I am so familiar with the struggle. I’ve had pretty good success with passing a hair dryer on hot over the sticker for about 30 sec to a min and they will typically peel off easier, sometimes needing a few passes with the hair dryer. If anything still remains I follow it with my faithful Goo Gone. Being careful not to press too hard and it works better if you let it sit for a few minutes.
If it’s a hardbound or has a plastic jacket, screen cleaner or non-perishable oil. If it has no jacket, lightly wipe it down with jojoba oil or another non-perishable oil. The glue is oil soluble, so this should help. any left over can be wiped with a rag and it should go away.
I’m usually able to get the stickers off without leaving anything behind, it’s just a matter of being patient when removing the sticker and doing it as slowly as you can, if it starts to separate then just try lifting from another corner. If it still leaves a few little sticky stuff behind, i roll up the label I have and just dab at the sticky stuff that is left and it usually comes right off. I’m a little too cowardly to try any liquids on my books in order to remove stickers so don’t have much for ya in that aspect.
In the future before you take the sticker off place a paper towel over it and pass the iron on low a few seconds and the sticker will peel off clean. This also works for removing packing labels when you are reusing boxes or tossing them etc.
I just destroyed my nails taking off stickers from a used book I bought. But it still has the residue on it ? why do people have to put stickers on the books that won’t come off!
@Kelli why do people buy books and leave stickers on? I don’t get that when I see 2nd hand books still with their stickers on! I have to take stickers off, it’s a ritual.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if they shrink wrapped them and put the labels on the plastic instead of the actual book. There is a gamer store I go to for my D&D manuals, everything is shrink wrapped accept for one copy for the customers to look through.
Alexandria Robles and this is part of the reason why there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050, and why 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs. I also hate stickers on books, but please think of the environment before you buy stuff like this. The world definitely doesn’t need any more pointless plastic ?
https://www.amazon.com/Goo-Gone-Original-Adhesive-Stickers/dp/B009M14C4S/ref=asc_df_B009M14C4S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242071853242&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12661238886790436271&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021560&hvtargid=pla-406530958981&psc=1
Goo Gone
Rubbing alcohol.
I’ve also used a strip of tape. Put a corner of the tape over the residue, rub it with my nail and carefully peal it off. Takes a couple of times.
Goo gone’s great too.
But be careful. Depending on the surface material of the book, these things could ruin the cover.
I am so familiar with the struggle. I’ve had pretty good success with passing a hair dryer on hot over the sticker for about 30 sec to a min and they will typically peel off easier, sometimes needing a few passes with the hair dryer. If anything still remains I follow it with my faithful Goo Gone. Being careful not to press too hard and it works better if you let it sit for a few minutes.
I think somebody should invent a non-damaging sticker by now! Lol
No kidding. Though some stores have good stickers, but then those same stickers don’t work well certain covers. ?
Nail varnish remover
If it’s a hardbound or has a plastic jacket, screen cleaner or non-perishable oil. If it has no jacket, lightly wipe it down with jojoba oil or another non-perishable oil. The glue is oil soluble, so this should help. any left over can be wiped with a rag and it should go away.
@Maggie wouldn’t oil stain the paper?
@Dinara Depends on the kind of cover. Going to need more info.
You’d think. Or, maybe they would stop applying unremovable stickers to, say, things that are supposed to be transparent.
@Will yes. Especially applying a price sticker right in the middle of the cover.
in the library we use: https://www.dickblick.com/products/scotch-sticker-and-marker-remover-pen/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=24913-1035&gclid=CjwKCAiAs8XiBRAGEiwAFyQ-ehqvjFNLsK7KTzr-YxCiBEDEqu28a8cmj29IOC81GMqhGzuoOoM1vxoCSh0QAvD_BwE
@Laura ohhh, interesting. I’m trying to remove library stickers,haha. Got books at library sale
It makes me crazy when they put stickers on there!
Does magic eraser work?
You’d want to be careful, it has a mild abrasive like very very fine sandpaper.
I’m usually able to get the stickers off without leaving anything behind, it’s just a matter of being patient when removing the sticker and doing it as slowly as you can, if it starts to separate then just try lifting from another corner. If it still leaves a few little sticky stuff behind, i roll up the label I have and just dab at the sticky stuff that is left and it usually comes right off. I’m a little too cowardly to try any liquids on my books in order to remove stickers so don’t have much for ya in that aspect.
A dab of oily peanut butter gently massaged on can remove some glues.
In the future before you take the sticker off place a paper towel over it and pass the iron on low a few seconds and the sticker will peel off clean. This also works for removing packing labels when you are reusing boxes or tossing them etc.
@Ashley it doesn’t leave a brown mark??
@Kelli no it doesn’t leave any marks.
You can use a hair dyer as well to warm the glue from the sticker! Less risky than the iron.
Googone
I just destroyed my nails taking off stickers from a used book I bought. But it still has the residue on it ? why do people have to put stickers on the books that won’t come off!
@Kelli why do people buy books and leave stickers on? I don’t get that when I see 2nd hand books still with their stickers on! I have to take stickers off, it’s a ritual.
Alcohol will help remove residue.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if they shrink wrapped them and put the labels on the plastic instead of the actual book. There is a gamer store I go to for my D&D manuals, everything is shrink wrapped accept for one copy for the customers to look through.
Alexandria Robles and this is part of the reason why there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050, and why 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs. I also hate stickers on books, but please think of the environment before you buy stuff like this. The world definitely doesn’t need any more pointless plastic ?
Lavender oil/tea tree oil/ Eucalyptus Oil
Oil breaks down the glue
I’ve heard acetone works well
There are sticker glue remover sprays they are good and won’t ruin book covers
Goo Gone is my fave. Put just a tiny dab on a Qtip and do a light coat. Should get all the goo left behind.
Alcohol gel works wonders
Eucalyptus oil
Turpentine cheap n works wonder!
White spirit
nail polish remover.
depending on what kind of cover… if it’s a glossy cover, i’d try a tiny dab of hand sanitizer and a Qtip
Blow dryer
Goo gone
Anything oil based really.
Carefully remove it with a plastic ruler or something similar. You can put a little bit of alcohol for hands to remove it easily.
Lick it off……….
I dip the corner of a wash cloth in a little rubbing alcohol. Dab on the sticker to saturate, then use a dry corner to rub off.
Goo Gone, good stuff.
Un Du – it’s the best. Leaves no residue at all once it dries
Goo Gone is the best stuff ever.