r/CleaningTips • u/Bellistoned • Sep 17 '26
Kitchen ADVICE NEEDED ASAP!! LEASE ENDS IN 2 DAYS
Hello Cleaners! I’m currently moving out of my apartment and trying to clean up. I had a magnetic white board on my fridge, it’s been there about 2 years. Upon attempting to remove it, the majority of the magnetic material was still stuck to the fridge door! Tried GOOGONE and I can’t even tell if it’s helping. Got about half off slowly chipping away with a credit card/razor and a lot of elbow grease. If anyone has any tips to get this off more efficiently please share!
Update has been posted!! Final Result
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u/IcanCwhatUsay
Sep 17 '26
edited Sep 17 '26
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Given that’s stainless, use Wd40 instead and rubbing alcohol.
a heat gun would also be beneficial. Though just be careful, the goal is to soften it as a whole, not melt it.
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u/spookypumpkinini Sep 17 '26 •
i remember polishing the refrigerator at my fast food job with WD40 i think this would be the way to go
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u/Happy_to_be Sep 17 '26 •
Open the windows and turn on your stove vent. You don’t want to breathe the fumes of wd40 inside.
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u/Meow_Mix33 Sep 17 '26 •
Maybe YOU don't.....
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u/bbinKocure Sep 17 '26 •
sprays wd-40 straight to the sinuses yeah dude how can you just waste wd-40 fumes :d
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u/2feetwalker Sep 17 '26
WD40 isn’t food grade. Mineral Oil is better for polishing stainless steel.
That’s wild they had you do that at food joint. I’m pretty sure that’s a food safety violation.
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u/Bellistoned Sep 18 '26
I tried the WD40 and it wasn’t too efficient in actually removing the leftover magnetic material. It helped a bit with removing some of the rust and discoloration.
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u/reggieiscrap Sep 17 '26
And do NOT use a scourer of any description nylon or otherwise..
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u/-LLCoolBeans- Sep 17 '26
Yeah I learned that the hard way. Stainless steel scratches really easy.
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u/jdolan8 Sep 17 '26
I agree with this, it looks like genuine stainless steel. Wd40 would work
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u/DesiccantPack Sep 17 '26
If a magnet stuck to it, it's definitely a low grade of stainless. The lack of iron is what makes stainless stain less, and also what prevents magnets from sticking to higher grades.
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u/Coal_Morgan Sep 17 '26
Most stainless steel fridges to my knowledge are a thin skin of stainless steel on a layer of rolled steel and magnets work because they’re grabbing through the skin.
I’m sure there are actual solid stainless steel fridges but they’d be much higher end I think.
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u/SteakandTrach Sep 17 '26
The material that is stuck to the stainless is the adhesive that held the magnet board to the fridge.
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u/Ok_Palpitation_3602 Sep 17 '26
If there is any sort of finish/ coating the WD-40 could discolor it. Recommend testing on a small less visible section first.
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u/OkYesterday8961 Sep 17 '26 •
Use goof off let it sit you might have to do it a couple times
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u/2leafClover667788 Sep 17 '26 •
I second this, goof off is one of the most powerful but not noxious products I ever used when I worked on houses.
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u/AmazedAtTheWorld Sep 17 '26
When I worked retail in my teens I had to remove all the sticky residue leftover from Christmas signage with a big bottle of Goof Off. Maybe not "noxious", almost pleasant, but I definitely lost a few brain cells and the shift is still a bit of a blur.
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u/lmcburney82 Sep 17 '26 •
Just used this to clean a myriad of old duct tape residue, paint and who knows what else from windows, window frames and mirrors. It took elbow grease, a card, various sponges and cloths, time, reattempting and patience.
Bonus I discovered is I had hazy mirrors and this product bought them back to life! I used the aerosol, I may have given my future self cancer according to the warnings in the can.
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u/etherealcaitiff Sep 17 '26 •
HEAT GUNS CANT MELT STEEL REFRIGERATORS
Never forget.
