First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Peel off as much of the label as you can before using anything wet.
- Test any solvent or remover on a hidden spot first.
- Apply an adhesive remover, leave it 1 to 3 minutes, wipe it away, then wash with hot, soapy water.
- Keep ammonia and abrasive pads away from plastic.
Sticker residue on plastic can take a solvent, but only in short contact, so keep the time on the surface brief. Adhesive won't loosen in water alone, so a short solvent contact on the glue is usually what it takes. If the label has been wet or stored somewhere hot and humid, the adhesive is tougher, so repeat a short contact instead of leaving the solvent on longer.
When you remove labels from plastic containers, test the remover on a hidden spot before you start, since some plastics cloud or soften. A mark left behind on plastic usually lifts with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water, so keep the pressure gentle. If the plastic starts to look dull or scratched after that, switch to a gentler product.
Before you start
What plastic & tupperware can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid2
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Commercial dry-cleaning solventLoosens the glue when you dampen a cloth or swab with it. (opens Amazon)
- Adhesive removerThe option for gooey residue that needs a little longer to work. (opens Amazon)
- Cotton swabsReach the edges and small patches without spreading solvent. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothsDampen them for wiping and use a dry one for the final polish. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish soapMakes the hot, soapy water for the final wash. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic scraper or fingernailLifts the label edge without using a metal tool. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test a hidden spot first
Before the label gets touched, put a little solvent or remover on a hidden part of the plastic, such as the underside or the inside of a lid. Give it a moment to dry, then check the spot in good light.
Careful. Stop if the color transfers or changes.
Step 2 of 6
Peel off the label
Peel or pick off as much of the label as you can before using anything wet. Lift an edge with a plastic scraper or your fingernail, and peel slowly so the label comes off in one piece.
Step 3 of 6
Loosen the glue with solvent
Dampen a small cloth or the end of a cotton swab with commercial dry-cleaning solvent. Press it onto the residue and leave it only long enough to loosen the glue, working in small patches.
Tip. For gooey residue, use an adhesive remover instead: leave it on 1 to 3 minutes, then reapply rather than letting it sit longer.
Careful. Dry-cleaning solvent is flammable, so use it only in a well-ventilated room with no flames, pilot lights or sparks nearby.
Step 4 of 6
Wipe away the loosened glue
Remove the label, then immediately wipe away the excess fluid and loosened glue with a clean part of the cloth. Work from the edges toward the center so the film doesn't spread across the surface.
Step 5 of 6
Wash with hot, soapy water
Wash the area with hot, soapy water made with mild dish soap, rubbing gently with a cloth. Keep going until no tacky film is left on the surface.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and dry the surface
Rinse the area with clean water so no soap or solvent film is left behind. Wipe it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for sticker on plastic & tupperware
Look for an adhesive remover or a commercial dry-cleaning solvent, since those two product types do the job. A small bottle is enough, since you only need a little on a cloth.
Goo Gone Goo & Adhesive Remover Spray Gel
Goo Gone Original Adhesive Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on plastic & tupperware, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The glue should come away as a tacky film that wipes off cleanly. When the surface feels smooth and dry with no film left, the job is done.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Plastic containers
Containers usually need the same steps, but keep the solvent on the label itself so it doesn't spread onto the lid seal or the rest of the container. Work around the edges of the label rather than wiping the whole container.
Once the glue is gone, wash the container by hand in hot, soapy water. Check the lid seal too, since solvent or glue may have reached it.
Plastic bottles and water bottles
Bottle labels usually come off the same way, but they often wrap around a curve, so work the cloth around the label in small patches rather than soaking the whole bottle. Keep the cap and any seal away from the solvent.
After the wash, rinse the bottle well because it will hold food or drink again. Dry the bottle fully before you fill it.
Stickers that leave marks
Marks usually come from working too hard, so use small dabs of solvent rather than wiping in long strokes. Check the spot in good light after each round, because a faint film can look like a stain until it is wiped away.
If you see a film after the wash, repeat the wash with a fresh patch of hot, soapy water and dry it again. Don't add more solvent than the cloth needs.
