New double glazing, mirrors, jars and glassware almost always arrive with labels. The labels themselves peel off, but a hard, tacky layer stays behind, especially if the window spent a summer in the sun after fitting.
Glass does not absorb liquid, so it can safely be treated with products that dissolve adhesive. Blades and harsh scourers, on the other hand, easily scratch it. The method below also works on frames, seals and mirrors.
What you will need
- warm soapy water and a soft sponge
- a plastic scraper or a glass scraper with a fresh blade
- a hairdryer
- dental floss
- WD-40 Multi-Use or WD-40 Smart Straw
- a clean microfibre cloth
Important: Hold any blade at a very low angle and do not press: glass, especially with low-emissivity or tinted coatings, scratches easily. Do not use products on unpainted wood, only a damp cloth. When working on the inside of a windscreen, cover the dashboard with a cloth to catch drips.
Step 1
Soak the label in warm soapy water
Wet the label and glue with warm soapy water and wait a few minutes. Lift the softened paper and adhesive carefully with a plastic scraper, then wipe the rest off with a sponge and the same water. Use as little pressure as possible.
Step 2
Apply WD-40 to stubborn adhesive
If sticky patches or bits of label remain, spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto them directly or onto a cloth. For small price tags on jars and glassware, WD-40 Smart Straw is more precise.
Wait a few seconds, then lift the label by a corner and peel it off. Wipe away any remaining glue and repeat if necessary.
Step 3
Clean frames and seals
Glue is often left on window frames, door profiles or a mirror's metal surround too. On PVC, metal and painted wood, treat it the same way. If there is a material nearby that should not get wet with the product, spray it onto a cloth and wipe only the glue.
Step 4
Warm large stickers with a hairdryer
Warm large vinyl labels, and any stickers on unpainted wood, with a hairdryer first. Warm adhesive softens, so the sticker comes away more easily, in pieces if necessary. On bare wood, stick to a damp cloth to avoid stains.
Step 5
Cut through thick deposits with floss
Warm raised badges, plastic letters or thick lumps of double-sided tape, then slide dental floss behind them as close to the glass as possible. Holding both ends, draw the floss slowly from top to bottom to separate the glue from the surface without scratching.
Step 6
Finish and polish the glass
Treat any thin layer of glue left with WD-40 Multi-Use, let it work and wipe it away. Then wash the glass with warm soapy water to avoid streaks and polish it with dry microfibre.
Tip: Remove factory labels from new windows within the first few weeks after installation. After a summer on the sunny side, the adhesive bakes on and is much harder to shift.
What next
The same routine works for stickers on mirrors, tiles and car glass. Keep WD-40 Multi-Use at hand during decorating: it is also handy for removing masking tape marks from frames.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».