The Best Ways to Get Stickers Off a Laptop Without Damage

Removing stickers from your laptop can be a stubborn task, whether you're removing a manufacturer's sticker or one you used to personalize your laptop. In most cases, you can easily and safely peel stickers off with your fingernail, a credit card, or a thin plastic putty knife. If there's sticky residue left behind, you can use water, rubbing alcohol, or a mildly abrasive scrub pad. This wikiHow will show you how to remove stickers and sticker residue from your laptop, including some adhesive removal tips from house cleaning professional Guy Peters.

Removing Stickers from a Laptop

Use your fingernails, a credit card, or a thin, plastic putty knife to scrape off the sticker if it's been there for less than a year.
To remove residue, use a damp, lint-free cloth. Apply a drop of dish soap for mild stickiness.
With stubborn residue, use rubbing alcohol, tape, a special residue remover, or a mildly abrasive scrubbing pad.

Section 1 of 3:

Scraping off the Sticker

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1
Try scraping off the sticker if it's been there for under a year. If the sticker is relatively new, you should be able to peel it off without leaving behind much residue. ^{[1]
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Research source} However, over time, the glue backing separates from the printed material, which makes the sticker harder to remove cleanly. ^{[2]
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- If your sticker has been in place for more than a year, you may have to use water, alcohol, or another cleaning solution to remove the sticker or leftover adhesive.
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Start peeling at one of the sticker’s corners. Use your fingernails to work at a corner until you’ve lifted it off the laptop’s surface. If your nails are trimmed short, use a thin plastic putty knife or a plastic card. ^{[3]
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- Peters suggests using something like a grocery store membership card instead of a credit card, just in case you get some residue on the card. ^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}
- If you use a putty knife or card, be careful not to scratch the laptop's surface. Move the putty knife or card slowly instead of aggressively scraping, and try not to press it hard into the laptop surface. Be sure to use a plastic knife or card instead of a metal tool.
- Manufacturer stickers will be thicker and heavier-duty, but they should come off with some effort.
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3
Pull the sticker up slowly from the peeled corner. As you pull the lifted edge, try to work at the point where the sticker meets the laptop with a fingernail to help keep the sticker intact. Peel slowly until you’ve lifted the sticker off the laptop.
- Peeling fast and pulling the lifted edge too hard could tear the sticker or increase the chances of leaving behind residue.
- If the sticker comes off clean, you’re all set! If it left behind adhesive goo, don’t worry. There are plenty of tricks for getting rid of adhesive .

Section 2 of 3:

Removing Adhesive

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Power off and unplug your computer. If you haven’t already, shut down and unplug before attacking the adhesive. If you can remove the battery, it’s also a good idea to do so whenever you clean your laptop. ^{[5]
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- You’ll use water or another liquid to clean your laptop, and you don’t want to risk shocking yourself or damaging the computer.
2
Use a damp, lint-free cloth. Soak a clean microfiber cloth with hot water, then wring it out well. Rub the spot with tight, circular motions and firm pressure. With a little elbow grease, you should be able to scrub away the residue in a couple of minutes. ^{[6]
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- Take care not to get moisture into any openings in the laptop. Damage due to liquids may not be covered in your warranty.
- For any cleaning project , it’s wise to start off with the gentlest method available. That way, there’s a lower risk that you’ll alter or damage the finish of the surface you’re cleaning.
3
Add a drop of mild dish soap to the cloth, if necessary. If the area still feels sticky, run the cloth under hot water again and squeeze a drop of dish soap onto a corner. Rub the corner a bit with your fingertips to lather the soap, then rub down the sticky area.
- When you’re finished, use the non-soapy parts of the wet cloth to wipe away any suds.
- Never pour dish soap, spray aerosols, or apply any other cleaning solution directly onto your laptop. Always apply a cleaner with a cloth.
Once you’ve finished wiping off the adhesive, dry the surface with another clean, lint-free cloth. Drying off the area helps prevent streaking, especially if you’ve removed a large sticker from your laptop’s outer cover. ^{[7]
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Section 3 of 3:

