Raise your hand if you think I’m anal.
(I’ll pause while you do that).
Well, I probably am. I’m definitely type A. But I think there might be a misconception that our house gleams and the faucets are always shined and there aren’t any toothpaste splatters on the mirrors. Yeah right, I wish. We tried to disprove the whole perfect thing with this video (yes, we leave clothes on the floor and mail in a pile like the rest of the population- haha) and it seemed like the masses were relieved.
We’re human I promise (although I’m pretty sure if I weren’t human I’d pretend that I was for assimilation purposes), and my dirty goo-related secret might just prove that once and for all (prove that I’m human, not prove that I’m an assimilating robot). Check out this lamp – from Linens N Things back in the day – that I’ve had for over four years. That’s more than 1,460 days. Yup, that’s the sticky rectangle left by the clearance tag that was on there when I got it. Yes, the goo is practically an antique. I’ve just never scrubbed it off.
Same with the back of the ceramic container (from Target) from at least two years ago that we use to hold our serving and cooking utensils. I just turn the container sticky-side-back so it faces the wall and go on my merry way.
Of course outing myself makes me feel like I should remedy these two sticky situations (my mom does occasionally skim the blog- hi ma!), so with a little bit of soap (Dr. Bronners if you’re wondering, the almond kind) and some water I’m off to get my scrub on. Let’s hope in ten minutes I’ll be singing “ding dong, the goo is gone.” I have to admit that I’m worried that it might be a bit rough to remove thanks to years of dormancy. So that’s what I’m up to this afternoon (along with continued console bid-ness and some post writing). Whew, outing my sticky secret feels kind of good. I can’t be alone in this can I? Please tell me someone else out there just rotates things so the “flaws” face the wall.
Wendy M says
Hey Sherry! I’m sure it’s already been posted once or twice, but just for the sake of trying to be helpful…
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/how-to/how-to-remove-a-sticky-sticker-using-a-hairdryer-home-hacks-109809
For in the future when you deal with stickers!
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!
xo,
s
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Why, oh, why, do stores INSIST on putting their sales stickers in the WORST possible places? That Target canister, for instance….why couldn’t they have put it on the BOTTOM? Seriously…so annoying…
Wendy M says
I always wonder the same thing… they always put them in the places you would think were the LEAST practical. Ugh!
Virginia says
Ooh, i (shamefully) leave the tags on my storage baskets. I just tuck them behind the basket and put it against the wall. For some reason I never take them off! It’s not like I want to leave the tags on or return them, I just never seem to actually take the 4 seconds to do it! Every time I see one I’m like “what is wrong with me??”…. “eh, I’ll get to it later”. I can take the time to clean the sink faucet with a Q-tip, but can’t do that. It’s a disease. I’m sure there is some diagnosis out there.
YoungHouseLove says
I TOTALLY DO THAT TOO! Mine are on those plastic loops with cardboard tags and I just tuck them inside the basket. I finally just cut two of them off of baskets that I’ve had for over a year. And only because they’ll be in a picture on the blog and I didn’t want people knowing my other issue. Haha.
xo,
s
Amanda says
Sherry, I hate to break it to you, but I think you just told us. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Man. I did. Boo. Haha. You guys just catch me off guard and I want to tell you about all of my defects. Haha.
xo,
s
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Me three! All of my baskets still have tags on them! I think it’s because I come home with it, usually not in a bag, and I immediately have to put it where it goes and see if it fits. Then I just never go back to it! Haha too funny!
Lisa says
Windex is the answer no suds, no streaking.
Megan S. says
For the longest time, I had one of those paper lantern floor lamps that had a rough couple of moves… nice tear down one side. Oh yeah, that faced the wall until the next move which detached the whole thing from the base. No more hiding that little “flaw”. :)
Sandra says
Okay, I’ll admit that after the video, I still didn’t believe that you were even remotely like us. Clothes on the floor, who cares? Now, I believe it a little more. Maybe I’ll be more convinced after Clara starts walking! : ) I too like Goo Gone, but I’m sure that cooking oil or alcohol works, too.
