How to Safely Remove Stickers from a Glass Window
This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we’ll earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. For more details, please read our disclosure.
Unwanted stickers on your glass windows can be extremely annoying given how stubborn they can be to remove. The sticker might have been put there by your home’s previous owner, your child, or you might have put it there yourself. When you decide it’s time for the sticker to go, the last thing you want to do is spend hours and hours scrubbing away at it only to be left with scratched glass and a sticky residue.
Well, the good news is, there’s no need to put yourself through it. Here, we’re going to list some tried and tested methods to safely remove stickers from a glass window in a cost-effective and efficient way.
If you’re conscious of the harmful ingredients or toxic chemicals that are included in the ingredients list of many basic glass cleaners, the following methods are for you.
Chemical cleaning agents are detrimental to the health of the environment, you, and anyone else living in your household. They’re also largely unnecessary. These methods will prove that all-natural ingredients can be just as effective when it comes to cleaning your home and removing stickers from your windows.
Related: How to Clean Window Sills and Window Tracks
How to Safely Remove Stickers from a Glass Window: The Best Chemical-Free Methods
The following methods should enable you to effectively remove the stickers and any residue or left-over adhesive from your glass windows. You might need to be patient and could even find that combining a few of these methods gives the best results.
Each of the sticker-removal methods listed below is completely natural, requiring nothing more than a little elbow grease and some everyday items that can be found in your home or at your local grocery store.
1. Soak in Hot Water
Start by soaking the sticker with some hot water. Immerse a regular dishcloth in hot water, squeeze it out a little and then press this onto the glass surface over the sticker. Be sure to wear some rubber gloves if you’re going to use this method to avoid burning the skin on your hands.
- High-quality microfiber
- Affordable
- Clean with just water
Our favorite microfiber cloths for use around the home are the general purpose clothes from E-Cloth. Whether you're wiping down the kitchen table, countertops, or scrubbing just about any other surface in your house, these clothes are effective, durable, and affordable. Over the course of a year, you'll save a huge amount of money on paper towels and cleaning solutions, plus you can keep the chemicals out of your home.
Allow the sticker to become fully saturated; pressing the hot cloth onto the surface for a few minutes should do the job. Then, use the cloth to try and wipe off the sticker and any remaining adhesive residue.
The hot water breaks down the adhesive bonds and makes stickers much easier to remove.
Notice that the advice here is to use hot water, but not boiling water. If you live in a cold place or have the AC on particularly high, applying boiling water to your glass windows could cause them to shatter. Allow boiling water to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before applying to any glass surface.
The effectiveness of this method will depend on the sticker and whether it has a plastic topcoat. If it does, you might find that the hot water won’t effectively penetrate the sticker and loosen the adhesive. If this is the case, give the next method a try…
2. Use Oil to Remove the Sticker
Another way to safely remove stickers from a glass window is oil, which can be extremely effective in loosening stubborn sticker adhesives. You’ll need to let this soak in for a little longer to get the full effects. The easiest way to do this is with a spray bottle or a paper towel that has been dipped in oil. Spray or rub the sticker with the oil and leave to soak for a minimum of two hours.
You can use any type of cooking oil here; olive oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil are all equally effective. Essential oils will also work, especially citrus such as lemon or orange. The longer you leave the oil to soak in, the easier it will be to remove the sticker.
Plant Therapy Essential Oils Fruits Set
Once the sticker has been soaking in the oil for a while, go in with a cloth or scraper (a credit card should do the trick), and try to remove the sticker.
The only drawback with this method is that it will require some clean-up afterward. The oil leaves a residue on glass surfaces and can cause smears and marks that are hard to remove. Take an all-natural window cleaner such as white vinegar or the lemon and baking soda combination listed below to remove any oily residues.
3. Use an Ice Pack
Alternatively, you could go in with an ice pack. Much like hot water, ice is great at breaking down adhesive bonds. Hold the ice pack over the sticker for 5 to 10 minutes and then try to remove the sticker.
The downside to using ice is that it can be a little more time-consuming than other methods. You’ll also need to handle the ice pack or ice cubes for the time it takes to remove the sticker which could be uncomfortable, so be sure to grab some gloves.
However, this is an inexpensive, all-natural option that could have great results.
Fit + Fresh Cool Coolers Slim Ice Packs
Related: How to Clean Mirrors Without Streaks
4. Use Baking Soda and a Lemon
Another excellent option when it comes to removing stickers from glass is to use half a lemon and a little baking soda.
Cut your lemon in half and apply a little baking soda to the exposed fleshy side of the lemon then scrub the lemon directly over the sticker. Again, if the sticker has a stubborn plastic top-coat, this method is unlikely to have much impact. However, this natural scrubbing agent is extremely effective in removing paper stickers or any leftover sticky residues.
Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda Shaker
It might be a good idea to use one of the aforementioned methods first, such as soaking with hot water to remove the sticker’s top layer and then going in with the lemon and baking soda to remove any stubborn glue or sticky marks.
This is also just an excellent natural window cleaner in general. The combination of baking soda and lemon is extremely effective at removing watermarks and handprints from glass.
5. Use this DIY Adhesive Remover Solution
The DIY recipe in this article details a tried and tested homemade Goo Gone recipe that has proven to be extremely effective and is super easy and inexpensive to make.
It uses easy-to-find, all-natural ingredients such as coconut oil and baking soda, and can be kept in a spray bottle or jar for multiple uses. It’s a time-saver and can be used in numerous ways to soak stubborn stickers right off your glass windows or surfaces.
Related: How to Clean Sticky Wood Floors
If All Else Fails…
If you’ve tried all of the above methods and are still left with residual glue or those irritating sticky marks on your glass window, there is one last thing you can try.
As a last resort, take a single razor blade and very carefully scrape away the sticker or glue. It’s important to stress that you must take extreme care if using this method. Firstly, to avoid injuring yourself; razor blades are extremely sharp and could cause severe damage to your skin. Secondly, to avoid scratching your window; make sure you’re using the flat edge of the razor blade and only scrape the surface of the glass lightly.
If you’re particularly worried about scratches, you can also wrap the razor blade in a dishcloth and then scrape the sticker away. Again, just be super careful not to injure yourself.
Related: The Best Non-Toxic Window Cleaner: Natural Eco-Friendly Glass and Window Cleaning
Final Thoughts on How to Safely Remove Stickers from a Glass Window
These methods on how to safely remove stickers from a glass window have proven to be extremely effective in removing those stubborn, annoying stickers from glass surfaces.
You might find that you need to use a combination of methods to thoroughly remove the sticker and any leftover residue, but with a little patience and some hard work, your glass windows should be left sparkling clean and free from any unwanted stickers or stubborn marks. All without the use of any toxic or harmful chemicals!