How to Remove Stickers from Glossy Paperback Book Covers

Dip a cotton ball in a bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol., Rub the wet end of the cotton ball on the edge of one of the sides of the sticker., Move the cotton ball down and "coat" this area of the sticker too with the same method above. , Continue until...

17 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Dip a cotton ball in a bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol.

    Make sure it is completely wet around all the sides of the sticker alone.

    Be careful that it isn't the 70% rubbing alcohol variety, as those can be less potent and therefore won't remove as easily.
  2. Step 2: Rub the wet end of the cotton ball on the edge of one of the sides of the sticker.

    Rub the sticker until it begins to discolor. ,,, Repeat the wetting process for this end of the swab/ball. ,,, It'll begin to remove.

    Peel it back slowly and at a slant, working backwards as if to reach the opposite diagonal's corner portion of the sticker. ,, You may still see pieces around the cover where the sticker was where the glue hadn't been completely removed, or where the rubbing alcohol couldn't completely get a full grip far enough through the sticker's inner threads to reach the glue that stickers use.

    You may even choose to use some cotton swabs to do this portion of the task. ,
  3. Step 3: Move the cotton ball down and "coat" this area of the sticker too with the same method above.

  4. Step 4: Continue until you've reached the bottom section of the sticker

  5. Step 5: but don't stop rubbing yet.

  6. Step 6: Take the other end (by now you're wet end has probably turned dry or has lost it's fuzzy end altogether) and dip it into the rubbing alcohol.

  7. Step 7: Move slightly across the sticker until you reach a point where the spot can overlap the edge of your last rubbing area.

  8. Step 8: Rub the spots onto you've gotten two lines worth of rubbing alcohol applied to the sticker from the cotton ball.

  9. Step 9: Take your fingernail and begin to pry up the (what should be now) wet sticker.

  10. Step 10: Reapply and re-work area of the sticker with another wet cotton ball

  11. Step 11: if it stops becoming detached from that point

  12. Step 12: or if the sticker doesn't want to remove cleanly from the area.

  13. Step 13: Clean the area of the sticker

  14. Step 14: once the sticker has been completely pulled up

  15. Step 15: with another cotton ball and a little bit more rubbing alcohol.

  16. Step 16: Look at the book

  17. Step 17: it's sticker should be removed now.

Detailed Guide

Make sure it is completely wet around all the sides of the sticker alone.

Be careful that it isn't the 70% rubbing alcohol variety, as those can be less potent and therefore won't remove as easily.

Rub the sticker until it begins to discolor. ,,, Repeat the wetting process for this end of the swab/ball. ,,, It'll begin to remove.

Peel it back slowly and at a slant, working backwards as if to reach the opposite diagonal's corner portion of the sticker. ,, You may still see pieces around the cover where the sticker was where the glue hadn't been completely removed, or where the rubbing alcohol couldn't completely get a full grip far enough through the sticker's inner threads to reach the glue that stickers use.

You may even choose to use some cotton swabs to do this portion of the task. ,

About the Author

J

Julie Ford

Committed to making hobbies accessible and understandable for everyone.

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