Need Advice in Safely Removing Labels from Wax Print
 

Our mission team from church brought back some cotton wax screen print fabric from Uganda. Last year we made a beautiful quilt for the fundraiser. This year we are making pillowcases.

One of this year's fabrics has multiple large sticker labels on it. These stickers are very large and extremely difficult to remove. I have cut the fabric and am soaking only the stickered piece in lukewarm water with dish soap. So far the top layer of the sticker has come off, but the glue part is still stuck on. I know I could try Goo Gone, but the fabric bleeds profusely, and a treatment in Retayne is up next -- as soon as I can get the residue off.

I don't want to use anything product that might change the color, and I don't think I should Retayne before the residue is off. I suppose I should be soaking the other piece of fabric to be in the pillowcase pair in order to let it bleed the same before Retayning. A lot of dye could bleed out before I get that stubborn stuff off!

Any suggestions?

i'm sorry that you soaked the label. while it was still 'fresh', you could have tried to put an ice cube on the back and then it might have peeled off better. good luck with the rest

I have (2) suggestions...try an eraser (a magic eraser may be the ticket) or (peanut butter takes gum out of carpet, or hair...maybe???) if you don't want to wash it further I would go with the magic eraser first...I used one on masking tape residue once & it did remove the residue & the stain...it wasn't on a fabric that was already bleeding- but- I think it's worth a try...good luck. I've bought fat quarter bundles from joannes that have horrible sticky labels *wrapping* them- there is always a left over sticky residue & paper left- the magic eraser has worked well for those.

Many labels and stickers will remove completely with heat. I use a hair dryer. Heat softens most adhesives.

It still might work if you allow the fabric to dry, then use the hair dryer, and try to roll the adhesive with your fingertip. I would also maybe try dabbing the heated adhesive with duct tape to see if that will lift it up.