I am looking for some help getting the adhesive from a Collins Seam guide off of my sewing machine. The package even says that it can be moved, with "no sticky residue" - untrue!

When I tried to remove it in order to change the bobbin, it pulled the cover of the bobbin case right off with it. It left behind a lot of white, thick sticky stuff, does anyone know how to get this off? It is on the plastic (bobbin case cover) and metal part.

ALso - I wouldn't use it again, and wondered if the other seam guides were more reliable.

Thanks, everyone, in advance.

Lorli

There is a product called "Goop" or something like that. Also, lighter fluid takes most adhesive or sticky off.

Try plain old rubbing alcohol, that usually works to remove tape residue.

Would lighter fluid be safe on the plastic?

GOO Gone maybe would work also.

BE VERY CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR MACHINE!!! Some of those chemicals will eat the finish off your machine and any plastic. AsK me how I know.... :shock: I would use plain oil or GOOP.

i would try putting masking tape on it first, just lay it on the sticky stuff and pull it off. i might take a couple of tries, but it's safer than liquids,

I would try your sewing machine oil on the residue after you've removed as much of the "sticky stuff" as possible. Apply the oil and let it soak in if you need to (works really well on old stickers and tape residue as well). You might need to use something like an old credit card to scrape up the adhesive. Work in small areas at a time otherwise you'll just get a mess.

If you had sticky stuff on anything other than your sewing machine, I'd tell you to use plain old cooking oil. It is an old trick (like peanut butter for gum in the hair) but it works.

There is a product called Lift Off that removes sticker residue very easily. It is safe to use on plastic and metal and I removed moleskin from a vintage machine which had been used as a seam guide and was very old and very sticky.

THat's what I would try.

Goo Gone is the stuff!! I use it all of the time and my wife was the one that got me hooked on it. I have a lot of vintage machines come in the shop that have tape on the beds for a seam guide and I use Goo Gone to take it all off and it never has hurt the finish.

Billy

Stupid Answer: Try peanut butter.

Goo Gone is great for taking off sticky stuff and doesn't smell bad either.

The same thing happened to me. I'll never use it again. I'm still rubbing it off.

Im not sure what to use to get rid of the sticky stuff, but I was thinknig last night about seam quides on my featherweight as it does have any. I thought possible the thin tape stuff that is used to put on whiteboards, to create sections on a whiteboard. Im not sure what its called, but you can get it in thin strips from any office supplies store.
When this is peeled off a whiteboard, it doesnt leave any residue behind.

Just a thought

I often try heat first, as heat softens most adhesives. I use a hair dryer. However, this usually works best while the sticker or whatever is still on; I heat the sticker, then peel off. 9 times out of 10 I get a clean peel this way. Sometimes there is a little adhesive left, in which case I use Goo Gone.

I use white electrical tape on Little Miss Featherweight and it NEVER leaves a residue.

I DO know what will safely remove your mess though. Avon Original Skin So Soft. Put some on a cotton ball and dab it on the sticky mess and let it sit for a while to penetrate. Then using a paper towel start to rub it off. If there is a lot of sticky it will take a few applications and paper towels, but Skin So Soft will absolutely work.

No harm to the machine and it will smell great when you're done. I've used that stuff for years on all sorts of things and it works every time. Don't use it though on painted surfaces because it will leave an oil stain.

BTW - I've also used it for "ring around the collar"!!! Put some on the colar, rub it in, throw it in the wash and voila!! Also takes tar and bugs off your car safely and my DH uses it in the garage especially to clean the chain on his chain saw when it gets full of pine pitch. Soaks it for a few hours, brushes it, dries it and good as new. Takes soap scum off the shower walls too (but be careful to clean it all off the floor cause it's slippery).The stuff is amazing but I don't think I'd ever actually take a bath in it.

Good luck!

409 should do it

W D 40 works well. I saturate a piece of tissue or paper towel and cover with plastic wrap for stubborn stickys.

Don't know if this would work with your situation, but WD 40 will remove sticky labels from bottles, etc.

Peanut butter.....
Yes I said peanut butter.....
Just a dab will do ya. :wink:

Any of the suggestions already made, including the peanut butter, will work. As for a seam guide, I use good old blue painter's tape. Lifts off easily and leaves no residue.

WD 40, spray, let soak, rub with soft cloth. I have never had any surface damage on anything I have used this on, but I haven't had to use it on one of machines either.

You know, when I started rereading your original post you didn't mention whether the "sticky stuff" was stuck on a metal surface or not. Since I am always more worried about anything that contains a solvent (propellants can fall into this category so anything that sprays out of a can is suspect) eating into a plastic surface or damaging some paints (not all were created equal) I would start with the most non-corrosive option first and work my way down the list.

I have used vegetable oil on the residue of glue and also fingernail polish remover, which is acetone. A drop or two of either one on a tissue or soft cloth will take it off. Rub gently.

Carol J.

I would try just a little oil and rub gently, it worked for me.

I tried the goo gone on a old tv we had that had tape residue on it. It ruined the plastic finish, so you have to be careful there. Other than that, the suggestions here are great.

I did the exact same thing. Goo Gone did work, but I did it in several applications so I wouldn't get the oil where it shouldn't be. Sometimes those new items to make our work easier cause us more work in the end.

Fingernail polish remover will take off sticky stuff, also.

Use Un-Du from a scrapbooking store. Scrapbookers use it all the time to remove adhesive. Works great! I would try a small place at first, just to check out any damage to your machine, however I've used on plastic and metal and never had any problem.

For heavens sake don't use acetone (fingernail polish remover) or the non-acetone type. Stuff is meant to eat paint (polish) and top coats. It can also eat plastic. Ask me how I know. And don't use heat. Yikes is all I can say.

Goo Gone works great. Dab a little on with a cotton tip appliator, wait 1/2 an hour, rub away from amchine and other parts or in a circle. In other words don't spread the spot. Lift Off is great too.

This is the time to use what is best for the machine not easiest for you. We don't want to damage the machines (our girls).

WD40 also works and most people have it around. Don't use alchol or turpentine on the plastic. It will damage it.

I have used the blue painter's tape (several thicknesses) and it works well and hasn't left any residue. I just put it on when I need it and then take it off and lay it aside when it is not necessary.

My best tip is regular cooking oil! The oil will dissolve any sticky residue, then simply wash the oil off with dish soap! This is something that I have done a billion times and has worked each and every time!

-Simply put the oil on paper towel
-then blob the sticky residue
-"scratch" off with your finger nail or something soft
-if all the residue is not ALL off start over
- residue all off wash area with rag soaked in hot water and dish soap
-rinse area well with plane water
Presto just like that, it is good as new!

TreeFrog

Try alcohol, Goo Gone, or Avon Skin So Soft.

Works on everything!!!

I just hope that with all the suggestions something works for you, can you please let us know what you tried and what worked?

I certainly hope that your machine is up and running again, and that the sticky residue is now just a memory!

TreeFrog

get some goo gone,,wipe it on,or spray it on and let it set for a few minutes and wipe off,,,,may need to do it a second time,,but it works,i use it all the time

Yes, I just used it on some plastic glasses without any problems.

I find that a cheap furniture polish called Sheen (bear in mind I live in England) does the trick with sticky residues. Sheen is supposed to be a polish that removes static, and dirt off plastic.