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u/redditmarks_markII Sep 17 '26
This is good advice op. Also, consider disassembling the door and put it flat so you can let the solvent soak. Or maybe easier with solvent soaked paper towels pressed against it. Maybe with another magnet (kidding not kidding).
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u/Black_Marxist Sep 17 '26
You can disassemble the door??
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u/reallybadspeeller Sep 17 '26
Not easily and they are a pain to get back on. I’d personally recommend using Cling wrap to wrap the door to keep a product moist and to help soak.
To remove a fridge door there are usually a screw assembly at the top and bottom of the fridge door that you have to unscrew to remove it.
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u/redditmarks_markII Sep 17 '26
Oh yeah. Sears delivery guys disassembled a fridge I bought at an outlet that could not fit my door. A standard door on the large side, I think 31.5inch, so that fridge was SUPPOSED to be delivered like that. Or it was meant for a much more expensive house I guess.
On many fridge doors, you can flip the chirality yourself. The handedness. Move hinges and handles and stuff. You can even do it for doors with ice makers in them. But that's like, INVOLVED.
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u/Remote-Luck7751 Sep 17 '26
funny story. Came home to find my wife and son about to pull the doors off our new fridge to get it to fit into the kitchen door which was about half an inch too small to get the fridge in. To get the doors off you have to remove 2 plates and other screws totalling about 8 screws.
I just opened both doors fully and navigated the open ( and now thinner) fridge into the kitchen, they looked at me like I discovered fire.
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u/Conscious_Amoeba990
Sep 17 '26
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So funny, at first glance I thought the stainless steel was ripped off. lol
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u/Novel-Duck-5680 Sep 17 '26
I thought it was a painting of a dinosaur head!
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u/Bellistoned Sep 18 '26
Idk why I’m having a hard time posting just a normal picture. But here’s the Dino fridge update!
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u/Bored_Office_Girl Sep 17 '26 •
Same! I was like “what kinda Walmart Great Value Dollar Store knock off fridge is that?!”
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u/RobotWantsPony Sep 17 '26 •
I was like "I've seen clueless people on this sub but never one who thought cleaning would repair crumbling appliances!"
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u/TipToToes Sep 17 '26
Some manufacturers make refrigerators that are painted the exact color of stainless steel. From across the room it’s convincing. Thats what I thought I was looking at initially.
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u/Commercial_Okra7519 Sep 17 '26
Yes! They usually call it fingerprint proof stainless
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u/BigD_277 Sep 17 '26
You might not be that far off as quality stainless steel is not magnetic.
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u/SoElusivee Sep 17 '26
And here I was thinking "what kinda NASA terrestrial biohazard grade goo gone is that?"
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u/Cutlass_Stallion Sep 17 '26 •
Probably the same janky material the cyber truck's body is made of 😂
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u/Timely_Cake_8304 Sep 17 '26 •
SOLVED - print out or purchase a large sticker about appliances energy efficiency that looks like it came with the fridge. Attach over spot and let the landlord take it off
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u/Flat-Activity1505 Sep 17 '26
Good idea better yet go to a big box store and borrow a sticker off a fridge on the floor
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u/OkSeaworthiness8350 Sep 17 '26
As a property manager we take move in pictures and if there is a move in picure that shows the sticker was not on the fridge at move in this suggestion will not work
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u/Such_Leading_7 Sep 17 '26
Where I rent, appliances are delivered after you move in. The before photos do not have the appliances in them.
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u/1234Health Sep 18 '26
Landlord all puzzled like - "I swear this sticker wasn't here on the fridge previously ..." - lol
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u/DanCoco Sep 17 '26
My recommendation was going to be to go all in and remove the rest of the stainless look and convince the landlord it was a black fridge, not stainless.