MIMI says
I am so glad I’m not the only one that hides the sticky stuff, but I am bad about not removing hanging tags on my baskets, my son always does it.
I love, love, love Dr. Bronners almond soap, it’s also my all over go to! My mom prefers the lavender but the almond does it for me.
Crystal says
Whew what a relief! I do the same thing, but never wouldv’e guessed you did too. Baby oil is the best and cheapest fix for goo stains, just an fyi it actually works for almost everything and any kind of sticky mess.
p.s. Have to say you guys have inspired me in my own home! Hats off to you!!
JennyC says
lol! i wish there was a ‘like’ button :)
Maureen says
This may have been suggested already, but I recently discovered (after a google search) that spreading peanut butter on leftover sticker/label goo, leaving it for ~20 minutes, and then scrubbing it away with a wet tough sponge or steel wool pad (depending on the surface), and you’re goo free. It totally works! I tried it on the stubborn label goo of an empty spaghetti sauce jar. :)
Kezia says
Eucalyptus oil makes it so easy to wipe off sticky spots. And it’s natural! Don’t know if u have it in the states though. If u do, try it!
Gillian @ Letters to Liney says
I’m a cake designer that works for a small local bakery. Every single specialty cake we make has a definite “back” – that way the small, only-noticeable-if-you’re-the-one-decorating-it imperfections are hidden when we set it on display.
YoungHouseLove says
No way- that’s so interesting! I guess I never thought about it, but it totally makes sense!
xo,
s
Kay says
lol! I’m a cake decorator too, and we say the same thing! Every wedding cake has a back side that faces the wall!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s too funny! It’s universal!
xo,
s
eileen marie says
So my home & classroom look like Beirut, but the ONE thing I am anal about is “goo” removal. I 263rd (instead of 2nd) Goo Gone. It works on EVERYTHING. Just got gum off a kid yesterday!
PS: I am really trying to adopt your and John’s philosophy of letting go and “oh welling” what doesn’t work out.
Margaret says
sigh, I have a secret to my utensil holder too-except there is no remedy! One day while polishing my granite countertops (I’m a renter so I feel the need to do this-if it were my own place there’s no way granite would be there in the first place) I dropped my handmade ceramic utensil holder, which was a Christmas present from my Mother in law, and took out a huge chunk from the back. My sweet husband superglued it back together, but we were missing a small piece and the cracks were very visible. I just turn that baby around and forget it ever happened. Hope my MIL doesn’t notice!
Martina says
I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned already… but why not just use Goo Be Gone? Works like a charm.
YoungHouseLove says
I just work with what I’ve got. Haha. Dr. Bronners and a wet washcloth did the trick. Thank goodness. I thought it might be rock hard, but it came off with a few good scrubs.
xo,
s
Nadia says
MAJIC ERASER!!! No chemicals, just friction. I use it to clean the ring around my bathtub and soap scum, too. It is a miracle product.
Laura says
Try Scour Off! It’s totally natural, non-toxic, and smells like cherries! (Plus, it’s pink which makes cleaning fun!) http://lauramay.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00430 There’s a 100% guarantee on all products so you’ve got nothing to lose. :) The Basic H2 concentrate is also totally safe and works like a charm.
Good luck! I’ve been totally guilty of the same thing before.
Suzanne says
Try using peanut butter and a paper towel. Sounds odd, but peanut butter does remove goo on almost anything!
BethanyB says
Oh my goodness, I am type A as well and this is one of my biggest pet peev. That sticky stuff drives me crazy I tell you. I even go to the length of making sure its all gone on the jelly jars I like to save to put flowers in. But its funny, the things that drive one person crazy is same thing someone else lets go. happy srubbings :D
BethanyB says
scrubbings*
Jen Jeffries says
Get a bottle of Goo Gone! It works wonders. :)
Liz says
A little rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad will lift that goo right off!
