Published on October 18th, 2022

Last updated on February 6th, 2023

How To Get Sticky Residue Off Glass

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
get sticky residue off glass

Perhaps you recently had a holiday and put stickers on your glass, such as the windows. Or your child has decided to put them on your mirror. You first want to remove it as quickly as possible. If you don’t know how to get sticky residue off glass, use the following methods:

  • Using warm water;
  • Using of isopropyl alcohol;
  • Oil application;
  • Hot air use.

For the holidays, many people like to hang greeting cards on windows, mirrors, or other glass surfaces. Any labels stick well to the glass. However, after the holidays, you decide to put the apartment in order, but you can’t remove the stickers from the glass altogether. In this case, some actions will help you get rid of both the sticker itself and the unpleasant sticky marks after it.

Our guide will share with you the best way to remove any sticker and its sticky residue from your glass objects and surfaces.

How to remove the sticker residue from glass: a helpful guide

If you need to remove stickers and their adhesive from glass, you will find the best ways to do it. We have prepared several effective and safe methods to help you clear your sticker without leaving a trace. To begin with, you need to make sure that you find all the necessary instruments.

Tools that you will need for this work:

  • Plastic scraper (you can use a bank card);
  • Microfiber cloth;
  • Container for glass soaking;
  • Isopropyl (medical) alcohol;
  • Any kind of oil;
  • Masking tape;
  • Glass cleaner;
  • Detergent for dishes;
  • Paper towel;
  • Hairdryer or clothes steamer.

So, if you have prepared all essential tools, we suggest you move on and consider a list of ways of solving your problem. But if you have duct tape residue, it is better for you to use this guide.

Using warm water

remove sticker residue from glass

The first method that will help you remove a sticker and its residue from glass is the use of warm water. There are a few nuances that you need to be aware of. Let’s consider them in more detail.

  • If your glass is small and you can submerge it in warm water, this is the first place to start. Add a few drops of soap or dish detergent to a water container. And leave your item in this container for a while. On average, the labels fall off the glass on their own within an hour of being in the water.
  • If you are dealing with large glass in the form of a tall mirror or window, you will not be able to soak it in a water container. However, you can dampen a cloth with warm water and cover the label with it. Leave the rag on the labeled glass for half an hour and check the result.
  • Use a plastic scraper or other sharp objects to pry the label off your glass. If you manage to remove the sticker, use a small amount of glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean the glass of soap and scraped adhesive residue.

Let’s take a close look at the second way that can help you remove adhesive from glass.

Using of isopropyl alcohol

glass adhesive remover

If the previous steps did not help you remove the sticker and its residue from the glass, we want to discuss another method. Isopropyl alcohol breaks down adhesive bonds and does not leave streaks after work.

  1. Apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to a cotton pad or towel, apply it to your label, and leave it on for 10 minutes.
  2. After the sticker has been soaked in alcohol, remove it with a plastic scraper. For this, you can even use the corners of a bank card. However, be careful not to scratch your glass.
  3. Do these steps a few more times until you achieve the desired result.
  4. If you’ve managed to get rid of your glass decal with alcohol,  wipe your glass with alcohol and a microfiber cloth. It will help get rid of the dirt that remains after the label.

So you can also try to remove the sticker and its adhesive from your glass with rubbing alcohol. If you don’t have alcohol, you can use vodka or gin. We suggest moving on and looking at a few more ways of dealing with this problem.

Oil application

best way to remove sticker residue from glass

Any kind of oil can destroy the bonds formed on the glass from your sticky sticker.

  1. Put a few drops of any oil on the label.
  2. If you are using hard oils like butter, rub the piece of butter on your glass.
  3. Cover this area of ​​oiled glass with plastic wrap that you can secure with masking tape.
  4. Leave the oil on the glass under the film for several hours.
  5. Carefully use a dull blade to pry the sticker off your glass.
  6. If you manage to scrape off the label, wash the glass in warm water and detergent or apply glass cleaner.

And now we want to discuss with you the last method that also can help you to remove a sticker and its adhesive from glass.

Hot air use

Another effective and safe method is to use a hair dryer. Instead of a hair dryer, a clothes steamer is also suitable.

So, to solve your problem, follow these steps:

  1. Turn on the device at maximum power and warm up the sticker for about a few minutes.
  2. Once the sticker starts to peel off more easily, remove it with a plastic scraper as quickly as possible so that it does not have time to harden again.

Thus, our article has looked at the best way to remove stickers and their residue from the glass. If you have faced this problem, use our guide that will help you to get rid of it carefully. Whatever method you pick, start in small areas and work your way carefully over the sticky area.

FAQ

How to get sticky residue off the glass?

You can use warm soapy water, vinegar, alcohol, or hot air to remove sticky stains from your glass. Any of these methods will help you quickly deal with your problem.

What can replace alcohol if I want to get rid of the glue on the glass?

You can use vinegar instead of alcohol to get rid of stickers or glue on the glass. Apply a few drops of vinegar to a cloth and apply to the glass with the sticker. After a few minutes, try scraping off the sticker with a plastic scraper.

Does WD-40 remove stickers from the glass?

Yes, any lubricant can help you remove the sticker from the glass. Lubricants such as WD-40 are also excellent at removing glue from glass.

Does olive oil remove glue?

Yes, any oil can help you remove adhesive from glass. Olive oil is also effective in this case. Just apply a small amount of oil on a towel and apply it to the glass. After a while, scrape the glass with a plastic scraper.