There are many stickers placed on a laptop by the manufacturer. Some people prefer their laptops clean and want to remove these stickers.
On the other hand, if you have purchased a used laptop from someone, and they had placed a lot of stickers on it, you would be wondering whether you can safely remove those stickers without damaging the surface of your laptop.
Whether it is the manufacturer-placed stickers or stickers applied by someone else, you must follow a proper process to remove them.
In this guide, I will be sharing step-by-step instructions on how you can safely remove stickers from a laptop, without leaving any marks or residue. Let’s get right to it:
Also Read: How To Clean A Laptop Screen?
Step-by-Step Guide To Remove Stickers From A Laptop
If you want to remove stickers from a laptop, you will have to follow a proper process. I will be sharing detailed instructions in the following guide on how you can do so:
Step 1: Turn Off The Laptop
First of all, turn off the laptop and remove it from charging. You don’t want to give a shock to yourself or risk damaging the laptop while working. So, it is considered best to turn it off.
Once the laptop has shut down, place it on a hard, even and clean surface. A table or work desk should be appropriate.
Step 2: Try to Scrape Off The Sticker’s Edges
If your laptop is new and hasn’t been used much, you might be able to easily remove the sticker just by scraping it off.
Use your nails to scrape off the edges and see if you are able to peel off the sticker. If you have trimmed your nails recently, you can use a credit or debit card or a plastic knife.
You must not use a steel knife or any other sharp object to scrape off the stickers, as it can potentially cause scratches on your laptop’s surface and do irreparable damage.
Be patient and scrape the edges off gently. Once the edges are lifted, you can peel off the sticker.
Also Read: Best Laptops Under $700
Step 3: Peel Off The Sticker
Start at the corners or edges and then work your way slowly to the middle. Once the sticker starts coming off, peel it off gently, and do not be aggressive and try to do it hastily.
If you try and peel off the sticker with a jerk, chances are the sticker will tear and leave a lot of residue, which will be difficult to clear.
Doing it gently and slowly will ensure that the sticker comes off leaving minimum or no residue on the surface.
Step 4: Use Hot Water & Microfiber Cloth
If after removing the sticker, there is residue left in place of the sticker, there are multiple methods to remove it. Let’s start with the gentlest one.
There is no need to use harsh methods or chemicals right from the beginning. You should go about it step by step and only use extreme measures if you have no other options.
So, first of all, use a damp cloth with hot water and try to gently scrape off the residue. Apply the cloth in gentle circular motions and apply firm pressure on the residue.
Make sure you are using a microfiber cloth to ensure that you don’t scratch the surface of the laptop.
Step 5: Use Mild Dishwash Soap or Cleaning Solution
If hot water doesn’t work, the next step is to use a mild dishwashing soap or cleaning solution. Rub it thoroughly until you feel all the residue has been removed.
It should work like magic and once the residue has been removed, use a damp cloth again, with just water to clean the surface.
After that, you can try the area with a separate dry cloth. Drying it off with a dry cloth to prevent streaking or leaving marks on the surface.
Never apply the dishwashing soap or the cleaning solution directly on the surface of the laptop. Only drip it a little on the cloth and then rub the cloth on the residue.
Spraying liquids directly on the laptop can cause them to slip through the cracks and cause internal harm to the laptop.
Also Read: What Kind Of Laptop Do I Have?
Step 6: Using Rubbing Alcohol
Let’s say you had a really old sticker that left a stubborn residue mark which you were unable to remove until this point.
It clearly establishes that your stubborn residue won’t go out through normal means and it is time to bring in the big guns.
You have to be extra careful in this step. Apply some rubbing alcohol on your cleaning cloth and apply firm and circular motions on the residue.
Now, ideally, rubbing alcohol won’t damage the color of the laptop’s surface, but you should still check every 30 seconds of rubbing if it is affecting the surface.
If not, you should continue rubbing until you have scraped off all the residue and your laptop has a shiny surface. After that, apply a dry cloth to clean off the surface and prevent any streaking.
Step 7: Blower & Scrubbing Pad
The last and most extreme measure to remove the residue, if all else fails, is to heat up the residue and scrub it off with a scrubbing pad.
Now, you have to be very careful to ensure that you don’t damage the laptop’s surface. First, use a blow dryer in medium settings to heat up the residue for 1 minute. Do not overdo it. Once the residue heats up, you can start scrubbing it off with a scrub pad.
Do not apply too much pressure and make sure that you use a gentle scrubbing pad and not a very harsh one. This method will help you get rid of even the toughest of stains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove stickers from my laptop without damaging my laptop?
You can remove any sticker from your laptop without damaging it but you have to be careful and patient. Do not rush through the process. Make sure you follow all the steps and while scrubbing off the residue of the stickers, be gentle.
How to safely get rid of sticker residue on laptops?
There are multiple methods to remove sticker residue from laptops. First, opt for hot water, then move to mild dishwasher or cleaning solution, then use rubbing alcohol, and if nothing works opt for a blow dryer and scrubbing pad.
Can I use nail polish remover to get stickers off my laptop?
No, I won’t recommend using it. Nail polish remover might come with acetone, which is a burning agent and can cause harm to the laptop’s surface. If you have a non-acetone nail polish remover, you can use it in place of a cleaning solution.
Can I remove the Intel sticker from my laptop?
Yes, it is possible to remove the intel sticker from your laptop. We have shared a detailed guide above that will help you easily remove the Intel sticker. Give it a thorough read.
Wrapping Up!
Summing it all up, you can remove stickers from your laptop and also the residue they leave behind by following a proper process.
The above guide shares detailed instructions on how to remove stickers and their residue from your laptop. You must follow each step thoroughly and carefully to avoid any issues.
I hope the guide helps you successfully remove all the stickers you want to remove and ensure that your laptop has a squeaky clean and shiny surface, without any sticker marks. Good Luck!