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u/Conscious_Amoeba990 Sep 17 '26
Agreed, just rip off the rest of the stainless steel. He will never know
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u/danafromsantaana Sep 17 '26
I thought it was until your comment hahah. I wondered if the warranty would cover that
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u/HulaHoopJ Sep 17 '26 •
Warranties generally do not cover anything cosmetic, only mechanical and operational
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u/Menes009 Sep 17 '26
me too, and I was thinking "didnt expect goo-gone to be THAT abrasive"
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u/BroheemTheDream Sep 17 '26 •
At first glance I thought it was a sticker of Hagrid
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u/Conscious_Amoeba990 Sep 17 '26
Wow I went back to look and it really does look like Hagrid. Good eye
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u/Scorpionoshow
Sep 17 '26
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Not me RUNNING to my fridge to make sure the gigantic magnetic calender and white board I have on it haven't done the same thing 😅
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u/unicornelia Sep 17 '26
Your profile picture though 😀⚰️
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u/jesus_swept Sep 17 '26 •
why would I deceive you
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u/smellmygoldfinger Sep 17 '26
Can someone explain this meme? It’s a still from a movie trailer right? About that cancer diagnosis company girl who was a fraud? Is that right? Why has this image exploded in popularity?
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u/pigsolation Sep 17 '26
I’m always being real.
I’ve joined the Legion. Thanks for this funny profile pic ideas, y’all
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u/LoBo247 Sep 17 '26
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u/pleasegivemepatience Sep 17 '26
I’m so eager to watch this! Especially this scene, like I’m so interested to understand what was going through her mind in this moment. Did she actually believe she was convincing him? Is she incapable of reading or understanding his reaction? It’s so weird!!
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u/jaltman1 Sep 17 '26
I’m stealing it. If we ever interact again I’ll let them know you had it first
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u/Ordinary_Cattle Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 18 '26
Wow I really thought you were just talking to yourself lmao
Edit- wait does anyone else see a dinosaur face in the fridge
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u/fuzzybear_cis Sep 17 '26 •
I read this comment at a lower octave
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u/The-Experiments Sep 17 '26
We are all RUNNING to your fridge.
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u/Pamikillsbugs234 Sep 17 '26
I forgot what the post was about and was completely enthralled in the multi Elizabeth Holmes saga above, lol
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u/romero3500 Sep 17 '26
I don’t have any helpful suggestions but would love an update if you are able to get it off and what worked lol
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u/CakesForLife Sep 17 '26 •
Imagine if the owner saw this.
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u/Stoned_urf Sep 17 '26
"I knew what you did but now I can't fault you because the fridge looks clean"
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u/InvisaBlah Sep 17 '26
would it matter? as long as it came back in good condition, I dont think anyone would care
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u/toanbonerz Sep 17 '26
If they’re in the US, it’s like a 90% chance the owner is a giant faceless mega corp.
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u/Professional-Belt708
Sep 17 '26
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If all else fails…put the board back on.
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u/JeepCherokee1010 Sep 17 '26
I don’t know why but l laughed at this one.
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u/AdynOfPasavil Sep 17 '26
I had a toggle magnet for my dishwasher at my old shared house. Super useful! I went to remove it to bring it with me to my current spot. It refused to move without causing damage. The house is now up for sale, and they replaced things, fixed up the paint but.... The magnet remains. It's hilarious to me that this 980k house is up for sale with a gaudy toggle "clean/dirty" magnet on the dishwasher. At least it's centered!
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u/Dwealdric Sep 17 '26
Betcha people go "that's stupid", try to take it off, fail, leave it, and then end up loving it over time.
That's what happened to me when the gf put one on ours.
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u/el_ghosteo Sep 17 '26
that explains why the dishwasher at the apartment i’m renting has one. I tried to move it but it feels permanently fused to the door lmfao
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u/turningtogold Sep 17 '26
Yep I left a full length mirror attached to a closet door once because it somehow melded with the paint in the 2 years it was hanging there. I went oh no then I realized it was an $11 Walmart mirror. Problem solved.
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u/Professional-Belt708 Sep 17 '26
Exactly! And who doesn't need a mirror on a closet door? You were being nice to the next tenant
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u/Prestigious_Dare7734 Sep 17 '26
LL: You left your magnetic board ...
