Content

• Method 2 of 4: Using Heat and Coconut Oil
• Method 3 of 4: Removing the label with rubbing alcohol
• Method 4 of 4: Cleaning and Polishing Stainless Steel Items
• Tips
• Warnings

2 Cover your work surface with newspaper. This may not always be possible - for example, you cannot do this if you are trying to remove a sticker from the refrigerator. But if you're working on your kitchen counter, cover it with newspaper to avoid oiling your countertop.

3 Try to line up the stainless steel item. In this case, the oil will not splatter. Be careful when placing an item on a flat surface. If it is a device, such as a toaster, make sure it is stable, otherwise the device may slip and oil will splatter.

4 Dampen a soft cloth with mineral oil, baby oil, or olive oil. Don't wet the cloth too much - it's enough if you can then apply the oil to the metal surface. You can use either a rag or a paper towel. If you decide to use a paper towel, fold it several times so that it is properly soaked in oil.

5 Apply oil to the decal and wait for it to absorb. Coat the entire decal with oil. It is especially important that the oil is absorbed around the edges of the decal, where it adheres most strongly to the metal surface. Wait a few (no more than five) minutes for the oil to absorb.The exact time depends on the size of the sticker and how strongly it adheres to the metal.

• Try cooking spray on the sticker.

SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

Michelle Driscoll MPH

Mulberry Maids founder Michelle Driscoll is the owner of the Mulberry Maids cleaning service in northern Colorado. She received her Masters in Public Health from Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

Michelle Driscoll MPH
Founder of Mulberry Maids

The oil method is best for painted metal surfaces. Be especially careful with painted metal - it all depends on what paint was used and how sensitive it is to external influences. It is safest to leave the decal soaked in the oil longer. Stronger agents, such as acetone, may cause partial paint peeling.

6 Using a cloth soaked in oil, wipe the sticker off the metal surface. The oil will saturate the sticker and adhesive and help remove them from the stainless steel. At this point, you should be able to erase the sticker. When doing this, rub along the texture (direction of polishing) of the metal, otherwise the surface may be scratched.

• To bring out the texture of the surface, tilt it so that light bounces off it. After that, you will notice shiny lines along the polishing direction. Rub the metal along these lines.

7 If glue remains on the surface, apply another coat of oil. Wait five minutes and wipe the metal again with a cloth soaked in oil. This may only be necessary if the sticker adheres too much to the surface.

8 Wipe the entire stainless steel surface with a damp cloth. This will remove any remaining fingerprints and other marks. To make it easier, move along the surface texture.

Method 2 of 4: Using Heat and Coconut Oil

1. 1 Heat the sticker with an open flame. If you're trying to remove a sticker from a relatively light kitchen appliance, you can hold it over a flame. If the sticker is on a rather heavy device that is not easy to lift, bring a flame to it. Sweep the flame over the sticker for about 30 seconds to warm it up evenly.
   • A lighter, candle, or match can be used as a source of open fire.
   • Don't worry if black marks appear on the surface. These marks can be easily removed as long as the flame is not kept in place for too long.
2. 2 Peel off the sticker. After you heat the sticker with an open flame, the adhesive should melt and burn. As a result, you can easily remove the sticker with your bare hands. If the sticker is difficult to remove, you can reheat it.
3. 3 Wipe off any remaining glue with coconut oil. Just take a few drops of coconut oil and use your fingers to spread them over the rest of the sticker. You can then wipe off the marks with a paper towel or soft cloth. So you can easily remove the remaining glue.
   • Coconut oil can also remove black marks left by flames.

Method 3 of 4: Removing the label with rubbing alcohol

1. 1 Apply rubbing alcohol to a paper towel and attach it to the label. As a result, the alcohol will be absorbed into the sticker and dissolve the glue - just wait a few minutes.
2. 2 Rub the decal with a paper towel. Once the alcohol has been absorbed into the label, it will dissolve.Omost of the glue. As a result, you can remove the sticker without any problems. Just rub it with a paper towel.
3. 3 Remove any glue residue with your fingernail. When doing this, move along the surface texture (grinding direction), otherwise the metal may lose its luster and even get scratched. Thanks to alcohol, you can easily remove what is left of the label.

Method 4 of 4: Cleaning and Polishing Stainless Steel Items

1. 1 Dampen a corner of a soft cloth with vinegar and wipe the surface. Wipe the entire surface to remove any remaining vegetable oil.Among other things, distilled white vinegar is excellent for cleaning and polishing stainless steel.
2. 2 Wipe the surface with a cloth dampened in warm water. At this step, you need to properly wet the rag. Use water to rinse off any remaining oil and vinegar from the metal. Wipe the surface along the texture (sanding direction).
3. 3 Wipe the surface well with a dry cloth. Make sure that there is no water left on the stainless steel, otherwise streaks may appear on the surface.

Tips

• Clean stainless steel items regularly to keep them from darkening or corroding from dirt, salt, milk and acidic foods.
• Always dry stainless steel to prevent streaks and stains.
• Decal residues can be removed with WD-40 Spray: follow the same procedure as for oil.
• Try using an oven cleaner. They are especially good for removing glue and cleaning kitchen utensils.

Warnings

• Never rub stainless steel items with a wire wool or an abrasive sponge.
• Do not use corrosive solutions such as benzene cleaners or bleach on stainless steel.