Different types of glue or adhesive can require different solvents, most of which you likely have on hand.

Here’s how to remove sticker residue with vegetable oil.

Saturate the Sticker

For paper stickers:Saturate the surface with a few drops of vegetable oil.

Metal kitchen pot with sticker partially on surface

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Let the oil work for a couple of hours to loosen the adhesive.

This helps the glue release its hold on the metal.

Here’s how to use it on sticker adhesive.

Materials and tools to remove sticker from metal

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Work slowly and remove it in layers to prevent scratches to the metal surface.

Starting at the edges of the sticker, wipe away the sticky residue remaining on the metal.

Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth and add more lubricant as needed.

Metal kitchen pot with sticker saturated with vegetable oil

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

If one doesn’t work, begin the steps again with a clean cloth and a different solvent.

This method can be used after the sticker is gone butglue remains on the metal.

Expose as much of the adhesive residue as possible to the solvents.

Hairdryer blowing heat on metal pot with sticker

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Use an old cloth to wipe it away.

For heavy layers of residue, use a safety razor blade to scrape away the glue.

Clean, Dry, and Buff the Metal

Wipe the freshly cleaned surface with a damp towel.

Sticker on metal pot removed with damp cloth

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Use a clean, soft towel to dry and buff the metal surface.

Tips to Remove Stickers from Metal

Old credit card scraping edge of sticker on metal pot

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

WD-40 lubricant sprayed on old cloth and rubbed on sticker

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Metal pot dried and buffed with clean cloth

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Removing as much of the sticker as possible

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Soaking the sticker with oil

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Carefully using a razor blade to remove sticker residue

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Using a fresh towel to buff and dry the metal

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska