Easy Ways to Clean Off Screen Protector Glue at Home

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Learn how to remove a screen protector and get rid of sticky residue
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There’s nothing more frustrating than taking off your screen protector just to see that all the adhesive has been left behind, creating a sticky, smeary mess. It can make it hard to use your phone and it doesn’t look good! Taking care of leftover glue and adhesive is important if you want your screen to operate at its best. This wikiHow article teaches you how to clean screen protector glue off of your screen.

Clean off Screen Protector Glue

Wipe your your screen with a clean lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth. You can rub cooking oil into the adhesive to loosen it up. If the cooking oil doesn't loosen the glue, you can try damping a lint-free cloth with rubbing alcohol and rubbing it into the glue. Dry your phone screen with a dry, lint-free cloth.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Removing Sticky Adhesive

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  1. This will make it easier to see where the leftover glue is. Plus, this will eliminate the risk of accidentally calling your boss or liking a crush’s Instagram post. Powering down will highlight where you need to clean the screen so that it’ll look like new again. [1]
    • Depending on how thick your phone case is, you may also want to remove it. If it’s super bulky, it could be hard to clean the edges of the screen thoroughly.
  2. Sometimes, the glue may come away just by gently rubbing it back and forth with a soft cloth. If nothing else, this process will remove any smudges or streaks so that all you’re left with is the glue you need to clean off. [2]
    • You should never use paper towels or tissues to clean your screen . They can leave behind little bits of lint or could even potentially scratch your screen.
    • If your screen is cracked, be careful not to cut yourself on the broken glass. Putting tape over the cracks can help protect yourself. [3]
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  3. Cooking oil is gentle and won’t harm the natural protective layer on your phone. Plus, the oil is good at loosening sticky adhesives. Use your pointer finger to gently rub the areas that are sticky until they start to come clean. [4]
    • When applying the cooking oil to the cloth, just a little dab will do. You don’t want to use a dripping-wet cloth and risk getting oil into your speaker or charging port.
  4. Don’t pour rubbing alcohol on your phone—instead, dip a corner of a lint-free cloth into the rubbing alcohol. Gently work the rubbing alcohol into the adhesive until it starts to come away from the glass. If the alcohol on the cloth dries out, apply a little bit more. [5]
    • You can use nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol if you prefer.

    Warning: Don’t use Windex or other harsh cleaning products on your phone. They can actually break down the oil-resistant layer that’s covering the glass and make it less sensitive to touch. [6]

  5. Use a dry lint-free or microfiber cloth to remove any excess droplets or moisture. Then let it sit for a couple hours before turning it back on.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Peeling off a Screen Protector

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  1. This is optional and you can do it at any point during the process if you feel things aren’t progressing very well. Hold the hairdryer about 12 inches (300 mm) away from your screen and move it back and forth for 15 seconds. [7]
    • Don’t hold the hairdryer against your phone or point it at one spot for too long.
  2. Gently pry at the corner with a fingernail to see if it’ll start coming away from the screen. You could also use the corner of a credit card or a very thick piece of paper. [8]
    • You may also find it useful to use a toothpick. Just be sure to angle the toothpick up so that it doesn’t scratch the screen when it slips under the protector.
  3. Especially if your screen protector is made of tempered glass , you don’t want to just rip it up as soon as you find a loose edge. Instead, go around the entire protector with your finger, a credit card, or a toothpick and separate the screen from the sheet. [9]
    • Doing this slowly should also help prevent the adhesive from sticking to your screen.
  4. Try your best to keep the protector as even as possible so it doesn’t bend and break. If you want to use it again, set it to the side, adhesive-side up. [10]
    • If you notice adhesive sticking to your screen, try gently pushing the protector back into place and removing it even more slowly. The hope here is that the adhesive will stay with the protector instead of your screen.
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      Tips

      • Give mayonnaise a try to soften and remove the adhesive. The oil and vinegar content of mayonnaise can be used to loosen sticky adhesive. Carefully apply a very thin layer of mayo over the leftover glue on your screen. You can do this with your finger, or put the mayo on a clean lint-free cloth and wipe it onto the screen. Leave it alone for about 20 minutes, and then gently rub away the glue. Just be careful not to get any mayonnaise in the charging port or headphone jack. [11]
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      • Remember to be gentle when cleaning your phone’s screen. It may take some time, but going slowly will protect your screen and give you the results you want.
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      Warnings


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      Things You’ll Need

      Removing Sticky Adhesive

      • Lint-free cloth
      • Microfiber cloth
      • Cooking oil (optional)
      • Rubbing alcohol (optional)
      • Mayonnaise (optional)

      Peeling off a Screen Protector

      • Hairdryer
      • Credit card (optional)
      • Toothpick (optional)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/in-the-home/computer-cleaning-how-to-clean-your-computer-and-keyboard.html
      2. ↑ https://www.hellotech.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-sanitize-your-phone-screen-properly
      3. ↑ https://case-mate.com/blogs/case-mate-blog/how-to-remove-a-screen-protector
      4. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-sticker-residue/
      5. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/in-the-home/cleaning-ipad-tv-and-computer-screens.html
      6. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-clean-iphone-screen
      7. ↑ https://www.ubreakifix.com/blog/remove-screen-protector
      8. ↑ https://www.ubreakifix.com/blog/remove-screen-protector
      9. ↑ https://www.ubreakifix.com/blog/remove-screen-protector
      1. ↑ https://www.ubreakifix.com/blog/remove-screen-protector
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/7-surprising-things-you-can-clean-with-mayo-22932269
      3. ↑ https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-clean-smartphone-tablet-screen/
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a31250434/how-to-clean-phone-screen/

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