StickerYou Blog

Removing stickers from wood sounds simple — just lift an edge, peel the sticker off, and you’re done, right? Not quite. Unlike StickerYou’s removable adhesive stickers, some stickers have a more permanent adhesive and can damage your wood surface by chipping the paint or peeling it off.

Removing a sticker that has latched itself onto wood, whether it’s a price tag, a manufacturer’s logo, or a decorative piece, can be challenging, but you have options! There are multiple solutions to remove the sticker and adhesive residue from your wood products.

Equipment and Materials Needed

Depending on your chosen method, you’ll need to gather a few things for removal.

Solvent Method

• Solvent (white vinegar, WD-40, baby oil, petroleum jelly, vaporizing rub, or commercial glue remover)
• Paper towels or cloths
• Plastic scraper or stiff card
• Dish soap and warm water mixture
• Pure concentrated dish soap

Vegetable Oil Method

• Vegetable oil
• Plastic scraper or stiff card
• Dish soap and warm water mixture (optional)
• Furniture polish (optional)

Hair Dryer Method

• Soft cloth
• Hair dryer
• Plastic scraper or stiff card
• Dish soap and warm water mixture (optional)

Precautions When Trying to Remove Stickers From Wood

Wood can be a delicate material, and different types require different considerations. Each wood product will react differently to removal methods.

Heat should be avoided when working with wood with a lacquer finish because heat may melt the lacquer. On the other hand, unfinished wood should not be exposed to oils and other solutions because they’re absorbent and can be permanently stained.

To help you avoid damaging your wood products, you should:

• First, try rubbing the sticker residue with a washcloth soaked in warm, soapy water.
• If your wood is antique or expensive, make sure you know what type of wood/ finishing you are working with to ensure that your wood item can withstand the method you choose.
• Never use coarse and abrasive materials to remove stickers from wood. Sandpaper, steel wool, etc., can scratch or damage wood permanently.

How to Remove Stickers From Wood with Solvents

Solvents work excellently at removing stubborn stickers and adhesive residue from wooden surfaces. You have plenty of options when it comes to the solvent you want to use - white vinegar, WD-40, baby oil, petroleum jelly, vaporizing rub, or commercial glue remover.

Method 1: White Vinegar

This method works best for painted wood products. White vinegar's acidity causes adhesives to lose their stickiness. However, it can also damage wood, especially stained or treated wood. Perform a patch test first by applying the vinegar to a small, inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire sticker.

Step 1: Soak a paper towel or cloth in white vinegar.

Step 2: Lay the soaked cloth over the sticker and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Using the cloth, rub the sticker in a gentle circular motion. The sticker will begin to dissolve and lift as you rub.

Step 4: If the sticker still doesn’t lift, repeat the process and leave a fresh soaked cloth over the sticker for another 30 minutes.

Step 5: Wipe away any residue with a clean cloth saturated with warm, soapy water.

Method 2: Dampen With WD40 or Baby Oil

If white vinegar is too strong for the type of wood you’re working with, you can use WD-40 or baby oil as an alternative. These are low-strength mineral oils that are less likely to damage your wood but are also quite effective for sticker removal.

Step 1: Add a few drops of WD-40 or baby oil over the sticker.

Step 2: Let the solution sit for a couple of hours to allow it to penetrate the sticker and loosen the adhesive.

Step 3: Grab a plastic scraper or credit card and use it to scrape the sticker off.

Step 4: Wipe away any residue with a clean cloth saturated with warm, soapy water.

Method 3: Petroleum Jelly or a Vaporizing Rub

If you want a solvent less likely to damage your wood product, you can opt for petroleum jelly or a vaporizing rub. These products take longer to penetrate and soften the adhesive, so be patient with this option.

Step 1: Apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly or vaporizing rub onto the sticker. Rub it in with your fingers in circular motions until you’ve covered the entire sticker.

Step 2: Let it sit for around eight hours, giving the solvent enough time to soften the adhesive.

Step 3: Once the sticker is soft, peel it off with your fingers or use a plastic scraper.

Step 4: If there is adhesive residue, add a few drops of dish soap to the surface, rub it in and let it soak for a couple minutes. 

Step 5: Wipe away any residue with a clean cloth saturated with warm, soapy water.

Method 4: Commercial Glue Remover

If you have a particularly stubborn sticker you may need to use a stronger solution. If the above household solvents are not effective, you can resort to a commercially made product made specifically for removing stickers and adhesive residue. Some options include Goo Gone, Goof Off, or 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner. Before proceeding, read the product label and make sure it’s safe to use for wood.

