How to Remove Stickers Without Damaging Them

How to Remove Stickers Without Damaging Them
Written By
Deborah Walden
Deborah Walden
Published: Apr 11, 2011
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
1 minute read

Stickers make statements about your personality and provide reminders of past travels. When it comes time to remove a sticker from a guitar case, piece of luggage or other object, many removal methods tend to damage it. Liquids cause some stickers to break apart and harsh chemicals affect color. However, using a hair dryer to apply heat to the sticker makes removal easy. By warming up the pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, it allows the sticker to release without using water or chemicals.

Removing Sticker

Hold your hairdryer a few inches away from the surface of the sticker and turn on the power. Use high heat. Do not hold it too close to the surface since this could damage the sticker.

Check the edge of the sticker after 45 seconds. Continue to apply heat if it does not peel away easily.

Pull the sticker away from the surface as the adhesive releases. Do not rush this part. Avoid stretching the sticker by pulling it too hard. Continue this process until the whole sticker peels away from the surface.

Warnings:

  • Wait until the sticker releases easily from the surface before pulling. Otherwise, you may tear or damage it.

References

Warnings

Wait until the sticker releases easily from the surface before pulling. Otherwise, you may tear or damage it.

Deborah Walden

Based in Nashville, Deborah Walden has been writing professionally since 1997, starting as a sports writer for her college newspaper. Her articles have appeared in "Nashville Arts Magazine" and "The Nashville Scene," among other…

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