How to Remove Glue on Plastic

Removing Glue From Washable Plastic

1). Place the plastic into a sink. Squirt an anti-grease formula liquid dish detergent over the glue. Allow the detergent to sit on the glue for about two minutes to loosen the glue.
2). Run warm tap water over the glue. If the glue is an epoxy, removal requires a little more effort. Gently chip and scratch the epoxy from the plastic surface with a butter knife. If your plastic can be safely twisted or slightly bent, doing so may break the epoxy, allowing you to chip it off with the knife easier. According to the Azo Materials website, "epoxies can have low peel strength and flexibility and can be brittle."
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Hot melt glues can be peeled away.Hot glue gun isolated image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com

Use an eraser sponge product to scrub the glue; scrub in a back-and-forth motion. Wet the eraser sponge if the plastic surface becomes dry. If the glue persists, continue to Step 4.
4). Use a dish scrubber to firmly press and scrub in a circular motion over the glue on the plastic. Add water and more dish detergent to help break up the glue, dissolving it as you scrub.
5). Rinse the plastic. Dry the plastic with a dishtowel.

1). Place a dishtowel on a table. Place the plastic onto the dishtowel.
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Adhesives left behind by tapes can be dissolved with citrus cleaners.sticky tape image by apeschi from Fotolia.com

Cover glue with an oil-based citrus cleaner. Citrus cleaners are safe on almost every surface, especially on plastic.
3). Allow the oil-based citrus cleaner solution to saturate the glue for about three minutes. Older glue shows age by a browner, more brittle appearance. You may be able to lift the hardened glue from the plastic with the tip of a knife after the citrus cleaner has been on the glue without even needing to proceed to the next step.
4). Use a cleaning cloth or dish scrubber to scrub the glue in a back-and-forth motion on the plastic. If some glue residue still remains, repeat the application of an oil-based citrus cleaner; continue scrubbing and gently scratching the glue with a knife until the glue has been removed.
5). Rinse the plastic. Dry the plastic with a dishtowel.