EEVblog #560 - How To Remove Sticker Residue On Test Equipment

[EEVblog]

1 minute tech tip!
Dave shows how to remove sticker residue from test equipment without damage, using a plastic pencil eraser. No chemicals required!
It also works for those troublesome security stickers.
Handy for sprucing up equipment before resale on ebay.

[BravoV]

Can't use this method for the residue at the lcd panel at one of the scope as in EEVblog #559 as this will scratch it.

I used the sticky tape, stick it to the residue, peel it and keep repeating the stick & peel process with the tape until all residue gone, and change the tape if needed.

This method will leave no scratching mark at all and just works every times.

[free_electron]

Orange peel juice. Simply eat an orange and squeeze the peel so the terpentine oil comes out.

[daddario]

I usually use these label off sprays from either Kontakt Chemie, Due-Ci, Taerosol, etc. They seem to be based on some kind of a citrus oil.
You just spray it on, leave it there for a minute or so (not for too long, as it will not work then) and then just peel the sticker paper off.
But when used on plastics you must _always_ test the stuff before, for example on a corner somewhere, as they do damage _some_ materials. Especially some of the transparent perspex-ish type materials used for protective screens on displays and some analogue indicator windows.

[nitro2k01]

In true Dave style, a 1 minute tech tip takes 2 minutes, just like a quick video is 30 minutes long.

Another tip that I've heard, for computer stickers, is to stick a bit of adhesive tape to it and rub it in. I think this would work poorly in both of Dave's examples. In the first example because the sticker residue was dirty, and in the second example because it was a special sticker that left more than just glue gunk. But still a useful tip.

[grumpydoc]

The citrus oil ones are good but don't work on everything, in particular they don't seem to work on gum arabic although a good soak in warm water will shift gummed paper labels

[VK3DRB]

Another idea (addition to Wilfred's post about eucalytus oil).

Eucalyptus oil does not attack plastic, but dissolves residue and removes dirt. Remove the oil with isopropyl alcohol or metho, or spray 'n wipe cleaner . I used eucalyptus oil on a second hand HP CRO I bought from a bloke online. It was full of calibration stickers and other ugly stuff including marks from dirty hands. The eucalyptus oil made the CRO look like new.

Eucalytus oil will also remove rego sticker residue, and chewing gum out of the carpet, off the car seat, or out of your hair. It smells great, has heaps of therapeutic uses, is non-toxic to the skin and is proudly made right here in home of the eucalyptus gum tree - Australia.

A few other uses...
http://www.eucalyptusoil.com/eucalyptus-uses

[LuN4T1c0]

If the sticker is still present another possible solution is just heating it up a bit with an hair-drier, it will take off without residues

[G7PSK]

I use benzine (lighter petrol) I always have a few cans handy as its a good degreaser and leaves no residue and dose not attack plastics.

[Terabyte2007]

Good idea. I made the mistake once of using another product here in the US called "Goof Off" or something like that on a large analog meter lens that someone moron placed a sticker over and the residue was impossible to get off. Well, that was a mistake I'll never do again, it etched the shiny clear plastic cover permanently dulling the surface and still did not remove the residue! Hopeless...

[JoannaK]

The citrus oil ones are good but don't work on everything, in particular they don't seem to work on gum arabic although a good soak in warm water will shift gummed paper labels

As a word of warning.. some of those highly concentrated citrus oils (D-limonena?) can eat/melt some types of plastics. So even though it's generally safe to use, there is possibility that the plastic can't handle it,

[Fliz]

Only use PVC FREE plastic eraser 

[grumpydoc]

As a word of warning.. some of those highly concentrated citrus oils (D-limonena?) can eat/melt some types of plastics.

Yes, you always needs to test an inconspicuous area (maybe inside) first.

Forgot that and got bitten when I found IPA removing the paint from a Tek 'scope which I really didn't expect

[peter.mitchell]

There is another alternative, and that is being patient. In the vast vast, majority of cases, if you apply only the slightest force to pull the sticker off, and you apply it evenly along the axis (eg, not from a single corner, but evenly along an edge) you can literally just remove the sticker. Of course though, if you are too late and someone has already removed the sticker leaving behind residue, yes, these methods work great.

