How to Remove Stickers from Book Covers! Minimize or Eliminate Damage- how to demonstration!

[@tko8218]

3:18 start

[@kellyboggs6634]

The hair dryer is a miracle worker. Thanks!

[@ClaireLeopard]

I really enjoy watching all your old videos and this one is a gem! I will definitely be using this trick.

[@Lee-hi2si]

Thank you so much. I had an important document that had a sticker l didn't need anymore. Your technique work like a charm. Many thanks

[@curatorofthelost]

Glad it helped!

[@amos122902]

Great timing for this video! I was just struggling with this issue last night. Thanks for the info!!

[@adelaideflipper]

Thanks mate! Very helpful as a new used book reseller on eBay 🇦🇺

[@thewanderingunicorn6236]

SUPER HELPFUL!!! Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@anon9359]

Tysm! Excited to read my new book now that it looks all nice and clean!

[@jcpars01]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate the video!

[@Rebecca-le9hn]

Thanks. Now I have to buy a hair dryer.

[@jasons8479]

I find that a good way to remove any remaining sticky residue is to use the sticker itself (or a piece of tape) to dab at the residue and lift if off. Of course the risk of peeling the cover surface itself is there (or putting more adhesive back onto the cover), but it works best on books with a shiny or waxy silicone-like surface. After a certain age, though, the shiny film coating can sorta dry out and not adhere to the paper cover as well, and start lifting off with the sticker, leaving you with an area that isn't shiny anymore. And there are different types of sticker adhesives, some better than others at remaining on the sticker back while cleanly releasing from the book. Of course these suggestions won't work perfectly in all cases and risk causing damage, but I've found that they do the trick most of the time.

[@adelaideflipper]

Worked a treat, cheers!

[@cambriahartmann4698]

Watched this video to help me with those pesky Goodwill stickers that are made to come off in section. I just used your blow dryer technique on a group of books I only picked because of your videos! A set of self-published (I think) books about the "Two Hundren Patterns of Haviland China." Before watching your videos, I would have glanced them over because they were in an odd spiral bound format. Turns out they are worth quite a bit of money! Thanks for all your help. Could we get a video on book condition? How you determine the condition of a book and what phrases are used for what conditions? Thanks so much! Enjoy your videos!

[@curatorofthelost]

Thanks for that feedback- I'm happy that my content is helping you out! Great idea for a video on condition and grading- I will work on that one. Keep on finding treasure!

[@dundadunda552]

Thanks..stuffed it up in the past. Need to grow my thumb nail

[@patrickturner7126]

Huge thankyou, watched your video, 10 minutes later I peeled of an bar code sticker with a book bandage sticker on top of the original. Why the reseller thought this was an improvement I can't imagine. But it worked like a charm and I now have an unsullied first edition hard back. Again thanks, it's information like this that (at least partially) redeems KZbin's sin of censorship. Also to save my (your) fingers from the heat I used a cuiticle pusher to get the sticker to lift.

[@Sol-Cutta]

Great minds ,.i used cuticle tool too

[@terrymiller7392]

Great info, thank you. I use orange oil, sparingly, for the sticky residue left sometimes.

[@curatorofthelost]

The Goo Gone I use sometimes has to be used sparingly too- it can have odor and oily residue itself.

[@waygoblue4729]

Thank you for this!

[@GeorgiosMichalopoulos]

marvelous, thank you!!

[@WelshRabbit]

I love buying old books, but the bane of my existence is those non-removeable bright yellow "USED" stickers a lot of sellers like to stick on the book spine. Those sticker are absolutely the devil to remove cleanly without damaging the book. I absolutely loathe and detest -- indeed, HATE-- anyone who uses those. Yes, this is "Hate Speech" -- and they deserve it in full measure.

[@bowlining]

Thank you so much, sir!

[@grega8672]

Good info, thanks! Would this technique work on magazines with address labels?

[@curatorofthelost]

I haven't tried it on magazines- usually I have just let the labels ride on those. I have some and need to try it! I think one key will be to pull the softened label toward the corner so the cover doesn't crease or rip.

[@ytskeptic6834]

That is a good question. The address labels tend to dry out and fall off on their own if given decades to do so. So, I assume the glue is not super-adhesive or destructive. I'd find some beat up, common ones to experiment on.

[@dailybackup8372]

Q-tip soaked with virgin olive oil and dabbed onto sticker.. let sit for minute or so and peels right off. clean up residue with cloth.. has never stained any cover for me.

[@curatorofthelost]

Interesting- I have seen that on glass but would be reluctant on a paperback or any cover that did not have a good gloss coat. I would have guessed it could stain.

[@dailybackup8372]

@@curatorofthelost have a try on something worthless. by the way.. thanks for your channel and info.. my ebay sales have gone crazy thanks to you.

[@maggiewhite0607]

Goo Gone. Also, high alcohol content hand sanitizer will take stickers or residue off. I wouldn't use either on a non-shiny book.

[@amyhutch3]

Have you tried using a heat gun on the lowest setting? If so, did it damage it at all? How long did it take? (less time than hair dryer?) I have a friend who buys a lot of books (maybe hundreds). He uses a strong odor or smell (I think) lighter fluid. I worry about him breathing in the fumes for such a long time. (Maybe hours at a time).

[@charchar714]

Awesome technique!! I never heard of that but it works great!! The yellow rectangle on Necromancer wasn’t a third sticker??

[@ytskeptic6834]

Shane - Yep *practice* especially before tackling the tougher challenges. I bought a heat gun and tried using it to remove owner's bookplates to bad results. Luckily, I chose a cheap book to see "what if" ...

[@curatorofthelost]

I find that removal of anything on inside pages, like a bookplate, address label, ex libris sticker, etc. is much tougher than the outside cover- even if the cover is somewhat compromised. On those, I lean toward just leaving them on.

[@ytskeptic6834]

@@curatorofthelost I agree. But, I wanted to "experiment". Now, I have first hand experience to say "you're correct!"

[@charchar714]

@@curatorofthelost I found a couple of KZbin videos on removing bookplates.. I’ve tried it a few times, and that technique has worked great a couple of times and also left residue once.. I’m planning to list a set that has examples of both and I’ll let you know if it impacts the sale (if I can tell).. I’ll try to find the link and post it!! Thanks again for everything!! Update: There are 2 videos describing essentially the same technique. I used this technique on a set of 4 books: 2 books came out perfect, and 2 were left with some texture from bits of the paper being taken up.. overall, I’ll be pleased IF the lack of bookplate helps the sale. The buyer can always put another bookplate to cover the spot, right? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnfLn2mrh7Kbl9E Here’s the second video - similar technique: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWnCqYuna9-co9k Thoughts?

[@ytskeptic6834]

@@charchar714 Are you finding that there's less residue if you continue to heat a sticker before peeling it? I'm still experimenting and patiently hoping. Curator of the Lost (Shane) - Do you have an opinion on this?

[@morderkaih]

Thank you very much.

[@Tyulenin]

I just used a paper towel to wipe off the glue. It took some time, but it worked. Now I can actually read the back of it. In retrospect it would have been smarter to buy it online so that it would have been wrapped, but oh well, I saw a Neil deGrasse Tyson book and I just bought it.