Fabric care experts share their go-to hacks for getting rid of sticker residue.
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So, you accidentally washed a shirt with a name tag sticker, and it left behind sticky, gummy flecks of glue. Don't panic. While it seems like the tacky, leftover adhesive will be stuck on your favorite top forever, it is possible to remove even the most stubborn residual sticker glue. Here are some at-home ways to get sticker residue off your clothes without ruining them, according to clothing care professionals.
Before you try more aggressive methods, gently roll the fabric with a lint roller to pick up any sticker residue. You can also use masking or packing tape, but avoid duct tape, which could leave behind its own residue. For tape, create a loop, then quickly press and remove it from the fabric several times.
This technique is ideal for delicate fabrics like wool and is effective if the sticker is still tacky (meaning you just removed the sticker and haven't washed the garment or let it sit). Follow up with other solutions if pieces are left after rolling or patting several times.
To deal with sticker residue on synthetic fabric garments, place them in the freezer for 45 to 90 minutes. This will cause the residue to solidify, facilitating easier removal. Follow cleaning expert Gwen Whiting's advice, who suggests, "Stick the shirt in the freezer for an hour to harden the glue. Pick off what you can."
After removing what you can with the freezer method, use warm water and dish soap to take off any remaining residue. "Wet the shirt and rub it with a microfiber cloth and a little dish soap," Whiting says. "Soak the garment in warm water for 20 minutes, then let it air-dry."
If you need a soap recommendation, try Dawn, which is an effective degreaser. According to Dawn senior scientist Morgan Eberhard, while the brand has not tested Dawn specifically to remove sticker residue from fabrics, she says that Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray can act as a quick stain remover or pretreatment for laundry stains.
"When stains land on your clothes, simply pretreat them with the steps below to make sure they don’t set," says Eberhard.
Dawn dish soap is safe to use directly on any cotton or polycotton fabric but should not be used on delicate fabrics, like a silk top or suede jacket, notes Eberhard. "We recommend spot testing with a small drop in a less visible area to make sure the material of the garment will not be damaged."
"Glue residue is plastic-based, and scrubbing with ordinary soap and water won't always remove it," says dry cleaning expert Chris Allsbrooks. He recommends using Carbona Stain Devils No. 1, which is specifically made to remove adhesives (think chewing gum and glue) from most washable fabrics, including cotton—even if it's already been through the laundry.
Here's how to use it:
Believe it or not, you can use acetone nail polish remover to help break down the hardened, leftover adhesive. Here's what to do:
"Lay the garment flat on a table and place a towel behind the stain," says dry cleaning expert John Mahdessian. "First, check to make sure the glue is dry, then dab clear acetone nail polish remover onto a cloth and rub it into the leftover glue. The white spots should vanish quickly."
Only use this method on non-acetate fabrics—otherwise, the acetone in the nail polish remover will melt the fabric. Acetate or triacetate fabrics are used for some types of satin, taffeta, and silk-like synthetics and are commonly found in formalwear and delicate garments.
Cleaning vinegar can be used to clean pretty much anything, including sticker residue from clothes. Test a small spot of fabric before following these steps:
If the above steps don't work, a natural oil should be able to dissolve any remaining sticker residue, but you'll need to be careful. For this method, put some olive oil, coconut oil, or baby oil on a cotton ball, then dab it on the residue spot, letting the oil sit for 10 minutes.
n methyl pyrrolidone Rub your fingers or the edge of a credit card across the residue to remove it. The caveat (and why you should try this method after others have failed) is that now you have an oil spot on your fabric. To address this, revert to the third method and wash your clothes with soap and water before the oil sets in. Then, launder the garment and dry it as usual.