How to remove protective film residue from stainless steel or other metal?

Protective film is designed for providing temporary protection to product surfaces during production, transportation and fabrication. Most protective film is made with plastic film (PE) with adhesive (Water-based Acrylic ) coated on its back side.

• If applied indoor without heating, PE film can be left on products for several years without degrading. If continuously exposed to the sun, normal PE protective film will degrade after 3 months. UV resistant PE protective film can last for 0.6 year, or 1 year or 1.5 years outside in the sun. A lot of protective films haven’t been peeled off in time. Thus, the PE film are degraded, burned, twice burned and leaves residues that is ugly and difficult to be removed. 
• Adhesive also will age as time goes by. Water based acrylic adhesives are pressure, UV light, dwell time and heat sensitive adhesives. The more you have of each of these variables, especially in combination with each other, the "better" these adhesives perform that they won't let go of either the surface being protected nor the carrier film they rode in on.

So when we talk about removing the residue of protective film, we need to check that the residue is plastic film & adhesive or only adhesive. Because the plastic film is neither permeable nor dissolvable while adhesive may be dissolved by some solvents. Maybe residue on your item can be cleaned with one solvent, but you fail. That is probably because you are not applying the solvent on the plastic film instead of adhesive.

Even it is difficult to remove the residues, there are still people who have tried many methods to overcome the difficulties and some of them really did it. In this article, we have collected some methods that have been tried by many people and sort out. Hope it can help more people to remove protective film residues easily and quickly.



Solution 1, Recommended methods for removing residue of plastic film and adhesive.
If the residue is plastic film and adhesive together, recommend firstly find mechanical method of removing the film. And than refer to Situation 2 to remove adhesive residue.

No	Method	The methods have be applied on following surfaces without damaging the surfaces.	Success rate	IMPORTANT NOTES
1	Boiled water / Hot water	l Range hood filters l Metal l Stainless steel l Aluminum fuel tanks l Chrome sink l Precoated metal l Canopy range hood l Stainless steel oven door l Outer door gas bbq l Painted metal roof	11 people tried and 8 succeed	1, you can soak the film in hot water, or pour hot water when removing the film, or use hot pressure wash by hooking garden hose to hot water when removing the film. 2, remember to wear rubber gloves with cotton gloves under the rubber gloves and also wear a rain suit and safety glasses when pouring or spraying the boiling water. It's very hot. 3, you have to work quickly as the film will cool and adhere to the metal. 4, plastic film may be removed easily with this method. If adhesive residue is left, should try ammonia or other solvents. Refers to solution 2.
2	Ammonia	l Vermont casting grill l Stainless steel outdoor refrigerator l Vermont Castings barbecue l Door to BBQ l Painted metal roof l Stove l Dish washer l Stainless steel filler l Chrome sink	13 people tried and 6 succeed	Make sure that ammonia is applied directly on the glue  instead of plastic film. Because plastic (LDPE mostly) film used to produce protective film is non-permeable and can not be dissolved by most chemicals. Ammonia only works on some adhesives.
3	Heat gun / torch	l Stainless steel	9 people tried and 6 succeed	Liquefy the plastic and wiping it off while it's still fluid. It can remove plastic film that has been on the item for 14 years. Before using this method, make sure no material will be harmed by the heat. If still some residue left, can use acetone or goo gone to remove. Refer to solution 2.
4	Non-acetoneNail polish remover	l Chrome sink l Stainless steel oven l Precoated metal	3 people tried and 2 succeed
5	Acetone / nail polish remover with acetone	l Precoated metal l Stainless steel appliance l Stainless steel oven l Stainless steel fridge	4 people tried and 2 succeed
6	Xylene	l Metal	1 people tried and 1 succeed	Xylene at elevated temperatures would penetrate the LDPE. Steps: 1, use a heat gun and warm the metal 2, soaked a towel in Xylene and placed it on top of plastic and let it sit 3, After 10-20 min, the plastic coating peeled off as if it were new.
7	Orange TKO "super concentrated cleaner"	l Stainless microwave	1 people tried and 1 succeed	1, pour the orange concentrate on the remaining plastic, spread it around, and wait for a few minutes. 2, using a paper towel soaked in the cleaner, easily scrape the plastic off. 3, It starts coming off in sheets (like it was supposed to) after soaking for a little longer.
8	High pressure cleaner	l Aluminium composite panel	1 people tried and 1 succeed
9	Australia LIQUID 8 (paint stripper gel)	l Stainless steel fridge	1 people tried and 1 succeed
10	Jasco Paint and Epoxy Remover	l Kitchen hood	1 people tried and 1 succeed
11	Gasoline / Petrol	l Precoated metal	2 people tried and 0 succeed
12	Goo gone	l Painted metal roof l Stainless steel appliances l Stainless steel oven	3 people tried and 0 succeed
13	Vinegar	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
14	Domestos	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
15	Meths	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
16	Turps	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
17	Detergent	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
18	diluted pool acid	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
19	goof off	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
20	orange stuff	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
21	wonderwheel (Automotive pinstripe remover, which just smeared the plastic)	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
22	Glass Plus	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
23	Green Works	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
24	rubbing alcoho	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
25	Sulfamic Acid	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
26	Citric Acid	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed
27	rubbing alcohol	l	1 people tried and 0 succeed