Step 1: Apply the commercial glue remover of your choice onto the sticker just enough to saturate it.

Step 2: Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the product to soak through. You can also lift the edge of the sticker and apply a couple of drops of commercial glue remover underneath.

Step 3: Peel or scrape off the sticker when it is wet and soft.

Step 4: Wipe away any residue with a clean cloth saturated with warm, soapy water.

Remove Stickers From Wood with Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil has stood the test of time and is one of the most effective solutions for removing stickers from various surfaces.

While you can also use it on wood, it’s important to note that vegetable oil can darken the color of your wood product. This is especially true if the wood is unfinished. Before trying this method, apply a small drop of vegetable oil in an inconspicuous area and see how the wood reacts.

Step 1: Peel Off the Sticker

First, try to peel off as much of the sticker as possible. This will make the sticker thin enough for the vegetable oil to penetrate the adhesive more effectively.

Step 2: Apply Vegetable Oil

Coat the sticker in a thin layer of vegetable oil, ensuring it’s covered completely. Avoid putting too much oil so you don’t damage or stain the wood.

Step 3: Wait a Bit

Let the oil sit on the sticker for a few minutes or up to an hour. This will allow enough time for the oil to penetrate the sticker and loosen the adhesive.

Step 4: Gently Remove the Sticker

When the oil has soaked the sticker, use your plastic scraper to pick at the corners and slowly pull the sticker up and away from the wooden surface.

Step 5: Wipe Clean

Wet a cloth or paper towel with warm, soapy water and use it to wipe the area clean. Make sure to remove leftover oils and adhesive residue.

Step 6: Clean With Dish Soap (Optional)

If the adhesive residue is stubborn and can’t be wiped off, add a drop or two of dish soap directly to the affected area and use your fingers to rub it onto the residue, let it soak and then wipe again. 

Step 7: Finish with Furniture Polish (Optional)

To restore the wood to its original finish, you can apply furniture polish to the surface. This will give the wood a nice shine and make it look like there was never a sticker there at all!

How to Remove Stickers From Wood With a Hair Dryer

According to Martha Stewart, using a hair dryer is one of the best methods for removing sticker residue. Heat can help melt the adhesive on your sticker, causing it to lose its stickiness and allowing you to peel it off more easily.

Step 1: Apply Heat

Set your hair dryer to the lowest heat setting, hold it two inches away from the sticker, and heat it for 30 seconds at a time.

Step 2: Peel Off the Sticker

Try to pick at the sticker to see if it has loosened. If it hasn’t, continue adding heat 30 seconds at a time until you can lift an edge. When the sticker is warm enough, grab a plastic scraper or stiff card, slide it underneath the edge of the sticker and slowly peel it off.

Step 3: Heat the Underside (Optional)

If you feel any resistance while peeling the sticker, stop peeling and try to heat the underside (where the adhesive is). This will help further melt the adhesive making it easier to remove the sticker. 

Step 4: Remove Residue

If after removing the sticker you notice adhesive residue left behind, wet a soft cloth with warm, soapy water and use it to gently wipe the residue away.

Conclusion

Removing stickers from wood must be done using the correct methods and proper care to prevent damage to your wood product. The methods we listed above should help you remove those stickers once and for all. But before trying any of them, make sure you know which is safest for the type of wood you’re working with.

How to Remove Stickers From Wood: FAQs

How do you get stickers off wood without vinegar?

Vinegar can damage some types of wood surfaces. If you don’t want to use it for sticker removal, you can opt for other solvents like WD-40, baby oil, petroleum jelly, vaporizing rub, or commercial glue remover. Just remember to test the product on a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding to ensure it’s safe for your wood product.

How do you remove old stickers from wood doors?

To remove old stickers from wood doors, you can apply solvents, saturate the sticker with vegetable oil, or heat the sticker with a hair dryer. After your chosen solution or heat has softened the adhesive, peel the sticker off with a plastic scraper. Wipe away the adhesive residue with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water.

Do stickers come off wood?

Removing stickers from wood can be challenging but not impossible. With the correct methods, you can definitely get those annoying stickers off your wood surface. Try using solvents, vegetable oil, or heat to help loosen the adhesive, then peel the sticker off carefully. If adhesive residue is left behind, wipe it off with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water.

What stickers are right for use on wood? 

StickerYou has removable stickers that won’t damage your wood surface. For large orders, try our removable roll labels!