Q&A for How to Remove Contact Paper

After you get a lot of the contact paper up, you will still have sticky residue. You can use WD40 to remove this. Spray it down and leave it on a while, then use soap and water to get the grease from the WD40 up.

I had this problem and the way I managed to do it was to score it, then soak it with wet washcloths, and then scrape it with a spatula.

Use an oil (mineral, olive, baby, or canola). Oil will remove adhesive residue. It may discolor porous materials.

Remove the paint first, then use the hair dryer method shown above to remove the contact paper.

Yes, a hairdryer will help to remove contact paper from glass, however, it's best not to do this due to the potential for the glass breaking. Instead, use a single-edge razor blade and adhesive remover. It's much safer.

I used WD40. Brake fluid also works somewhat well. Just wipe it on, let it sit a few minutes, and wipe it off.

Use a hairdryer and a plastic scraper to peel the contact paper away. Then use an adhesive remover to get rid of the residue.

Contact paper can be really annoying to remove, but it's not impossible! If the paper is on wood, metal, or a countertop, you'll need to use heat to get it off. Take a hairdryer and set it on the highest heat setting. Move it over the surface of the contact paper to warm up the adhesive. Start at 1 corner of the paper and peel the paper off of the surface. It's likely that some bits of the paper will stick onto the surface, so use a plastic scraper to get those stubborn bits off. To get rid of the sticky residue, use an industrial strength adhesive remover or rubbing alcohol to scrub it off the surface.

Contact paper can be an easy and cheap way to decorate and breathe new life into cabinets, but when it comes time to remove it, it can leave behind a residue that can damage them. Your best bet is to only use it if you don't plan to ever remove it. But if you do want to take it off, you'll need to do it the right way. Take a hair dryer set to high heat and move it over the surface of the contact paper to warm up the adhesive so it's easier to remove. Then, peel back 1 corner and carefully start to remove the contact paper. Use a plastic scraper to get off any stubborn bits that won't come up. Then, you can use industrial adhesive remover or rubbing alcohol to scrub off the sticky residue. However, the adhesive may have warped or discolored the cabinets. You can try to restain or repaint them though!

Contact paper adhesive can be really stubborn and difficult to remove. Your best bet is to use a strong industrial adhesive remover, which you can find at craft and home improvement stores. Put on a pair of protective gloves and soak a sponge in the adhesive remover. Scrub away at the adhesive until it comes off the surface. If you can't get your hands on adhesive remover, use rubbing alcohol instead. Be patient and keep scrubbing at the adhesive until you're able to get rid of it. Once it's gone, clean the surface with warm, soapy water to remove the chemicals and then let the surface fully dry.