8 Ways To Remove Stickers From Computers

Welcome to a quick guide on how to remove stickers from computers. So you may have just peeled a sticker from an old laptop, but it left behind a mess of sticky residue? Scraping it off using brute force is not the best idea.

That covers the basics, but I have compiled a whole list of possible methods in this guide – Read on!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Good Cleaning	Bad Cleaning	Useful Bits & Links
The End

 

 

1) GLUE REMOVER

This seems to be the number one recommended solution everywhere, myself included – Yes, I have been using glue removers since my good old days as a technical support guy. Just apply a thin coat on the sticker, let it sit for a while, and wipe it off. Repeat a couple of times on the stubborn ones, and they come off pretty easily. Every time.

 

2) WD40

If you don’t have a glue remover and can’t find one in the local store – Look for WD40 in any auto shops. These are good alternatives and are rather effective. Same old story, apply a thin layer and wipe off.

 

 

3) SOFT ERASER

Some people will say “just rub the junk off with your fingers”. Nope, that is not-so-clever, and you get blisters afterward. I have a better idea, use a soft eraser. It works well enough in most cases, but not on the stubborn ones.

 

4) HAND LOTION

Don’t have glue remover or WD40? A common household alternative that techies use is Vaseline (or any petroleum-based products). They do loosen up sticky residues quite a bit, and we even use them to repair micro scratches on screens. Very convenient.

 

 

5) OILS

Other household product alternatives include – Cooking oil, baby oil, hair oil, and coconut oil. Personally, I had some luck with hair oil. But cooking oils just seem to… lubricate the sticker. Sticky and slick at the same time. Try at your own risk.

 

6) TAPE-ON-STICKER

Next is another “age-old traditional” method – Fight fire with fire. Paste a tape on top of the sticker, and tear it out. Just one problem though, the tape needs to be sticky enough to remove the residue… Which may not end well with more sticky junk on the computer.

 

7) ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

Some people recommended using isopropyl alcohol to remove stickers… But they just don’t seem to work for me. I use this as a “post-process” to clean up the oils instead.

 

 

8) FOOD!

Personally, I have not tried this method. But a few other guides on the Internet suggested rubbing peanut butter or mayonnaise on the sticker… I don’t know. But rubbing food on a computer just doesn’t sound too appetizing to me.

 

EXTRA) SAFE CLEANING

Regardless of which method you use above, here are a couple of things to take note of:

• Switch off the power before cleaning!
• Avoid getting liquids into the computer. Wet and electronics usually don’t go well together.
• If you use oils to remove the sticker, you might want to follow up using 90% isopropyl alcohol to remove that grease… Oils tend to become disgusting after some time.

 

 

AVOID USING STRONG CORROSIVE CHEMICALS

Captain Obvious to the rescue! Not all laptops and computers are made of “military-grade” materials. Avoid all kinds of corrosive and abrasive cleaning products that will damage the surface.

• Bleach
• Vinegar
• Acetone (nail polish)
• Polishing cleaners such as CIF and whitening toothpaste… These may work though, but they do cause some micro scratches.

 

 

UNSAFE CLEANING METHODS

Lastly, here are some dubious methods that certain “experts” recommended (don’t do these).

• Use Zippo fluid, lighters, and heat guns to remove stickers. My reaction – U mad bro? Set the computer on fire?
• Sandpaper… Well, it actually works. But it’s a pain to use fine-grit sandpaper to slowly polish things back afterward.
• Submerge in soapy water. Definitely, the fastest way to destroy the computer and to buy a new one.

 

 

LINKS & REFERENCES

• How to Remove Sticker Residue – Practically Spotless
• Recommended Cleaning Products – Red Dot Geek