Cleaning Tips for Kids: How to Remove Sticker Residue from Clothes

Do you have a sticker or adhesive on your clothes that won’t come off? This article will show you how to remove sticker residue from clothes and different fabrics. It’s important to know what type of fabric the item is made out of before trying any methods, so be sure to check labels first.

You’ll find some helpful tips below for removing stickers from cotton, polyester, linen, silk, and wool. And if your garment has been washed with a detergent or dry-cleaned, it can make it more difficult to remove the sticker residue. So don’t worry! We’ve got you covered there too! Check out our solutions below.

Read this article now and learn how to get rid of those pesky stickers once and for all!

Ways to Remove Sticker Residue from Fabric

1. Removing Sticker Residue or Adhesive using Nail Polish

To remove sticker residue with nail polish, soak the sticky area of your garment in a small amount of acetone nail polish remover. Be sure the fabric is not acetate, or it will melt the fibers.

The acetone will start breaking down the adhesive, and it should rub off. Use a clean cloth or a soft toothbrush to scrub the area gently. Pick off any pieces of adhesive and then rinse with water. 

2. Remove Sticker Residue or Adhesive with Soap and Warm Water

For synthetic fabrics, almost all the time, soap and warm water will do the trick. Soak the sticker residue area in a warm water solution filled with a little bit of dishwashing detergent until the adhesive softens a little. Blot and rub the area with a clean microfiber cloth until it’s clean.

3. Using a Solvent to Remove Sticker Residue from Clothes

If the soap and warm water method don’t work, you can use a solvent like Goo Gone to remove the dried-on adhesive. You may need to spot test an inconspicuous area of your fabric first because most solvents will react with some fibers.

Dip a cotton ball in the solvent and rub it onto the sticker residue area. Let the solvent sit for a minute, and then use a clean cotton ball to wipe away the residue.

4. Removing Sticker Residue from Fabrics that have been washed

If you’ve already washed the garment, check the label for the type of fabric it is. You can try using a fabric softener detergent like Woolite or detergent combined with warm water to help dissolve the stickiness and clean out any leftover adhesive. 

If the sticker residue is dried in, you could try putting a warm wet towel on it and using a hairdryer to heat the area. Then use soap and water or rubbing alcohol to remove the dried-on adhesive.

5. Removing Sticker Residue from Specialty Clothes

You can try using vinegar mixed with warm water to dissolve sticker residue from silk and wool. If this doesn’t work, you could use one of the solvents listed above that is safe for silk and wool or rubbing alcohol to remove this kind of residue.

Blot the area with vinegar or rubbing alcohol until the adhesive starts lifting. Scrap off as much as you can and repeat until all of the sticky adhesives are gone. Launder like you normally would. 

6. Other Tips and Tricks to Remove Adhesive or Sticker Residue

You can also use an iron to help lift off sticker residue from cotton, linen, or silk. Place a clean cloth on top of the residue and iron it over the fabric for about 30 seconds. Then scrape off as much of the sticky residue as you can with a plastic razor. Repeat if necessary.

For stubborn sticker residue, you can fill a bowl with water and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours or until it’s frigid. Then soak the sticky area of your garment in this ice-cold water for 30 minutes.  Use a razor blade to scrape off the remaining sticker residue.

Best Way to Remove Sticker Residue from Upholstery

What You’ll Need:

• nail polish remover
• cotton balls or clean cloth
• old credit card
• dishwashing soap
• warm water

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. First, try gently peeling the sticker off to remove it without leaving a residue behind.

2. If that doesn’t work, use a little bit of nail polish remover on a cotton ball or swab to remove it. Be careful not to let the nail polish remover drip on the rest of the fabric since it can permanently stain.

3. If the nail polish remover didn’t do the trick, use a plastic razor or an old credit card to scrape off as much sticker residue as possible.

4. Try scrubbing in a circular motion with dishwashing liquid and warm water.

5. To finish up, use a clean cloth to wipe the area dry.

FAQ’s on Removing Sticker Residue or Adhesive from Clothes

1. How do you get sticker residue off clothes that have been washed and dried?

Removing adhesive from clothes can be challenging, especially when it’s been dried in. Vinegar may help loosen a dried-on adhesive, but it might also take the color out of your clothing and require special cleaning to restore even if you follow with laundering.

Try nail polish remover to remove dried-on adhesive from fabric or clothing. If that doesn’t work, You may need a solvent to get the sticky stuff off specialty clothing.

2. How do you get sticker residue off clothes with vinegar?

Place a few drops of vinegar on each sticker residue spot and allow it to soak for about five minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush gently in circles until the adhesive is removed. Rinse thoroughly under cool water. Wash and dry as normal.

3. How do you remove old sticker residue?

You could try a product with “enzyme-like” properties, like Goo Gone, that can help remove stickier types of glue and old sticker residue. Make sure the fabric is not colorfast before using this cleaner or test in an inconspicuous area first.

4. Can you use Goo-Gone on clothes?

Yes, Goo Gone Gel is great for removing sticker residue from all fabrics, but always test in an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t affect the garment. Spray it on and let it work its magic. Wipe off with a lint-free cloth. Launder garment as usual.

Conclusion

Remember that stickers are a lot of fun for kids. Don’t despair if you find sticker residue left behind on clothing, furniture, or other items! There are lots of ways to remove it and make everything look as good as new again.

The best way is usually just using soap and warm water, but if the adhesive has been there too long or washed and dried into the fabric, try some nail polish remover instead (always test in an inconspicuous spot first!) You can also use vinegar to dissolve the glue before washing away any remaining residue with soap and water.

Goo Gone Gel is a great solvent that makes removing those stubborn tape bits from your clothes easy-peasy lemon squeezy while leaving no sticky film behind. Once all residue is removed, wash as you normally would.