How to Remove Stickers From Metal

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Updated on 11/16/22
Reviewed by
Katie Berry
Katie Berry
Reviewed by Katie Berry
Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.
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Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Metal kitchen pot with sticker partially on surface

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 20 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Stickers and decals are everywhere. They can be anything from a manufacturer's label to bumper stickers to kids gone wild with a roll of stickers. When the stickers end up on metal objects, they can leave behind residue that causes discoloration. Even worse, our attempts to remove stickers can leave unsightly scratches on the surface of the metal.

So, before you damage your new stainless steel appliance, vintage chrome bumper, or priceless sterling silver tray, follow one of these methods to remove stickers and the adhesive residue they leave behind from metal.

Removing the paper or vinyl part of the sticker is usually simple but can require a bit of patience; it is the adhesive residue that is more difficult to remove. If one method doesn't completely remove the sticker and residue, try another, because different types of glue or adhesive can require different solvents.

Tip

Never use scouring pads, steel wool, or sandpaper on any type of polished metal surface. The scratches they leave behind usually cannot be removed.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Handheld hairdryer
  • Thin plastic scraper (old credit card)
  • Small bowl or bucket

Materials

  • Spray lubricant (WD-40)
  • Vegetable oil
  • Acetone (nail polish remover)
  • Mineral spirits
  • Paper towel or old cloth
  • Safety razor blade
  • Dishwashing liquid

Instructions

Materials and tools to remove sticker from metal

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Removing Stickers From Metal With Vegetable Oil

  1. Saturate the Sticker

    For paper stickers, simply saturate the surface with a few drops of vegetable oil (olive, corn, and safflower oil all work). Let the oil work for a couple of hours to loosen the adhesive.

    For vinyl or metallic stickers, try to peel away the top layer of the sticker so that the oil can reach the backing. You can also lightly score the top layer with a safety razor blade, the edge of a credit card, or a fingernail.

    Tip

    Even safety razor blades can easily scratch many household metals, so use the blade carefully to avoid damaging any protective finishes.

    Metal kitchen pot with sticker saturated with vegetable oil

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Heat the Glue

    Once the sticker is fully saturated with oil, use a handheld hairdryer set on medium or warm heat (never high/hot) to warm the glue. This helps the glue release its hold on the metal.

    Hairdryer blowing heat on metal pot with sticker

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Wipe Away the Residue

    In a small bowl or bucket, mix two cups of very warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Stir well to mix. Dip an old, soft cloth in the soapy mixture and dab lightly at the sticker, then use an old credit card or rubber spatula to gently scrape away the adhesive. Wipe away what's left of the sticker and residue from the metal surface. Dry and buff the surface of the metal.

    Sticker on metal pot removed with damp cloth

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Removing Stickers From Metal With WD-40 Lubricant

  1. Peel Away the Sticker

    Use your fingernails or the edge of an old credit card to gently peel away as much of the sticker as possible. Work slowly and remove it in layers to prevent scratches to the metal surface.

    Old credit card scraping edge of sticker on metal pot

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Remove Sticky Residue with Lubricant

    Spray an old cloth with the WD-40 lubricant or any brand of water-displacing lubricant. Starting at the edges of the sticker, wipe away the sticky residue remaining on the metal. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth and add more lubricant as needed.

    Tip

    Warming the metal with a handheld hair dryer set to medium before using the lubricant can help the adhesive release more quickly.


    WD-40 lubricant sprayed on old cloth and rubbed on sticker

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Dry and Buff the Metal

    Once all of the adhesive is removed, use a clean, soft cloth to dry and buff the metal surface.

    Metal pot dried and buffed with clean cloth

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Removing Stickers From Metal With Acetone or Mineral Spirits

If the vegetable oil or WD-40 didn't remove all of the adhesive, it is time to move to a stronger chemical solvent like acetone or mineral spirits. If one doesn't work, begin the steps again with a clean cloth and a different solvent. This method can be used after the sticker is gone but glue remains on the metal.

Warning

If you try both these methods, be sure to thoroughly clean the surface between attempts to remove the sticker. Mixing acetone and mineral spirits can result in a solvent that could remove varnish, paint, or lacquer, damaging the surface.

  1. Remove Sticker Layers

    Soak away the sticker with oil or peel or scrape away as many of the layers of the sticker as you can without damaging the metal surface. It is important to expose as much of the adhesive residue as possible to the solvents.

    Removing as much of the sticker as possible

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Apply a Solvent

    Dampen an old, soft cloth with acetone or mineral spirits. If you are using nail polish remover, read the label to make sure it contains acetone. Hold the solvent-soaked cloth against the adhesive for five minutes to soften the glue.

    Repeat with additional solvent, if needed, until the glue is soft.

    Soaking the sticker with oil

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Remove the Adhesive

    Once the solvent has had time to work, the adhesive residue should be soft and tacky to the touch. Use an old cloth to wipe it away.

    For heavy layers of residue, use a safety razor blade to scrape away the glue. Keep the razor blade flat against the surface of the metal and work slowly to prevent scratching or gouging the metal.

    Carefully using a razor blade to remove sticker residue

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. Clean, Dry, and Buff the Metal

    Wipe the freshly cleaned surface with a damp towel. Use a clean, soft towel to dry and buff the metal surface.

    Using a fresh towel to buff and dry the metal

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska