There are surely very few people who have never felt the frustration of trying to remove a sticker from a glass surface or window that just will not budge no matter what. Some label glues are persistently stubborn while others come off straight away.
Why is it difficult to remove stickers from the window or glass surface?
Any type of sticker has the potential to become very stubborn to remove, especially if it has been left on a glass surface for some time. On most glass surfaces, if the label is not removed correctly the glue will attract dust, making it difficult to take off with time.
Stickers on car and house windows can be even more challenging because the varying temperatures from the heat and cold can set them to the point where it is almost impossible to remove them and their glue.
Often the paper or plastic part of the sticker will peel off easily and then glue and adhesive marks are left behind. This residue can be sticky and leaves a smudge on the glass surface.
Popular methods used for removing sticker from window:
Knowing how to remove glue from glass is a huge leap in ensuring that all the glass surfaces of your home and car, and all your glassware are always looking good.
Soap-and-water
Soap and water solution is effective for smaller glass items that can fit into your kitchen sink or a tub. The glassware is soaked in hot, soapy water for at least an hour. As you rinse it you can rub any stubborn glue with your fingertip. Most of the time, it will peel off easily.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can be poured onto a cloth, preferably lint-free. Any area with difficult to remove glue can now be saturated for a few seconds and then the glue usually rubs off easily.
Acetone-based nail polish remover
Acetone based nail polish remover is another popular way to dissolve stubborn glue marks from glass surfaces. You can use it by pouring the nail polish remover on a lint-free cloth and gently rubbing it over the glue.
Olive oil
Olive oil or any other cooking oil is considered by some to be one of the safest ways to saturate glue off glassware and mirrors. The oil can be rubbed onto the glue and allowed to sit for a couple of minutes before it is rubbed off with a lint-free cloth.
Vinegar
Vinegar can be used in the same way as rubbing alcohol.
Other oil-based substances
Other oil based substances that can also be tried are petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, and margarine.
How to properly remove stickers from any glass surface naturally?
Most of the above methods that people swear by for removing stickers from windows work well enough. Window cleaner, rubbing alcohol, sticker remover, and ice are the most popular, but these all require quite a bit of elbow grease on your part and they often involve the use of a razor blade or scraper. However you can have a look on another guide to remove stickers from glass over here www.fabglassandmirror.com/blog/how-to-remove-stickers-from-glass/
Glass experts suggest that if you are going to be using harsh chemicals including acetone and alcohol, to first test on a small, less visible area of the glass surface before proceeding.
Is it safe to use a razor blade, scraper or scouring pads on glass and car windows?
Glue does not always need to be scraped off glass and if you are going to be using a razor blade you need to make sure that the blade is not dull. Always keep the blade at an angle, otherwise, you may leave scratches on the glass surface that you want to clean.
The same applies when using a scraper; it must not be blunt or warped and is always to be used at an angle.
If you need to use a scouring pad, buy the softest variety available.
Most effective natural removal method for sticker from window
Even though many people swear by the above methods for removing stickers from windows, some of these just smear the glue around without really removing it. Since many people don’t like to use chemical alternatives, there is a natural yet effective method for removing old glue from glass.
The great thing about this natural cleaner is that you can remember the recipe easily because it only uses two ingredients in equal amounts, and are always available at home. The quantity of the paste can be adapted according to the glass surfaces that you need to clean.
Tools and materials required
- An abrasive scrubbing pad or steel wool, the softest variety available
- 50 ml baking soda
- 50 ml of cooking oil
Procedure to remove the label from the glass surface
- Mix the cooking oil with the baking soda into a paste.
- Gently rub the mixture over the glue on the surface that you want to clean.
- Leave the cleaning paste on the glass for 30 minutes.
- Gently rub it with the scrubbing pad.
- Wash with soap and warm water.
This is the best solution for dissolving glue on any glass surface including car windows, house windows, glass tables, cabinet doors and household glassware like jars, vases, and glasses.
Is the same procedure useful to keep the glass surface clean?
Once you have removed any stickers and their persistently sticky glue from your glass surfaces, the same solution cannot be used to clean your windows because of its high oil content.
However, you can make a glass cleaning solution at home, using just natural ingredients. This can be kept in a handy spray bottle for a quick cleaning fix if you always want sparkling clean windows and glass surfaces.
The ideal glass cleaning mix: Two cups of filtered or distilled water mixed with 2 tablespoons of vinegar and a few drops of essential oil for those that don’t like the smell of vinegar. Prefer a lint-free or microfiber cloth because paper towels often leave lint.
Last word
Now that you know how to easily remove stickers from the window there is no excuse to leave any old stickers on any surface with the excuse that they cannot come off. Afterward, give the glass surface a good clean leaving it looking brand new again.