Dealing with Stubborn Residue

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Use 90% rubbing alcohol. To remove stubborn adhesive residue, dip a corner of the microfiber cloth in rubbing alcohol. Use tight, circular motions to scrub off the sticker goo. ^{[8]
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Research source} Peters says that rubbing alcohol can work to remove tough adhesives, but it may damage the underlying surface material. ^{[9]
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Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview}
- If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, use a 1-to-1 mixture of white vinegar and warm water. Vodka would work well in a pinch, too! ^{[10]
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Hold an alcohol-soaked cloth over the area. If glue residue is still sticking around, dip your cloth in alcohol (or vinegar diluted with water) again. Place the cloth onto the sticky area, and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes. That should dissolve any remaining stubborn gunk. ^{[11]
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- Depending on the material of your laptop, rubbing alcohol may damage it. Make sure to check your laptop every 30 seconds to make sure there's no damage.
3
Slide tape over the stuck-on residue. Cut off a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) piece of duct tape (or other sturdy, sticky tape). Fold over a small portion of an end to make a non-sticky handle, then rub the sticky surface of the tape over the adhesive residue. ^{[12]
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- If there’s any stickiness left over after using the duct tape, wipe it away with a cloth dipped in hot water or rubbing alcohol.
4
Use a special residue remover. If the residue is really stubborn, try using a specialized residue remover like Goo Gone. Goo Gone will dissolve the residue and shouldn't damage the material underneath. Still, always be sure to do a patch test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure the Goo Gone won't remove the finish or paint on your laptop.
- If possible, get the gel Goo Gone. The gel is easier to spread over just the sticky areas, and you will have less of a risk of it seeping into spots you don't want it to go.
- Never spray or pour Goo Gone directly on your laptop. Instead, take a soft cloth and spray/pour some Goo Gone on it, then rub the Goo Gone on the sticky residue.
- Allow the Goo Gone to sit for a few moments to allow the residue to dissolve. Follow the specific instructions on your product packaging for best results.
- Wipe the Goo Gone away once it has finished dissolving the adhesive. You will need to wipe the spot down with a cleaner or some soapy water (never submerge your laptop to clean it).
5
Use a mildly abrasive scrub pad. Using light pressure, wipe the sticky spot with a nylon or melamine foam scrub pad, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser . Soak it in water first and give it a go. If water alone doesn’t remove the gunk, try adding a drop of dish soap or dab the pad with rubbing alcohol. ^{[13]
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- Rub the sticky area with the scrub pad gently. Nylon and melamine foam scrub pads are mildly abrasive, so be careful not to scratch the surface of your laptop.
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Rub the adhesive with a white eraser. Some users have found that rubbing the adhesive with a white plastic/vinyl eraser will remove it. However, be aware that this can create heat, which might cause damage to some laptop casing materials. Try not to rub too vigorously, and if you feel the surface of your laptop heating up, stop and wait for it to cool down before continuing.
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If all else fails, use a blow dryer to loosen the residue. Peters says that a hair dryer can help melt the adhesive residue, which makes it easier to remove. ^{[14]
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Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} However, this should be one of the last methods you try, as it may damage your computer. Set it to low or medium, and aim it at the gunk for about 30 seconds. Use a cloth, putty knife, or credit card to get rid of the remaining residue. ^{[15]
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- Even if your computer is off and unplugged, you don’t want to risk overheating it or damaging its internal parts. Stick to a low or medium setting, and use it in 30-second intervals to avoid getting your laptop too hot.
- If you collect stickers, consider purchasing a display for them if you don't want to stick them on your laptop or other items.

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I got a pre-owned laptop with markings where the stickers were, and it looks really bad. How do I get the sticker marks off?

Community Answer

Try rubbing it off with rubbing alcohol. Just make sure not to spill any on your keyboard.

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How do I remove stickers from my computer case?

Community Answer

Rub some olive oil on the stickers and let sit overnight; this will loosen the glue. You can also try a blow-dryer to heat the glue for quicker results if the stickers are safe from sensitive computer components, or purchase a product such as Goo Gone for removal of the more stubborn stickers.

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My laptop had a DIY sticker (made with sticky tape) on it, near the keyboard. I've tried scraping and the leftover tape won't come off. What should I do?

Community Answer

Coconut oil will help get the goo off. Goo Gone will work, too.

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Other products that can remove sticker residue include vegetable oil, mineral oil, and WD-40. ^{[16]
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Warnings

Avoid spilling any liquid into the cracks or exposed areas of a laptop, such as vents, buttons, or the keyboard.

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The Best Ways to Get Stickers Off a Laptop Without Damage

Removing Stickers from a Laptop

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Scraping off the Sticker

Removing Adhesive

Dealing with Stubborn Residue

Community Q&A

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Warnings

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