Sometimes old stickers may leave some paste on a metal surface. Many people find it annoying since the marks ruin the entire appearance. So, how to remove glue from stainless steel?
There are two main ways to solve the problem:
- Apply a solvent
- Use some heat
Both of them aim at dissolving the adhesive and then removing it from the surface. Glue Care will discuss the steps in detail. Let’s read on to discover!
What Will You Need?
The tools and ingredients for all the methods are available in any household. Choose the one that you find most handy:
- Oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Nail polish remover
- Vinegar
- Baking soda and oil
- Heat (Hair dryer)
Step-By-Step Instructions
Once you’ve chosen the tool, you can move to this section for detailed guidelines.
Oil
Cooking oil and peanut butter can break down glues. They make a strange but efficient DIY glue cleaning.
The advantages of employing one of these ingredients are pretty clear. You most likely now have them in your kitchen and are aware of their composition.
How to remove sticker residue from stainless steel with oil? Let’s follow these steps:
- Apply the oil to the adhesive spot.
- Allow it to rest for about an hour before wiping it away.
- Clean the object with water, soap, and a clean towel, then polish it to a gloss.
- You might also use a rag soaked in oil and pressed against the sticky residue.
- Allow it to sit for a few minutes before softly wiping.
- Finally, wash the surface with soapy water and a towel.
Rubbing alcohol
If you wish to eliminate adhesive residues from metal, rubbing and isopropyl alcohol are a popular ingredient, especially for thick stains. You may also use it to recover the luster of metal blinds.
The process of adding alcohol to a metal surface is straightforward:
- Pour a small amount of the solution onto a cotton ball or a piece of fabric.
- Allow it to soak in for some minutes after pressing it on the adhesive.
- Although rubbing alcohol evaporates rapidly, you need to wash the surface with a moist cloth and dishwashing liquid to ensure a clean finish.
Nail polish remover
Acetone, which can be present in most nail polish remover products, is another effective glue remover that won’t harm the painting. If you’re struggling with hardened Super Glue, acetone is an excellent option.
You can also make DIY acetone. Just follow the recipes in this video, and you will have a powerful adhesive remover.
So, how to remove glue from a stainless steel fridge? The instructions are as follows:
- Wear protective gloves while handling solvents and keep doors and windows open to enable proper airflow.
- Moisten a cloth with the remover and push it against the adhesive.
- Remove the adhesive using a damp cloth. You may need a razor blade but be careful not to damage the surface.
- Use a towel to wipe any leftover adhesive. Polish the steel with a dry cloth to finish.
Vinegar
Vinegar is helpful in various cleaning applications. As a result, it comes as no surprise that it removes stickers as well as sticker residue.
Cleansing blinds with vinegar is one of the many applications for this natural remover.
Follow these instructions to clean the sticky stains:
- Begin by gently removing what you can with a fingernail.
- Dip a towel in vinegar and rub it against the adhesive until it is wet.
- To dissolve the leftover sticker and adhesive, rub the cloth toward the center.
- Wipe the adhesive off with your fingertips if needed.
- Use a clean towel to wipe away the vinegar.
- Allow a towel to soak in acetone-based solvent for a while before applying it to the glue.
- Scrape away any remaining sticky residue using a scraper.
- Finish by cleaning the surface with warm soapy water.
Baking soda and oil
If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals, combining oil with baking soda is a great way to try.
- Dampen the sticker with a wet cloth and allow it to absorb the moisture.
- Rub the sticky stain with a towel to eliminate the coating.
- If the adhesive is still hard, use a razor blade to peel the borders carefully.
- Make a mixture of baking soda and oil.
- Wet the cloth with the mixture and rub the fabric on the glue.
- Clean the surface.
Heat
Another approach to weaken the glue is to use heat. This solution is ideal for delicate objects that don’t want to be scratched or damaged by harsh chemicals.
Here is how to do it:
- Set a hairdryer in its warm mode.
- Hold the dryer a few inches away from the metal surface for one or two minutes.
- Soak a cloth in hot water to rub the adhesive out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about dissolving adhesive from stainless steel.
1. Is Goo Gone safe to put on stainless steel?
Do not use this solution on metal equipment without first testing. Goo Gone can tarnish or discolor metal in some situations
2. Does acetone harm stainless steel?
Acetone is non-corrosive to metal. However, it can leave streaks. You need to apply the solvent on the surface carefully to avoid these problems.
3. Is alcohol corrosive to steel?
No. Within several minutes, alcohol will dissipate into the air without corroding the steel.
Final Words
We have shared with you some effective and simple methods to eliminate adhesive from stainless steel. All of them are straightforward to follow.
No matter what method you choose, remember to clean the surface at the end. Some harsh chemicals may leave an unpleasant odor on your stuff.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you need any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for reading!
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