Removing sticky pricetag marks

[Kookamoor]

This topic was raised in another thread, but we need some more input.

How do you remove those horrible sticky marks from your book covers that removing the pricetag has left behind?

About 2 years ago I bought a hard cover of Bill Bryson's ''A Short History of Nearly Everything" from a book store as a gift. I soon realised they hadn't used 'book friendly' price tags. I took the book back to the store and explained that it was a gift and could I have one that didn't have a price tag on it already. The woman pulled out a bottle of eucalyptus oil, upturned it onto a tissue so that it was just damp and wiped the affected area on the dust jacket of the book. Voila! It was perfect and no oily stain or anything.

Has anyone else tried eucalyptus oil, or have something else that works well to remove those sticky marks? What about different surfaces, particularly dust jackets?

 

[mehastings]

Wow. I've never thought about eucalyptus oil. I use goo-gone on certain types of covers. Other covers I just end up rubbing the sticky stuff off until it is gone. I'm gonna get some eucalyptus oil though. Sounds like it works better.

 

[audreybee]

Peanut butter works pretty good, too.

 

[Kookamoor]

I'm gonna get some eucalyptus oil though.

Let us know if it works!!

Peanut butter works pretty good, too.

Really?? I can understand it's lubrication, particularly the oily stuff. But wouldn't it stain? What surfaces do you use it on - surely not on dust jackets?

I don't think I could handle my books smelling like a crêche kitchen, somehow...

 

[audreybee]

Really?? I can understand it's lubrication, particularly the oily stuff. But wouldn't it stain? What surfaces do you use it on - surely not on dust jackets?

I don't think I could handle my books smelling like a crêche kitchen, somehow...

Well, it really depends on the surface. I think it would be okay on dust jackets, the kind that are shiny. It really doesn't take much peanut butter - just a smidge. Just rub a little bit on and leave it there for a few minutes. Then take a soft, slightly moist cloth and rub off the sticky. It's worked for me several times, didn't stain, and didn't leave the book smelling like a bakery.

 

[Geenh]

Eucalyptus oil works well with anything sticky. I use it all the time.

 

[jaycee]

OK...I have to ask. Where does one get Eucalyptus oil??

 

[Kookamoor]

I'm not sure where you're located, jaycee, but I would think larger pharmacies (aka drug stores) should have it - it's got many uses. It's also used for aromatherapy and herbal remedies, so if your pharmacy doesn't have it a herbal/natural remedies store would likely carry it.

 

[Hollis]

When I worked in a bookstore and we had to remove tags to send unsold books back to the manufacturer, we had a little thing of lighter fluid. I know that sounds weird, but it evaporates really fast and wouldn't damage the covers at all. We'd put a little on a rag and rub it where the tags were. Sometimes I could just peel them off without the fluid, but sometimes they were really hard to remove, so we had to pull the fluid in.

 

[Occlith]

Un-du is good at removing labels, stickers and their residue. You can also search for other brands using the words "adhesive remover".

 

[Martin]

I use goo-gone

Wait, hang on - there's stuff called 'Goo-Gone'?! That's brilliant!

Cheers

 

[phil_t]

<sigh> Simple things, eh Marty?

 

[Martin]

It's all in the details, innit Philip?

And stop sighing like that, you remind me of my arthritis-ridden gandmother.

Cheers

 

[arin]

Cover Stickers

How do you all get those dang stickers off of hardback covers?? I know I've got atleast two hardbacks with them on the cover.. Do they just peel off? I dont want to rip them and have to worry about that..

 

[mehastings]

They should just peel off. It's been discussed here before (don't feel bad about not finding the threads they took me a while), so hopefully some of the suggestions there should help.

http://forums.thebookforum.com/showthread.php?t=5613


http://forums.thebookforum.com/showthread.php?t=5594


OH, and if by chance the book does rip taking the sticker off, I'd take it back to the store and demand a copy without a sticker on it in return. I've never understood why bookstores do that.

 

[SFG75]

Use patience, that usually works best when dealing with stickies. I've also found that razor blades, while doing some light damage to the cover, will more than take care of it. About the only thing more annoying than stickies is the thin but tough plastic things companies use to tie toys to boxes that are packaged and shipped out.