Help!!! Shelf liner is not coming off. Suggestions?
by
Jill B
+36
I got this beauty from when our church was getting rid of old stuff. Such a cool piece but someone lined the shelves...i cannot get it off. My plan is to paint exterior....a white but transfer tree branch image on the doors and maybe let the wood show through instead of painting branches brown.....have to see. But need to address the shelves....what do I do with them? Thank you!
25 answers
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Try this....get a spray bottle and fill it with 1/2 hot water and 1/2 white vinegar. Spray the shelves and let it set for a few minutes. That should make it much easier to get off there. I used it to take off 25 year old wallpaper. God bless you
Sherry Blankenship
on Feb 01, 2014
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This reminds me of Contact paper from years ago, which was a real pain to remove. Super sticky! Try a heat gun, or in absence of that, a hairdryer.
Shari
on Feb 01, 2014
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I also meant to mention, if this is indeed Contact paper, the top layer is like plastic and liquid (like the vinegar solution) will probably not penetrate it.
Shari
on Feb 01, 2014
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Okay!!! Well I do think this was contact paper :(....water just beaded up on top but enough was able to penetrate enough through the edges that with a scraper and elbow grease I was able to accomplish most of it. However this is what I have left....a glue mess. Now what? Keep at it with vinegar water?
Jill B
on Feb 01, 2014
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The heat from a hairdryer may soften the adhesive enough that you can scrape it up with a putty knife. However, I also did a quick internet search for ways to remove Contact paper adhesive and Krud Kutter was mentioned on one site I looked at. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.casasugar.com/How--Remove-Contact-Paper-Adhesive-6294102
Shari
on Feb 01, 2014
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I was going to suggest a heat gun or blow dryer. How come my church never gives awat beautiful stuff like this?!
Love Digging in the Dirt
on Feb 01, 2014
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Goo Gone and a scraper usually works for me.
Cynthia H
on Feb 01, 2014
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Wd40 spray a little on spread around leave a few minutes and wipe off comes right off
Sandi Walder
on Feb 01, 2014
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Thanks everyone. I used Krud Kutter and alot of elbow grease. Got most of it...followed up with Goo Gone. Looks pretty darn good. I think I lost some stain in the process....so now I am trying to figure out if I need to paint the shelves or try to salvage them some other way and leave them wood. I consign furniture at a local store....If it were just for me, I would leave them wood. But I cannot leave them as is....should I try some sort of oil? I have heard coconut oil rejuvenates wood. Or should I just paint? I am not willing to take the time to sand and stain them.....thoughts?
Jill B
on Feb 01, 2014
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How about wallpapering the whole inside in a nice print which would go well with your tree design you have in mind? The back plywood isn't that attractive either, but would look great papered, with the shelves a co-ordinating print, if not the same.
Tegma
on Feb 02, 2014
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I would use a heat gun and a metal putty knife . And then I would use floor stripper to disolve the glue . Then clean with some orange glow cleaner and then wipe down with denatured alcohol .You will be good to go.
Karen powell
on Feb 02, 2014
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How about an iron? cover the contact paper with a towel and then gently heat the surface with an iron. I haven't tried this myself though.
Ell
on Feb 02, 2014
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good to know the vinigar and water worked . I like that , that is a more natural approach . Thanks for your responce . I bet it is beautiful ! and adds valuably storage for you too .
Karen powell
on Feb 02, 2014
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Please don't paint it!
Marlene Wilson
on Feb 02, 2014
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Krud mutter is awesome!!!!!
Debi McCoy
on Feb 03, 2014
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I can only think to put new wallpaper, contact/shelf paper, or fabric on top of the paper that's stuck on.If fabric, pain with clear stainover it- I forget the name.
Polly Zieper
on Feb 03, 2014
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By the way, this piece is GORGEOUS, and lucky you to have gotten it!!!
Polly Zieper
on Feb 03, 2014
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Score the shelf liner like you would wallpaper to get it off . spray with WD-40 let it sit a while and pull it off best you can and spray again pull the rest off / then clean with soap and water . WD-40 will take off any adhesive easily
Judy Adams
on Feb 03, 2014
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You did a great job on the cabinet! It looks beautiful and very modern. I was only going to suggest you turn the shelves over if you couldn't remove all the paper! Nice job!
Margaret Holloway
on Feb 03, 2014
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I work in a furniture store, and we get those price stickers off with WD 40. Spray on let sit 15 min. then slide off. Doesn't hurt the wood.
Bonnie
on Feb 03, 2014
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Try fabric softener with water
Doris Kammer
on Feb 03, 2014
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Heat gun and scraper! It should peel right off.Be careful not to burn the wood, then use WD-40 to take off the gummy residue. I totally love your idea of leaving "tree branches" unpainted. That will look awesome. How creative.
Eileen
on Feb 03, 2014
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If it were self-adhesive paper you could have heated it with your hair dryer and it would have peeled off easily. Glad you found a solution to your problem!
Eleanor P
on Feb 04, 2014
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I use a hair dryer. Also gets most of the sticky mess off. I use baking soda and water to remove any sticky residue that lingers on. Works great on plastic or glass. Wood also.
Winnie Nichols
on Feb 07, 2014
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For those who haven't tried the other aids, I use a product the Goo Gone people called Sticker Lifter. If you follow directions EXACTLY (don't rush and wash the item first), it's like magic.
Sallie J. Eimstad
on Dec 18, 2014
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