Goo Gone is a citrus-scented adhesive remover that many people keep for sticker residue, gum, and other sticky messes around the house. It can lift stains from carpet, glass, clothing, and painted surfaces. The label is clear that it's a solvent, though, so the method matters as much as the product. Knowing which surfaces it suits, and which it can damage, is the best way to avoid trouble.
Start with a small test spot in an inconspicuous area, since finishes and fabrics can react differently. Then apply the liquid, wipe or blot the residue, and wash the area with hot soapy water as the directions describe. Read the safety section before you open the bottle.
What it is
Goo Gone is a citrus-scented adhesive remover, sold as a solvent liquid. Its main ingredient is hydrotreated light petroleum distillates, at 80 to 95 percent, with d-limonene (3 to 5 percent) and orange oil (1 to 3 percent) providing its citrus character. The ingredient sheet also lists an aliphatic ether alcohol, a glycol ether, and Solvent Orange 60 as a colorant.
According to the maker
What to use it on
Carpet and upholstery spots
Carpet and upholstery are on the maker's list of suitable surfaces. Don't pour the liquid straight onto the fabric, since the directions say to apply it to a clean white cloth.
Gently blot the stain, then wipe the area with mild soap and water. Finish by drying the spot with a towel, and test a hidden area first because some fabrics react differently.
Sticker and tape residue
Glass, metals, plastics, sealed stone, and ceramic or porcelain are all listed as suitable hard surfaces. Apply the liquid directly to the sticker or tape residue.
For extra-gooey messes, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before you wipe. Once the residue lifts, wash the surface with hot soapy water to clear away the solvent.
Painted walls and finished wood
Painted surfaces and finished wood are both on the maker's list. Unfinished wood is on the do-not-use list, so check whether the wood is sealed or finished before you start.
Test a small spot first, since paint and varnish can react differently. Drywall is also on the do-not-use list, so keep the liquid off bare wall board.
Clothing and fabric
Clothing and fabric are on the maker's list, but never treat a garment while you're wearing it. Apply the liquid to the stain, then blot with a clean white cloth.
Launder the item separately with extra detergent. Test a hidden seam or inside area before you treat the visible stain.
Car stickers and auto surfaces
The maker's list covers painted surfaces, glass, metals, and plastics, but it doesn't describe automotive use as its own category. Car stickers and tape residue on glass or painted panels fall within the listed surfaces, so test a hidden spot first.
Keep the liquid off rubber trim and leather seats, since rubber and leather are both on the do-not-use list. Wash the area with hot soapy water once the residue is gone.
5 steps
How to use it
- 1
Test an inconspicuous area first
Apply a small amount of the liquid somewhere hidden before you treat the stain. Check that the finish, fabric, or color holds up. Move on only once the test spot looks right.
- 2
Apply the liquid to the residue
Apply the liquid directly to hard surfaces, or to a clean white cloth for carpet and upholstery. For extra-gooey messes, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before you wipe.
- 3
Wipe or blot the stain
On carpet and upholstery, gently blot with the cloth until the stain lifts. On hard surfaces, wipe the residue away. Keep working the spot until the sticky film is gone.
- 4
Wash the area with hot soapy water
Once the residue is removed, wash the surface with hot soapy water. This final wash clears away the remaining solvent and residue from the surface.
- 5
Launder clothing separately
Clothing is never treated while you're wearing it. Apply the liquid, blot with a clean white cloth, and then launder the item separately with extra detergent.
Where not to use it
Goo Gone should not be used on silk, leather, suede, rubber, faux stainless steel, drywall, unfinished wood, or unsealed stone. Don't let it sit on rubber at all, even for a short time.
The maker gives no approved method for these materials, so use a cleaner made for that surface and test it on a hidden spot first. The spray gel version is also not designed to remove paint.
Safety
The label carries a danger warning: the product may be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways, and it may cause an allergic skin reaction. Wear gloves and eye protection, avoid eye and skin contact, keep it out of reach of children, and never treat clothing while you're wearing it. If someone swallows it, do not induce vomiting and call poison control, and don't mix it with other cleaners.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Versions the maker sells
Where to buy
Goo Gone Original Adhesive Remover
Goof Off Professional Strength Remover
Goo Gone Pro-Power Goo & Adhesive Remover
Goo Gone Goo & Adhesive Remover Spray Gel
Sponsored links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product facts come from the maker's own instructions and labels.
Questions
Does Goo Gone work well, and what do reviews say?
There is no independent performance result to report, so rely on what the maker states. What the maker says is that Goo Gone removes adhesive, sticker and tape residue, gum, glue, crayon, and grease. Permanent marker results vary, so test a hidden spot before relying on it.
Is Goo Gone better than rubbing alcohol?
Nothing compares it with rubbing alcohol, so there's no basis for calling either one better. The maker says Goo Gone is for adhesive, sticker, tape, and grease residue on the surfaces listed in its uses. The same goes for other removers: check their surface limits and test a small hidden spot with whichever product you choose.
How do you use Goo Gone step by step?
Test an inconspicuous area first, then apply the liquid to the residue. For extra-gooey messes, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before you wipe or blot. Finish by washing the surface with hot soapy water, and launder clothing separately with extra detergent.
Can you use Goo Gone on a car?
The maker lists painted surfaces, glass, metals, and plastics as suitable, but automotive use isn't a separate category on its list. Test a hidden spot first, since car finishes vary. Keep the liquid off rubber and leather, both of which are on the do-not-use list.
Is Goo Gone safe on stainless steel or leather?
Not on faux stainless steel, and not on leather. Both are on the maker's do-not-use list, along with silk, suede, rubber, drywall, unfinished wood, and unsealed stone. Check what a surface is before applying anything, since real and faux stainless can look alike.
What's the difference between Original and Pro-Power?
Pro-Power is listed for a wider set of residues, including silicone caulk, sealants, tree sap, wet paint, tar, asphalt, wax, and soot. Original covers adhesive, sticker and tape residue, gum, glue, crayon, and grease. Both share the same do-not-use list, and Pro-Power adds that it is not food safe.
How is the spray gel different from the liquid?
The spray gel covers the same surfaces as the liquid and is aimed at similar residue. It removes glue, stickers, labels, tape residue, gum, grease, wax, decals, crayon, and sap, with permanent marker results varying. Its directions are similar, with the same 5 to 10 minute wait for extra-gooey messes, and it is not designed to remove paint.
Can you use Goo Gone for grout, tile, or as an all-purpose cleaner?
Grout and tile cleaning aren't listed as uses, so a cleaner made for grout is the safer choice. It's safe on ceramic and porcelain, but the maker doesn't include grout itself among its surfaces. Grease is one of the residues Goo Gone targets, so it can lift greasy marks from those surfaces, but the maker doesn't mention kitchen degreasing or all-purpose cleaning as uses.
Where it shows up in our guides
More product guides
How we know this
Every use, amount and warning here comes from the maker's product pages, labels and safety data sheets.