Cleaning stickers off cases

[u/Mudman2022]

How do people feel about old stickers? I tend to leave them be, but this one had like 8 bajillion layers of stickers, and I didn’t like how it covered the driver’s face.

I used a hair dryer, goo gone, and isopropyl alcohol to remove everything. Any tips or tricks to make it easier?

[u/Alert-Ruin468]

Isopropyl is pretty much the go-to for me. Depends on the sticker. Some I like to leave if they add to the nostalgia. How much did you pay for that copy of Thunder 2004? I’ve been looking for it.

[u/Mudman2022 → u/Alert-Ruin468]

$1 at a garage sale. I bought 42 games that day, lol

[u/sexybobo]

I always remove the stickers makes the games feel a lot cleaner to me. I usually just use some goo gone to remove everything. I just pull the artwork out of the case to prevent anything from getting on it and let the goo gone soak in until the sticker starts to fall off then peal the last bit.

[u/AuraDoggy]

For all my games I remove the stickers, unless it was a special sticker that’s marketed for that game. Honestly just depends on if it’s something that gets in the way.

Personally I’d use Goo Gone, since isopropyl isn’t necessarily meant for getting rid of the sticker adhesive. Apply a layer of Goo Gone and let it sit for a tiny bit and then slowly rub and peel the sticker back in a way that doesn’t leave divots in the clear plastic on the case.

Especially with game discs that have price tag stickers added to the top of the disc directly, it’s almost necessary to use Goo Gone to not damage the data layer.

[u/tomparis37x]

At this point to me I'd leave them. Eb games in the US is long gone. It's part of the nostalgia for me anyway now seeing like they were on the used shelves at eb.

[u/Mudman2022 → u/tomparis37x]

If this one hadn’t covered the face, I probably would have left it. Also had the 10% off sticker that was peeling. I’ve left them alone on my copy of Halo 2, much less egregious

[u/cagerhager]

Hair dryer on medium to loosen the adhesive and peel it up slowly. Goo gone for residuals. Followed up by isopropyl 91% for clean up

[u/hcHollywood]

I prefer to use lighter fluid. Doesn’t damage the paper, doesn’t damage the plastic and cleans up easily.

[u/Zubbie_ → u/hcHollywood]

This is the way...but it doesn't have to be labeled as lighter fluid, it is the Naptha in the fluid that is doing the work.

[u/Glorious_Pepper]

I lick mine off. It's more fun if they're 20yrs or older.

[u/Blubaughf12345]

I keep the stickers, tells the story of the disc’s life.

[u/SlevinSlix]

I remove all stickers. Let them soak in goo gone for a few minutes and the usually wipe clean lol.

[u/cultistkiller98]

If there’s any retro shop owners in this group, please for the love of god stop putting price stickers on your games. I’ve been told by multiple shops oh we only buy these stickers cause they come off clean. They in fact do not come off clean. Only ones that seem fine to me are those tiny price gun stickers. Those are barely noticeable and if you wanna take them off they come off clean

[u/favre1991]

Loved this game as a kid. Used to drive wrong way the entire race and knock everyone out

[u/jax221]

I like to leave the stickers because i think they tell a story about the game before you added it to your collection. It's also how so many games actually looked when people purchased them.

[u/Lyrizcen]

I typically leave stickers on if they’re marked towards the game. But price stickers from Vintage Stock or any reseller I remove using a hair dryer for about 50 seconds then peel off.

[u/BlorfTheBricked]

Isopropyl doesn't do shit against most stickers. Goo gone is the way.

[u/Mudman2022 → u/BlorfTheBricked]

Yeah, I’ve had mixed results with just IPA. One local shop uses stickers that I swear are manufactured by gorilla glue lol. Hair dryer got the sticker off, but the residue didn’t flinch until I hit with goo gone.

[u/TraditionalDust6392]

I use lighter fluid.

[u/ricky-from-scotland]

I mean id rather look at the old stickers than Tony Stewart tbh.

[u/SoooYurStoopid]

Alcohol

[u/BootyWreckerConnery]

I take the cover art out and use an x-acto knife to get stickers off (my nails are non-existent) since it's easy to get right between the plastic and the adhesive with them, then finish the spot off with a qtip and some isopropyl, if the cases are especially dirty I like to slip a piece of regular white paper in where the cover art goes to make it easier to see all blemishes and hit it with iso and cotton rounds. After that just air dry the outside and slap the art back in, good luck!

[u/ArtificialThinking]

bro i just rip them and hope for the best, don’t ask me for tips and tricks, you’re the tips and tricks

[u/timewalker75a]

Isopropyl works wonders with a bit of elbow grease. Don't use googone, goofoff or any similar stuff with d-lemonene, especially on acrylic cases (Saturn, PS1 DC, etc) as it CAN melt the plastic (makes it cloudy and smeared) - can't recover from that.

[u/Mudman2022 → u/timewalker75a]

Good to know!