JenWoodhouse.com says
That is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves… when stores put stickers on glassware or ceramics. Peeling them off is the bane of my existence, but I can’t stand for the stickers to be on there, even when they’re on the bottom where they can’t be seen. I scrub and scrub and curse and scrub and peel and scrape and curse and scrape and ask the retail gods why they insist on putting stickers on glassware/ceramics. Then after I refuse the urge to throw the glass/ceramic piece to the floor, I give it to the Husband to remove the gooey residue.
Emily@Decorchick says
Ha! I confess that I never take off sticky price tags that are on the bottoms of things. Why? Because you’ll never see them. Unless of course you take an aerial shot of a room like I recently did and discovered the price tag is still on the bottom of the mercury glass hurricane (it was clear bottom). Haha. And you know who has the WORST price tags? Marshall’s! They are so hard to come off!
Nora says
This isn’t goo related, but I just wanted to let you know…today my mom sent me a section of their local newspaper (Cedar Rapids Gazette) which featured your blog! It was the same story from the Wash Post article (I live in DC so I read it firsthand), but just wanted to let you know how far your story has traveled (Iowa). Funny thing is, she sent it to me because she noticed I have the exact same Pottery Barn rug you have in your spare room. Even funnier — I showed her something from your blog two weeks ago when she was visiting! Anyway, keep up the good work; enjoy reading you guys and happy for all your success.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! Even crazier I’ve been to Cedar Rapids (my BFF is from Reinbeck)! Love IA!
xo,
s
Jenny says
I didn’t read all of the previous comments, so someone may have already said this, but all you have to do is put a little lighter fluid on it. Let is soak for a few seconds, and it will come right off. I know you don’t like chemicals, though! I learned how to do this while working at a gift shop during college where I’d have to remove sticky price tags before wrapping gifts!
Liz says
Peanut Butter works really well on the hard surfaces, just let it sit for a while.
Jennifer says
Hey there,
Here in Canada, Home Depot carries a line called “Eco Mist” which is all natural, plant based and non-toxic – and does it ever work!!! It is made of: non-chlorinated water, corn, tree sap, processed coconut extract, grains and potatoes. It has zero smell. It easily gets off goo that will not even come off with scraping. I used it to get old carpet tape glue off our hardwood floors (left by the previous owners). I tell you, it is a miracle worker. I don’t know if it is carried in the U.S. because it is made in Canada. It is my “go-to” solution for any problematic goo or stains.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s amazing! I hope it comes to the US!
xo,
s
Emily A says
Goo Be Gone. My dad has used this my entire life, and as a parting gift for college he gave me his old tools and a big bottle of Goo Be Gone. It helped remove the nasty parking sticker I got when I became too lazy to park off campus ;)
Becca says
I did this to one of six of the amazing green velvet parsons chairs that I found on CL for $75 (total!) and while it looks good .. it FEELS like sandpaper. plus if you look at it long enough, you can see it is streaky. I painted it just like I was supposed to, but it just didn’t come out right. I still have to post the pics to my blog.. I have been so lazy about posting lately. oh well. :P
Becca says
lol oops that was meant for your chair painting post. lmbo. blonde moment. no offense to blondes. some of the smartest people I know are blondes.
Becca says
oh and rubbing alcohol is pretty good for sticky stuff.
Lindsey says
We have at least three items I can name with sticker goo on them right now. I had forgotten until you posted this (guess what I will be thinking about all night!). I like that dryer sheet idea…we don’t use them anymore either, but I have some left over because I used to save them to re-use as dusters. In the past I’ve done the oil or rubber gloves and water hot enough to melt the goo if the surface can take the heat.
