Removing stickers from jewel cases? (1 Viewer)

[Michael Martin]

Just bought a new CD today (Mary Fahl's "The Other Side of Time," thread coming as soon as I've listened to it!) and the freaking company put a sticker RIGHT ON the plastic of the jewel case, instead of on the wrapping.

Anyone have a good method for removing these things? I tried the conventional way (fingernails and slowly peeling back) but it's leaving a ton of residue.

Help!

 

[DonRoeber]

It annoys me too. Invest in a small bottle of Goo-Gone. I've gotten lots of labels off of CDs and DVDs. You should be able to find it in the grocery store, if not, walmart or kmart will have it.

 

[Al B. C]

Use a hair dryer to get them hot and then peel them off.

Works like a charm.

 

[Michael Martin]

Thanks to both....we have Goo Gone, and a hair dryer, so I am sure one of them will work!

And love the quotes in your sig, Don!

 

[KeithH]

If you are careful, you can also try paint thinner. I say be careful because it is volatile and flammable. I'm a chemist, so using paint thinner doesn't phase me. Just peel off the label, and paint thinner will remove the adhesive.

 

[KeithH]

Oh, if you try paint thinner, transfer the CD and inserts to another jewel case first. Paint thinner could cause damage. I usually wait 24 hours for the jewel case to air out before placing the inserts and CD back in.

 

[Henry Gale]

...transfer the CD and inserts to another jewel case first.

Uh, how about just tranferring, period. Jewel cases are dirt cheap and not worth performing surgery on.

 

[Dale Bumann]

I have had success with a very cheap option - simple vegetable oil. Start with just 1 drop, use your fingernail to work the oil in. Add additional drops as needed, and wipe away with soft cloth or paper towel. I prefer to spray the case with window cleaner to remove any remaining traces of the oil.

 

[Angelo.M]

Say 'no' to industrial solvents, hair dryers, forceps, etc. Just replace the jewel case.

 

[David Lawson]

Michael, just head a bit south to Micro Center, where empty jewel cases are $0.19 each. I have a box of 200 at work.

 

[Ray Nelson]

Another thing that works wonders for sticky residue is lighter fluid. Although the same precautions as paint thinner would apply.

 

[Ted Lee]

paint thinner? lighter fluid?

holy smokes!

get it? hello...is this thing on?

i usually just reapply the offending sticker, then pull it off, then repeat. each time you pull it off more comes off the jewel case. my uncle told me plain ol scotch tape also works in a similar fashion.

i buy my jewel cases in bulk from officemax or staples or officedepot or whatever that store is called - they probably all have the same thing anyway. a box of 50 is around 20 bucks...i think.

 

[Travis Kolesar]

Lamp oil works wonderfully (trupmpet valve oil too, what I use at work for getting adhesive off of stuff). But, when it comes down to it, the time spent working on it far exceeds the replacement cost of the case. Replacing or ignoring are my two favorite options.

 

[KeithH]

Jim said:

Uh, how about just tranferring, period. Jewel cases are dirt cheap and not worth performing surgery on.

I knew someone would make this point. Well, if someone is in a pinch and doesn't have a bunch of extra cases lying around, then hanging onto that one with the stickers may be a "necessity". Also, I am a collector of old first pressings on CD (released in 1982 to 1985 and pressed in West Germany and Japan), and I hold onto the original jewel cases. Many of those early discs came in the original style jewel case that has smooth top and bottom edges instead of ridges. I never throw away a smooth-edge jewel case. To me, it is part of the history and is as much a part of the package as the inserts or even the disc itself. Besides, those early jewel cases are much more sturdy than the crappy ones we all buy in bulk these days or that come with current CDs.

 

[KeithH]

Travis said:

trupmpet valve oil too, what I use at work for getting adhesive off of stuff

That's a good one too. I used to play trumpet, so I still have some of it around. However, paint thinner is a bit easier to deal with. It's less oily.

 

[KeithH]

Ted said:

i buy my jewel cases in bulk from officemax or staples or officedepot or whatever that store is called - they probably all have the same thing anyway. a box of 50 is around 20 bucks...i think.

CompUSA has a box of 50 for $16 and Best Buy has it for $15. You can get jewel cases in bulk cheaper via the Internet, but I haven't gone that route. While they look to be exactly the same as what I buy at CompUSA and Best Buy, I am not certain of that. Also, I am concerned that cases ordered by mail will arrive broken. It's just easier to buy them locally. 50 cases last me awhile, even with all the CD-Rs I make.

 

[Mark All]

WD-40 works. Just like duct tape, everyone should have some around the house/truck/boat at all times. Never know when it will come in handy.

I hate the idea of tossing jewel cases in the trash just because of some sticker glue. Lord knows how long those things would last sitting in landfills.

 

[Greg_C_T]

Mark, you beat me to it. I was going to say WD-40 works wonders at getting the stickers and the residue off.

 

[Henry Gale]

Many of those early discs came in the original style jewel case...

KeithH,
Color me impressed, until now I had not come upon an actual jewel case historian.
I did come across an unusual one on a Tool album I bought a few months ago. The case cover (front, whatever) was molded with the fine lines you would find on those optical illusion thingies.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Napalm son. Nothing else in the world smells like that!

Invest in a small bottle of Goo-Gone.

Goo-Gone. Wasn't he that French painter who moved to Tahiti?