Removing sticker pieces/residue from interior doors

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
As the title says, one of the juniors covered his bedroom door (standard interior white door with shiny/smooth finish) with enough stickers for five doors. I have managed to take off most of the stickers (variety of types) but there are still bits and pieces of stickers left as well as sticker residue on the door.

A while ago we tried to clean an area on another door (can't remember what we tried) but the finish on the door was marked (a bit like taking a piece of sandpaper to the door). I think we used a chemical product but not sure what.

Does anybody have some experience / suggestions on what to use that will not damage the finish? I have thought about changing the door but it is just beside another one and I have not found the same model anywhere.

Any ideas much appreciated.

2
https://www.discounto.de/Angebot/POW...loeser-117219/

We had this from Lidl a while back and I've used it on several different surfaces with very good results and no damage.

3
Adhesives are sometimes oil-solulable. Therefore, you could try dripping cooking oil onto the stickers, and letting them soak for 5 or 10 minutes, and most likely at least some of them will be loosened, not entirely but significantly, that way.

This will obviously be much easier if you can take the door down and lie it flat on the floor. You'll be able to do whole lot at once. In that case, carefully pierce the surface of each sticker with a pin, so the oil penetrates better. And engage your son in the oil work, too (the fruits of his labours, etc.).

If the door can't be taken down, then try soaking small wads of cloth or toilet-paper in oil, then position such a wad over a sticker, and tape it with masking-tape (something that won't cause you a new problem). If you can first manage to prise off the top edge (closest to the ceiling) with your fingernails, that'll make a funnel, as it were. Drip the oil in there, and it will ooze down between the back of the sticker and the door, and slowly loosen the adhesive.

Either way, remember to put down newspapers or old towels to catch any drops of oil.

As I said, this is not a final solution for all of it, but a good way to make quite a lot of progress, before you can have a go with a circular-movements with sturdy cloth or sponge, and a lot of effort.

Whew, I don't envy you the task!

Oh, yes, and take photos, so that your son at least has the memory, some day, and so you can feel really proud of yourself at the end!

4
No luck finding the Lidl product yet (it was from 2011). It might exist under another name from another company. Will keep looking.

5
Heat gun (or blowdryer) with a hard plastic scraper. You could use a metal scraper carefully as well.

Use Isopropyl alcohol for the remaining glue residue.

6
The page from 2011, but it has been on sale more recently, as Aldi and Lidl repeat their selection of offers on a regular basis, so the things come back again. Other brands are available.

https://www.amazon.de/s?k=Etiketten-...1&ref=glow_cls

7
For removing adhesive residue, I sometimes use the petrol that I buy for the lawnmower. This does not appear to damage the surface and usually works.

Don't try things like nail varnish remover (acetone) which may attack the surface you are attempting to clean.

8
I've had good luck with Mellerud Aufkleberentferner, usually available at Bau und Hobby:

https://www.bauundhobby.ch/wohnen-li...iABEgI9lPD_BwE

Test on a hidden part of the door first, as it says 'geeignet für unempfindlichen Oberflächen'.

9
Soaking them for 5 mins with Vinegar or Lemon essential oil plus some elbow grease are great non chemical alternatives...

10
a) vinegar is a chemical

b) lemon essential oil is a chemical

c) water is a chemical...

But yes, they often are very effective - vinegar and lemon oil being both acidic.

11
I have a feeling that this is what the OH used on the one door that left a massive mark (you can see the wipe/stroke marks where it was cleaned). I am guessing that was the culprit in that we have a can of acetone.

12
Acetone is very good at dissolving all sorts of plastic or plastic coated surfaces, leaving a sticky matt finish behind. If the door is now smeared as a result of such a previous attempt to clean it, you might try a cream type bath cleaner or even toothpaste and vigorously polish away at it. The fine grinding particles in these cleaners may just be enough to take a bit of the damaged surface away without going too deep.

13
The acetone door was a previous attempt. Thanks for the suggestion which I will try.

This time I figured I would ask for some advice before touching the second door. The 98% of the stickers are off the second door we are discussing but there are some pieces in certain areas and there is some of the glue left where the stickers are gone. As I mentioned, it seemed that there was 80% coverage of the door (both sides) which makes things a bit of a mess.

14
Heat gun, and we also have some sticker remover spray (my wife likes stickers), so IF you can remind me, I will look for it tomorrow, and if I DON'T, please keep reminding me!

Tom

PS the sticker remover also works great for rejuvenating tape drive rubbers, which is why I'm not sure where it is at the moment.

15
Thermite.

16
I have used WD 40 to remove sticky residue. Best to test first to be sure it won't damage the paint.

17
@Verbier, please, what did you do in the end? Could you successfully remove the stickers?