Housekeeping
How to: remove stubborn price stickers
Illustration: Emilie Simpson
Housekeeping
How to: remove stubborn price stickers
Never let another pesky price sticker linger on your dishes and home accessories again.
Shopping therapy nirvana can be easily destroyed when your new home decor accessory has a price sticker attached to it with a nuclear-grade hold. Before you pick and scratch away at it, risking damage to the object and your mani, read the tips below to learn how to get that sucker off without any sticky residue.
1. A little heat can go a long way: Use a hair dryer to warm and loosen the glue beneath the sticker. When choosing the heat settings and how close to hold the nozzle, be mindful of the material of your purchase and any finish on its surface. In many cases, the sticker should lift right off without any residue.
2. If step 1 doesn’t get the job done, immerse your item in hot water for a few minutes. Using a plastic razor blade (a credit or library card will also do), scrape the sticker off.
3. For any leftover sticky residue, you’ll have to get a bit messier to get things totally clean. Oil-based substances, such as peanut butter (smooth, not chunky), mayonnaise or cooking oil, are the best for battling glue remnants. Using a paper towel, smear on a generous amount and scrub until all the glue is gone.
4. Wash the item thoroughly with soap and water.
5. Style, admire and feel the nirvana resurge through your body.
If all else fails...
For especially stubborn stickers, a store-bought product may prove necessary. Our favourite is Goo Gone Spray Gel ($11, Canadiantire.ca). The company’s goo-fighting solution now comes in a convenient spray format, which is great for keeping things neat as you work. It's effective on most materials and can tackle any sticky situation, including gum. The formula is pretty powerful though, so you’ll definitely want to spot test in a discreet area before getting started.
Stickers everywhere: Beware!
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