Painted and printed labels
A painted or printed label has ink on top of the adhesive, and solvent can lift that ink along with the glue. Work only on the sticky film underneath and avoid rubbing the printed design.
If the ink starts to move, stop and let the spot dry, then wash it gently with hot, soapy water rather than pushing on with more solvent. Decals with raised edges may need your fingernail to lift them first.
Sticker stain
A stain is the faint mark that remains after the glue is gone, and it is different from the glue itself. Treat it with the same hot, soapy water wash and a dry cloth, then look at it again in good light.
Past that, there's no method that's safe to recommend for a set mark on plastic, so don't reach for harsher products.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old label has usually dried and hardened, so it takes more passes rather than more force. Start with the solvent wipe and work in small patches.
If the label was wet, or the item sat somewhere hot and humid, the glue will be harder to shift. Give the adhesive remover 1 to 3 minutes, wipe it away, and reapply rather than leaving it on longer. Repeat with a clean part of the cloth each time.
If a faint patch still remains after several rounds, don't switch to a harsher product. Wash it with hot, soapy water, dry it, and check it again in good light.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sticker on plastic & tupperware?
Most kitchen remedies don't lift sticker glue, so a dry-cleaning solvent and an adhesive remover do the lifting instead. Mild dish soap in hot water is the only remedy that appears in the method, as the final wash. Skip the rest, since the dry-cleaning solvent and adhesive remover do the real work.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't leave solvent on the plastic
Solvent left on plastic for long dulls the surface, so wipe it away once the glue loosens. If glue remains, dab on a fresh patch instead of soaking the same spot.
Don't scrub with abrasive pads
Abrasive cleansers and scrub pads are off the table on plastic, even when the glue looks stubborn. The solvent wipe and the hot, soapy water wash do the work, so there's no need to push harder.
Don't use heat or ammonia
No flame or direct heat, such as a stovetop, broiler or oven, should touch plastic, so don't try to soften glue that way. Ammonia isn't safe on plastic either, even though it's used on glass.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The label tears into tiny paper bits.
Dampen the shreds with solvent on a swab, wait until the paper softens, and roll the pieces off with a fingertip. Wash with sudsy water when finished.
A sticky film remains after washing.
Repeat a short solvent pass on just the tacky area, wipe off the excess immediately, then wash and dry again.
The plastic looks slightly dull in one spot.
Stop using solvent on that area. Wash it with mild soap and warm water and let it dry fully before judging.
When to call a professional
If the surface looks dull, cracked or still tacky after the steps above, stop rather than trying harsher products. Don't keep reworking the same spot past the rounds above.
Questions
What is the best way to remove stickers from plastic?
Peel off as much of the label as you can, loosen the glue with a dry-cleaning solvent on a cloth, then wipe it away and wash with hot, soapy water. Test a hidden spot first, and keep contact with the solvent short.
How do I remove stickers and labels from plastic without damaging it?
Keep the solvent contact short and lift edges with a fingernail or plastic scraper rather than metal. Following the steps in order protects the surface, because each one is built to lift the glue without wearing the finish.
Does hot soapy water remove sticker glue by itself?
No, hot soapy water mainly cleans up the film after the solvent or remover has loosened the glue. Use it as the final wash, then rinse and dry the surface.
Is a plastic scraper safe to use?
Yes, on hard plastic a plastic scraper or fingernail is the right tool for lifting a label edge. On thin or fragile pieces, use only your fingernail, and never reach for a putty knife.
Why won't the label come off after it has sat in a hot car?
Heat and moisture make the glue harder to shift, so the label needs more rounds, not more force. Repeat the rounds with a clean part of the cloth until the glue lifts.
Is there a natural way to remove sticker residue from plastic?
None of the kitchen remedies commonly suggested lift sticker glue from plastic, so the safest option is the dry-cleaning solvent or an adhesive remover. Mild dish soap in hot water is useful only as the final wash.
Sticker on other materials
Other stains on plastic & tupperware
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.