Goo-Gone substitute(s)

[Jeff The Drunk]

Something ordinarily in one's entourage of household chemicals? Label stuck on plastic is the target.

Suggestions?

[BQ340]

Paint thinner, gasoline or lighter fluid works for me.

MikeB

[Jeff The Drunk]

Let's see,,, ah yes I did say "on plastic."

[jamesgangnc]

wd40

[Doug Miller]

Yes, you did. What's the problem?

[BQ340]

All 3 come in plastic cans, so what is the problem? What type of plastic do you have?

MikeB

[Doug Miller]

If the plastic in question is a bucket, bottle, etc., try filling it with very hot water. That may soften the adhesive enough to allow you to peel the label off. Otherwise, careful and gentle heating with a heat gun or hair dryer may do the trick.

Soaking in a solution of washing soda in hot water (about 1 cup per gallon) works sometimes.

Or you could try solvents: mineral spirits or naphtha won't harm most plastics.

[Uno]

acetone

[Jeff The Drunk]

Not chemical resistant plastic.

Thanks for the troll attempt, now move along.

[Jeff The Drunk]

My problem is that all three can damage decorative plastic.

Now what's your problem, only got part of a brain?

[Jeff The Drunk]

Don't have any. Do have some PB Blaster though. And I recall some labels in the past that WD didn't work to well on.

[BQ340]

Special situations will require more detail on your part for a solution that will be acceptable- or are yo going to keep us guessing?

MikeB

[Jeff The Drunk]

Let's see more detail. Hmmmm OK. A paper, adhesive-backed label on the decorative trim of a home computer. There. Now let me go get that paint thinner. Maybe I can just melt the plastic and label off.

[Jeff The Drunk]

Ok so in order to remove the label I need to melt it off along with the plastic? No thanks.

[Jeff The Drunk]

It's decorative trim plastic on a PC. I'm not going to risk trying acetone. I was looking for a more benign substitute.

[BQ340]

If it is solid color plastic (not painted) paint thinner should be ok, but you can alternatively try low heat like a hair dryer & pull slowly.

MikeB

[Doug Miller]

Baloney. Specify exactly what plastics can be damaged.

More than you, obviously. You've clearly chosen your nickname well. Come back when you've sobered up.

[Doug Miller]

Nobody suggested trying acetone.

[Sum Guy]

Incorrect use of the term troll.

And you never mentioned what type of plastic you have.

"Decorative" is not a type of plastic.

A lot of solvents won't destroy plastic. Nylon is another matter.

Acetone, toluene, laquer thinner will tend to melt most plastics, but you will get your label off and the residue from the glue - you might temporarily soften the plastic while doing it, and alter it's finish slightly.

Of those 3, acetone is least likely to harm the plastic in question.

You might also try nitromethane. You can find it at hobby stores - it's the fuel used for model airplanes.

Nitromethane will soften and remove dry superglue (cyanoacrylate) by the way - way better than acetone (or nail polish) will.

You might also try MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) but again, keep the exposure time to the plastic to a minimum.

[Sum Guy]

Paint thinner (aka Varsol) has never in my experience harmed plastic in any way. It's the best shot you've got at removing the label and residue without harming the finish on the plastic (assuming it's black, ultra smooth and glossy). You might also try alcohol (rubbing, isopropyl, denatured, etc).