Solution 2, Solvents recommended for dissolving adhesive residue only.

No	Solvent	The methods have be applied on following surfaces without damaging the surfaces.	Success rate	IMPORTANT NOTES
1	Ammonia	l Stainless-steel gas range l White finished steel l Refrigerator l Stainless steel dishwasher box l Vermont grill l Other stainless steel material	6 people tried and 5 succeed	Make sure that ammonia is applied directly on the glue instead of plastic film. You can soak a washcloth with household ammonia and let it set on the item (set horizontal and let the ammonia work on the adhesive from the gap) for 15 minutes or longer. Then used a plastic scraper to scrape away the softened film.
2	Goo gone	l Stainless steel range hood	1 people tried 1 succeed
3	Non-acetoneNail polish remover	l Stainless steel l Fridge	2 people tried and 1 succeed
4	Non-acetonenail polish	l Vermont Castings barbecue	1 people tried and 1 succeed
5	Unseal adhesive releasing solvent	l Stainless steel	1 people tried and 1 succeed	Manufacturer: Hunt Corporation in Statesville, NC You can get small container (32 Fl.Oz) from your local picture frame molding supplier. Catalog # 470. It works great but very expensive. Active ingredient is Heptane.
6	Brasso	l Stainless steel fridge	1 people tried and 1 succeed
7	Brake Fluid	l Stainless steel appliance	1 people tried and 1 succeed
8	WD-40	l Stainless steel	3 people tried and 0 succeed
9	Lacquer/paint thinner	l Stainless steel material l Pre-coated metal	2 people tried and 0 succeed
10	MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)	l Stainless steel material l Stainless steel fridge	2 people tried and 0 succeed
11	De-Solve-it	l Stainless steel l Vermont grill	2 people tried and 0 succeed
12	vinegar	l	2 people tried and 0 succeed
13	Gasoline / Petrol	l Stainless steel	1 people tried and 0 succeed
14	Toluene	l Stainless steel	1 people tried and 0 succeed
15	Xylene	l Stainless steel	1 people tried and 0 succeed
16	hair spray	l
17	blow dryer	l
18	soapy water	l
19	sponge	l
20	orange degreaser	l
21	stainless steel cleaner	l

Have you tried any method or solvent mentioned above to remove protective film residue? Does it work or not?

Do you have other methods that can remove protective film residue effectively? Welcome to share with us by leaving messages bellow this article.

Need UV resistant PE protective film that last half year, 1 year or 1.5 years? Need good quality protective films that have smaller risk of leaving residue? Email to sales@wxiaac.com or visit www.wxisaac.com.

THANK YOU ALL.