How to Get Sticker Residue Off Clothes, According to Cleaners

Stick Synthetic Fabrics in the Freezer

To deal with sticker residue on synthetic fabric garments, simply place them in the freezer for 45 to 90 minutes. This will cause the residue to solidify, facilitating easier removal. Follow cleaning expert Gwen Whiting's advice, who suggests, "Stick the shirt in the freezer for an hour to harden the glue. Pick off what you can."

Use Soap and Water

After removing what you can with the freezer method, use warm water and dish soap to take off any remaining residue. "Wet the shirt and rub it with a microfiber cloth and a little dish soap," Whiting says. "Soak the garment in warm water for 20 minutes, then let it air-dry."

Treat Natural Fiber With Acetone Nail Polish

Believe it or not, you can use acetone nail polish remover to help break down the hardened, leftover adhesive. Here's what to do:

"Lay the garment flat on a table and place a towel behind the stain," says dry cleaning expert John Mahdessian. "First, check to make sure the glue is dry, then dab clear acetone nail polish remover onto a cloth and rub it into the leftover glue. The white spots should vanish quickly."

Try a Specific Stain Removing Solvent

"Glue residue is plastic-based, and scrubbing with ordinary soap and water won't always remove it," says dry cleaning expert Chris Allsbrooks. They recommend using Carbona Stain Devils No. 1, which is specifically made to remove adhesives (think: chewing gum and glue) from most washable fabrics (including cotton)—even if it's already been through the laundry.

Here's how to use it:

1. Before you do anything, scrape off as much of the sticker as you can using a dull, straight edge, like a butter knife.
2. Next, check the colorfastness of the garment by applying a small amount of the Carbona to an unnoticeable area of the shirt, such as an inside seam or under the arm.
3. If the color doesn't change, soak the spot for a few minutes in a dish of the solvent.
4. Use the knife again to remove the last of the residue. If a stubborn spot remains, pour a little of the solution onto a cloth, dab the spot, and rinse with warm water.

Use Dawn Dish Soap

According to Dawn senior scientist Morgan Eberhard, while the brand's research and development team has not tested Dawn specifically to remove sticker residue from fabrics, she says that Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray can act as a quick stain remover or pretreatment for laundry stains including oil, ink, grass, and more. "When stains land on your clothes, simply pretreat them with the steps below to make sure they don’t set," says Eberhard.

1. Apply 1 to 2 sprays of Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray directly to any cotton/polycotton fabric and rub it in using your clean fingers.
2. Wash the item normally with laundry detergent in your washing machine.
3. Do not reapply Dawn to the same spot and wash again.

Try Vinegar

Distilled vinegar can be used to clean pretty much anything, including removing sticker residue from clothes.

To begin, heat pure distilled white vinegar in the microwave. Then, saturate the area of residue with the warm vinegar. The adhesive will begin to loosen, allowing you to scrape off the remaining residue. Rinse the area with cool water and pretreat the stain with a stain remover for 10 to 15 minutes before washing. Be sure the adhesive is completely removed before tossing it in the dryer.