[Bored@Work]

Another idea (addition to Wilfred's post about eucalytus oil).

Eucalyptus oil does not attack plastic, but dissolves residue and removes dirt. Remove the oil with isopropyl alcohol or metho, or spray 'n wipe cleaner . I used eucalyptus oil on a second hand HP CRO I bought from a bloke online. It was full of calibration stickers and other ugly stuff including marks from dirty hands. The eucalyptus oil made the CRO look like new.

Eucalytus oil will also remove rego sticker residue, and chewing gum out of the carpet, off the car seat, or out of your hair. It smells great, has heaps of therapeutic uses, is non-toxic to the skin and is proudly made right here in home of the eucalyptus gum tree - Australia.

A few other uses...
http://www.eucalyptusoil.com/eucalyptus-uses

Our operators are standing by. Call 0555-EUCALYPT to order your eucalyptus oil. And if you call within the next five minute we will give you a second bottle for free. Yes, a second bottle for free. You only have to pay a small additional nominal fee for your free bottle. So what is holding you back? Eucalytus juice made by nude virgins in Australia. Kylie Minogue  is using it to grease her pop songs, why don't you? And OMG, it removes stickers, too. Immediate visible success. Stay with us, because only today we add a free personal wipe, all in one beautifully designed card box.

[EEVblog]

There is another alternative, and that is being patient. In the vast vast, majority of cases, if you apply only the slightest force to pull the sticker off, and you apply it evenly along the axis (eg, not from a single corner, but evenly along an edge) you can literally just remove the sticker. Of course though, if you are too late and someone has already removed the sticker leaving behind residue, yes, these methods work great.

Stickers degrade over time too, meaning many can't peel off after a year or two. The paper types are pretty horrible in this regard. Plastic (e.g. dymo type) labels fair much better.

[Nermash]

Nah, I prefer WD40

[c4757p]

Kylie Minogue  is using it to grease her pop songs, why don't you?

[Neverther]

Am I bad person for using brake cleaner for this?
Softens the residue and evaporates rather quick, little soak with paper towel if needed.

Haven't had problems with clear plastic, but you could always just sand and polish them if they have gone bad.

[Radio Tech]

All the above looks like decent sollutions for removing this gunk. I will try the eraser next time.

Thanks for that tip Dave!

My biggest problem is a lot of the stuff I work on is vintage.
The paper label is gone. What is left is a hard crusty mess that feels like sand paper.
WD40 works a treat on this.

[AlfBaz]

if all else fails

[VK3DRB]

So what is holding you back? Eucalytus juice made ... in Australia. Kylie Minogue  is using it to grease her pop songs, why don't you?

I don't think Kylie Minogue uses eucalyptus oil. Her pop songs are clogged up with bubble gum. 

If I had a choice between dating Kylie Minogue, or hanging out at my favourite electronics store buying some electronics components, I know what I would rather do. But if you really like Kylie, invite her out on a date at a top class restaurant and then finish off a lovely evening by taking her home and showing her something that will really impress her... your new 555 timer emulator PCB. You know she'd be yours when she sings to you "I can be so lucky - lucky, lucky, lucky..."

[Radio Tech]

if all else fails

 

[wigman27]

Hi Dave,

Are you going to sell these on eBay? I would really like to pick one up on eBay and I would prefer to buy from someone i know rather than risk it on eBay.

If so, could you please tell me your seller ID so I can be emailed when you list stuff.

 

Thanks Mate

Lee

[edavid]

Good idea. I made the mistake once of using another product here in the US called "Goof Off" or something like that on a large analog meter lens that someone moron placed a sticker over and the residue was impossible to get off. Well, that was a mistake I'll never do again, it etched the shiny clear plastic cover permanently dulling the surface and still did not remove the residue! Hopeless...

You can probably save it.  Go back and remove the residue (I use Bestine Thinner, which is just heptane), then polish it up with Novus plastic polish (or automotive headlight polish).