Elizabeth says
I can just imagine you coming home from Target, all happy with your purchase and wanting to use it right away. Peeling off the sticker, then realizing it left goo, and just saying WHATEVER, I’ll deal with it later :)
Peanut butter works like a dream on some of that goo if you can’t get it off with soap and water. I do however love my orange oil :)
Kadra says
Vinegar is probably the oldest trick in the book. I keep a $1 spray bottle of it to use around the house for sticker removal, spraying down the shower curtain to fight mold, and it also works great as a toliet cleaner. Going back to the basics and not having to hold my breath while cleaning is the way I roll!
Maya says
Another one for the suggestion box… My go-to solution for getting rid of that sticky goo is Citrasolv (http://www.citra-solv.com/ppapc1.shtml). It’s made from the oil from orange peels so no creepy chemicals, and a little goes a looong way. And it smells amazing – bonus when you’re cleaning! Love it.
rashmi says
For any Sticker residue or any grime on glass or cyramic , I use lime juice. It works like a charm. Normally i dab a little on a cleaning cloth, and start rubbing the sticky surface.
Hope that helps
Sarah says
Peanut butter gets the sticker stickiness off of the bottom of high heels, it might work for your sticky situations too!
Danette from Oz says
I am not sure if anyone has mentioned it, or if you even have it int eh States, but Eucalyptus oil dabbed on a rag will just wipe that goo off! It is natural too, straight form the Eucalyptus Tree leaves. Goodluck!
Rina says
Danette – we must have been thinking the same thing at the same time! ha ha. Us Aussies love the old eucalyptus oil!
Rina says
This is a tip all the way from Australia. Down this way we use eucalyptus oil or tea-tree oil. It’s all natural, smells lovely and works instantly!
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! All of you Aussie’s are brilliant with your natural lovely smelling suggestions.
xo,
s
Amy says
I haven’t read through all the comments, so I’m not sure if this has already been recommended a hundred times over, but nail polish remover works like a charm on removing sticky gooey stuff. I only use it on glass and ceramic surfaces though. Don’t use it on anything else that has a finish on it. It’ll ruin it. Speaking from experience, unfortunately.
amandaj says
i never bother to scrub the tag-related goo off of things i buy. but i do start to get anxious when our upright paper towel holder on the kitchen counter gets low on paper towels, because then the goo spot on the base shows. don’t know why it’s never occurred to me to just take a few minutes to get the goo off! maybe tomorrow. :)
Frances says
You have a baby….go with the vegetable oil! The trick is to let it sit for a bit then scrub it off with dish detergent and a soft cloth (this is one spot I don’t think Dr. Bronner’s works…I use Ivory Liquid, mildest detergent I can find). If the object will tolerate it, very hot water helps.
Goo gone works extremely well but it stinks and it is toxic. I wouldn’t use it on anything in the kitchen.
BTW vegetable oil takes paint — oil or latex — off skin beautifully too, without having to scrub yourself raw. I also use it for cleaning oil paint brushes, but it’ll ruin anything you use for latex or acrylic. No mineral spirits in my studio since I figured this one out.
Jenn says
I use postcards to hide holes in my walls and strategically placed knick knacks on tabletops to hide big scratches/discolorations. Tag, you’re it!
Tara G. says
A little WD-40 also works.
Lindsay Osborne says
I use vinegar, let it sit and off it comes!
LaShonda says
They actually have a product on the market (well at least they used to) just for these “sticky” situations…it’s called Goo B Gone! I’ve been using that for years…no scrubbing required.
Katie H. says
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this…but I use white vinegar…especially if my goo is on a mirror or something shiny because it cleans it too:)
MaxK says
Oil, Baby. Animal, vegetable or mineral. Doesn’t matter. Just grease that puppy and Bob’s Your Uncle.
xox, mk
Elizabeth says
Avon’s Skin-so-Soft gets off any grease, residue, ink,etc. Scary that it is supposed to go on your skin though. I learned(thru my 4 year old) that Off(bug spray)takes ink off anything. The anything was the face of my dryer!
Dusa says
I agree with the baby oil/veg oil/olive oil solutions. Goo Gone is just too nasty on my nasal passages (I can ‘taste’ it in the back of my throat). So try the oils first!