This is the only natural kitchen ingredient you need to remove annoying sticky label residue with zero scrubbing

Is there anything as annoying as trying to peel a label away, only to be left with gooey residue or a papery white mark?

Rather than attacking with a scraper, damaging the surface beneath, or scrubbing until your arm aches, experts say to use a commonly found kitchen to remove annoying, stubborn sticky residue leftover from labels.

It’s so simple, the experts turn to vinegar time and again to quickly remove stickers from furniture without harsh chemicals.

Using white vinegar to remove sticker residue

Cleaning with vinegar, such as the Walmart Great Value White Vinegar, is the perfect fallback when trying to create a non-toxic home, and is ideal for getting stickers off a mirror or other common surfaces (including food) without the risk of damage or harsh chemical contamination.

And you don’t even have to scrub.

Sara Czerniawska, managing director at J&I Cleaning Services, explains, ‘Soaking a cloth [we like the durable Mr. SIGA Microfiber Cloths from Walmart] with vinegar and then placing it over the sticky residue works. Wipe it off after a few minutes.

‘It's not just an effective cleaning agent; it is also gentle,’ Sara adds. ‘The acid content of this pantry staple does a good job of breaking down stubborn adhesive residue and works on a variety of surfaces without damaging them.’

Petya Holevich, house cleaning expert at Fantastic Services, adds an extra step, ‘Finally, wipe the surface with warm, soapy water to remove any leftover smell. This method works well on glass, ceramic, metal, and many plastics, but I always recommend testing on a hidden area first, just in case the surface has a delicate finish.’

It perhaps comes as no surprise that if you need a little extra cleaning power to shift sticky residue, you can pair this with cleaning with baking soda, such as the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, from Target. Petya says, ‘It’s a gentle abrasive that lifts residue without scratching most surfaces.’

To use, simply mix into a thick paste and buff into the residue. Using a Scrub Daddy Sponge, from Target, can add a little extra scrubbing power without the need to increase elbow grease or risk surface damage.

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Meet the experts

Sara Czerniawska

Sara Czerniawska is the Managing Director of J&I Cleaning and Grease Gone, which specializes in Commercial Cleaning.

Petya Holevich

Petya Holevich is an experienced house cleaning and laundry expert with over 5 years of dedicated time at Fantastic Services. 

Not as fussed about oily residues or using commercial solutions? Why not try Skin So Soft spray to clean stubborn sticker residue? It has become my go-to for tough tasks.