How To Remove Sticker Residue From A Laminated Surface

By  Corey M. Mackenzie

Things Needed

  • Safety eye wear

  • Protective gloves

  • WD-40, Duck brand adhesive remover, 3M or similar product

  • Plastic scraper

  • Clean rag

  • Sponge

  • Dish soap

  • Warm water

Tip

These products work fairly quickly. However, if you don't have these products available right away, you can try dish soap and warm water to loosen the adhesive enough for scraping. It will take a bit longer, but some types of adhesives will loosen this way. You can use a metal scraper in place of a plastic scraper, but you'll need to be extra careful not to scratch the laminate.

Warning

Wash adhesive remover off plastic tools immediately–otherwise, they may damage the plastic. Some products for removing adhesive are flammable. Always use these in a well-ventilated area.

Adhesive residue on laminate, whether the residue is from factory stickers or curious toddlers with stickers, can be very unattractive. If left on the laminate, this sticky residue will gather dirt until it is a dark, awful mess. Fortunately, there are several products you can use to get this residue off. In addition, many adhesive removers are safe to use on almost any surface, including laminate. With the right product and a bit of gentle scraping, you can have your laminate looking perfect again in little time.

Step 1

Open windows to ventilate the room. Put on safety eye wear and gloves.

Step 2

Apply WD-40, or another adhesive remover (make sure it states it is safe to use on laminate) to the adhesive. If using WD-40, let it sit about five minutes before moving to the next step–otherwise it may simply evaporate. If using other products, follow directions exactly as stated on the label.

Step 3

Gently scrape the residue with a plastic scraper. Do this with the same kind of motion you would use to scrape ice off a windshield, only on a smaller scale.

Step 4

Wet a clean rag. Wipe off the excess adhesive remover with this rag.

Step 5

Pour a dime-sized dollop of dish soap on a wet sponge. Wash the area completely to remove any remaining traces of adhesive or remover.

References

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