The $5 Cleaning Tool You Likely Don't Have (But Everyone Should Own)

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If you've ever purchased a thrifted picture frame or a brand new appliance, then you've likely had to deal with pesky price stickers or labels that feel impossible to remove. This issue plagues a number of newly-purchased products, but can also pop up if you have young kids who love to put stickers on the windows of your home or car. From wood furniture to glass decor and plastic bins, there's one simple tool that can help you remove stickers and window decals with ease — and it'll only cost you $5.

Plastic razor blades, placed inside of a handheld scraper tool like this Cadono Plastic Razor Blade Scraper, are an affordable way to get rid of those stickers with ease. Although plastic, the blades are nearly as thin and precise as real razor blades. They are effective at getting under the edge of all kinds of adhesive, allowing you to get rid of sticker residue on nearly any surface. This method is safer than using real razor blades, which can damage the surface of whatever you're scraping or cut your skin if you're not careful. The Cadono scraper, in particular, has many positive reviews online. However, some users note that while the blade worked great for removing stickers, it did occasionally pop out of the holder, so be careful when using the tool. Fortunately, it comes with 120 replacement blades, so you are covered if you lose or break one.

To use a plastic razor blade to remove residue, simply place the blade at the corner of your sticker, apply some pressure, and begin pushing the blade underneath the adhesive. For especially hard to remove stickers like window decals that have baked in the sun for years, you may need to use more than just the plastic blade. In these cases, look for an appropriate solvent that you can apply first before you begin scraping. You can usually loosen stubborn stickers with a popular ingredient you probably have on hand — hydrogen peroxide. 

Outside of removing stickers and sticker residue, plastic razor blades can be used around your home for various tasks. Scraping stuck-on food off your favorite casserole dish, removing peeling paint, or cutting through the tape on your Amazon packages without harming the contents are just a few examples. Keep in mind, these thin, flat blades are designed to work best on flat surfaces, so if you're looking for ways to easily remove stickers from glass jars, this may not be the right product to try.