How to Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture: From A Mom (With Video)

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Sticker on wood table — Sticker on wood coffee table

If you have small children in your home, at some point, you will need this tip!

Stickers are bound to end up where they don’t belong. Don’t stress about how you can remove them. This simple guide will have the stickers off your furniture in no time.

If you find that you have stickers on your floor, use this method to remove those. We also included a video at the end of this article.

Table of Contents

No Harsh Chemicals Required

I am the proud mom of two very artsy and creative four-year-olds. This means that sometimes, arts and crafts sometimes end up on the table, where they don’t belong.

I also like to clean without harsh chemicals whenever possible. So, when I found this sticker on my TV room table, I headed straight to the pantry to see if oil would loosen the glue and allow me to remove it without scraping the wood. The results were incredible.

One of my daughters put a sticker on the inside window of our minivan. I’m going to use this method to see if it will be as easy to remove. Check back soon for a post.

Sticker on wood coffee table, with bottle of oil. — Coffee Table with sticker and bottle of oil

I happened to have canola oil on hand, but vegetable, olive, or avocado oil will work just as well. I keep olive oil on hand, but because canola oil is less expensive, I used that for this project.

The internet suggested that goo gone would work for this type of mess, but I prefer to clean without chemicals that could be dangerous if my children ingest them.

Materials Needed To Remove Stickers From Furniture

Furniture with sticker and bottle of oil
Canola oil (or vegetable, olive, or avocado oil)
Paper towels
Straight-edged plastic
Multi-purpose cleaner (e.g., Force of Nature)
Clean paper towel or microfiber towel

Step by step Tutorial To Remove Stickers From Furniture

How to Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture. Paper towel with oil soaking on a sticker. — Paper towel with oil soaking on a sticker on wood furniture

Start by soaking a paper towel with the oil of your choice and allow it to soak on the sticker for approximately 5 minutes.

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I tested another method: soaking another sticker on the same table for 10 minutes, but that didn’t make the sticker easier to remove. 5 minutes is the perfect amount of time.

How to Easily Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture. Peeling Sticker from coffee table — Peeling sticker from wood furniture

Once you’ve removed the paper towel, begin to remove the sticker. This sticker peeled off nicely, but you might need a straight-edged plastic to help.

I also used a wet paper towel to scrub a little. Once the sticker was removed, just a bit of the glue residue and a sheen from the oil remained.

How to Easily Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture Multi Purpose cleaner in hand — How to Easily Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture Multi Purpose Cleaner in hand

Cleaning Up After Removing The Sticker

I sprayed the entire table with Force of Nature. This is my go-to multi-purpose cleaner.

I can use it to clean my whole house. It’s simple and not harmful to children or pets. See my full review here.

Once I spayed the table, I used a clean paper towel to wipe the table clean.

You could also use a microfiber towel, depending on the type of surface you’re cleaning.

Final Result

How to Easily Remove Stickers from Wood Furniture Cleaned table — Coffee Table Sticker free

Once you have removed the sticker and wiped the area with a cleaner or wood polish, you’re left with a nice clean table.

Why Oil Works To Remove Sticker Glue

Stickers adhere to surfaces using adhesives that can bond strongly, especially on porous materials like wood. Oils are effective because they can penetrate the adhesive layer, breaking down its stickiness and making it easier to remove the sticker without damaging the surface.

Oil Penetration: Oils, such as canola, vegetable, olive, or avocado, are composed of molecules that can seep into the adhesive’s structure. This softens the adhesive, reducing its grip on the wood and allowing the sticker to be peeled away more easily.

Gentle on Surfaces: Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, oils are gentle on wood. They help preserve the wood’s finish and prevent scratches that might occur with scraping or using abrasive materials.

Safe and Non-Toxic: Using oils is a safer alternative to chemical solvents, especially in households with children and pets. They are non-toxic, making them a preferable choice for eco-conscious and health-conscious cleaning.