels-of-bad.))

plastic "razor blades" - come in 3 types/colors of softness/hardness.

[precip9]

Odorless mineral spirits.

A curious thing happens if the palmrest is cleaned. A white residue appears. This is actually human skin residue. More cleaning, with a toothbrush, removes it. The toothbrush is also excellent for sticker residue, as it reaches into the pebble finish of the plastic.

[MrMaguire]

Oh my god, Goo Gone is the best. It's my new favourite thing.

I decided to get an 8 fluid oz. bottle on eBay for £10. A good investment if you ask me. UK based sellers had it, so I didn't have to pay insane shipping fees to get some here from the US. It came in on Friday and I decided to try it today. With a small amount on a rag, it cut through the horribly thick sticker residue like it was butter. After that I went a bit mad and decided to remove some stickers on other various things. It even smells nice, unlike isopropyl alcohol.

Goo Gone gets 5 stars from me. No wait, 10 stars.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody, much appreciated.