How To Remove Adhesive Numbers From A Mailbox

By  Kaye Morris

Things Needed

  • Blow dryer

  • Plastic putty knife

  • Lemon juice

  • Spray bottle or cotton ball

  • Soft rag

Tip

If the lemon juice is not working fast enough for your taste, you can purchase a commercial adhesive remover that will work more quickly to remove adhesive residue.

If your mailbox was painted a dark color, it is likely the paint underneath the letters will not match the rest of the mailbox. You may need to repaint the mailbox.

Warning

Always wear gloves to protect your hands when working with cleaning solutions.

Over time, the numbers on your mailbox can become cracked and begin to peel. Occasionally, the post office changes rules concerning the size, color and placement of mailbox numbers. Regardless of the reason, you are sometimes required to remove adhesive numbers from your mailbox. The glue used to stick the numbers to your mailbox was formulated to perform in extreme weather, so the adhesive is very strong and often difficult to remove. But with a couple of household items and a little time, you can remove the adhesive numbers from your mailbox.

Step 1

Place your blow dryer on the hottest setting and direct the stream of hot air onto the letters for a couple of minutes to loosen the adhesive.

Step 2

Scrape the numbers from the mailbox with a plastic putty knife. Do not use metal objects to remove the numbers or you'll scratch the surface of the mailbox.

Step 3

Apply lemon juice to the adhesive residue. Use a spray bottle or a cotton ball to apply the juice. Allow the lemon juice to soak in for five minutes.

Step 4

Scrub the adhesive with a soft rag. You may have to make several applications of lemon juice before you are able to get all the adhesive off the mailbox.

References

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