Cleaning fans have shared an easy hack to remove sticky residue left behind by labels. All you need is a common kitchen item – and it’s not the trusty white vinegar
Say goodbye to that pesky sticker gunk with this nifty trick.
We’ve all been there – you snag a shiny new item from the store, only to spend ages wrestling with a stubborn sticker. The gooey mess left behind is enough to drive anyone up the wall, whether it’s a price tag on a fresh book, labels on pristine glass jars, or those glaring discount stickers on your latest kitchenware.
But fret not, as cleaning buffs on social media have let slip a simple solution to banish that sticky nightmare without losing your cool. They swear by an everyday pantry staple that’s likely sitting in your kitchen right now.
Forget the white vinegar, your go-to for virtually every other cleaning conundrum. This time, the secret weapon against adhesive residue is none other than humble vegetable oil, which can be nabbed for a mere £2 at most grocery stores, assuming it’s not already in your cupboard.
In a response to a Reddit plea for help with two new glass jars besieged by sticker remnants, a savvy user advised: “I put some vegetable oil on mine and let it sit for a few hours before scraping it off. After it sits, scrubbing with the rough side of the sponge will usually take it off!”
And someone else added: “This is the best option, use the cheapest vegetable oil in your kitchen, then use rags (old clothes) or paper towels just because it gets cruddy. Then rinse with soap and repeat until it’s cleaned off.”
While others shared their simpler solution of soaking the jars in soapy water and leaving the sticker on, which typically allows it to “peel right off” without leaving any nasty residue. For those pesky occasions when theres a bit of gunk left, they suggested using a bit of steel wool for a quick scrub.
An odd but apparently effective hack involved masking tape, as one person explained: “Is it common to use masking tapes? Because I use them and they always work for me. Press the masking tape over the sticky area then quickly peel it off.
“This works because the sticky material will stick to the masking tape and be removed. Repeat until no more stickiness. Might be time-consuming but fun to do and not using chemicals/solvents/oil.”
Acetone, nail polish remover, eucalyptus essential oils, and a specialist product named Goo Gone were also recommended by some savvy netizens for tackling stubborn sticker sludge. Though Goo Gone is primarily available in the US, it can also be snapped up on Amazon for £9.
Brits can grab a homegrown version called Sticky Stuff Remover, costing a thrifty £3.78 from Toolstation.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@trinitymirror.com.