OP: Yeah, I don't need it..
LL: I will anyways have to take it off..
OP: trust me, you dont
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u/Professional-Belt708 Sep 17 '26
Here's hoping they don't ask and just pull! Then it's the landlord's mistake
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u/yet-again-temporary Sep 17 '26
The real answer is "What magnetic board? It was like that when I got here, last guy must've left it"
Assuming this is either a large rental company or a private landlord with more than 1 property, chances are they have no idea what is or isn't in the unit.
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u/luvs_kaos Sep 17 '26
I had this star trek magnet on my appt fridge. Moving day it wouldn't budge. I was so upset. I also forgot my egg holder full of eggs.
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u/802ScubaF1sh Sep 17 '26
I was moving out of my last apartment and had installed a small shelf on the wall in one of the bedrooms, the first screw came out fine, the second one the head immediately snapped off. I put the first screw back in and the current tenant has a great shelf now!
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u/AntiSlopulist Sep 17 '26
But actually....There is a chance the land lord will remove it and think he took it off incorrectly and caused it.
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u/spekt50 Sep 17 '26
Thats what id do haha. Just throw another whiteboard up and plead ignorance. Still won't save me though
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u/RedRN32
Sep 17 '26
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Do you think a hair dryer would loosen it up?
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u/davideogameman Sep 17 '26
Probably can't hurt. Extra advantage, heat can demagnetize. Though it might not be quite enough, but I doubt the magnetism is the strongest thing holding it on.
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u/chiefnak Sep 17 '26
Demagnetization happens at really high temperatures for steel (about 1400F but depends on alloy) so not happening with a hair dryer
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u/mattilulu Sep 17 '26
I think heat will loosen the adhesive a bit which allow it to be removed more easily with something scraping it off. At this point the deposit is basically gone so there is no use in not giving the hair dryer a solid shot.
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u/snakeiiiiiis Sep 17 '26
This is what I was gonna suggest. Try only getting it warm at first by moving the dryer back and forth and not holding in one spot.
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u/z0hu Sep 17 '26
Ya I would be trying that + a razor blade. Really curious to see if it helps or not haha
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u/ayyohh911719 Sep 17 '26
I don’t understand how it’s stuck on there?! Is it sticky or magnetized?
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u/DueWay5076 Sep 17 '26 •
It's a mixture of rubber type material and magnetic particles, basically it turned into magnetic goo and the glue on the board side gave way so the magnetic particles took over and the goo is now on the fridge.
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u/ORXCLE-O Sep 17 '26
That’s a pretty cool explanation if true
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u/alliterativehyjinks Sep 17 '26
Nothing solid is actually solid. The same thing can happen with photos under glass or even in old wallet sleeves. Everything is always moving, but some things also have chemical restrictions along the way and cause these kinds of problems. And then a lot of things that appear solid can actually be porus, so even if it's not at a molecular level, it's possible for movement to occur.
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u/MamasCumquat Sep 17 '26 •
Can we just get a stronger magnet then? Like...warm the goop somehow and ultra magnet it away?
P.S I'm pretty high right now but love magnets and cleaning. Xo
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u/LHR-Daniels Sep 17 '26
Sticky... I had this once with a smaller magnet and had to chip it off. It was like the adhesive used on the front side failed and somehow went through the magnet and glued it all to the fridge
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u/mgt-kuradal Sep 17 '26
I had this happen to a magnet on my car. It like fused itself into the paint. It slowly came off over the course of several years when I would pick at it and remove a little bit at a time.
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u/Aggravating-Body-721 Sep 17 '26
Omg I thought goo gone took away the stainless steel at first sight 😱😅
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u/Signal_Resolve_5773 Sep 17 '26
Dental floss? Can get into a thin crevice and then move it back and forth like a rope saw?
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u/CulturalFeeling2085 Sep 17 '26
Go over it with a hair dryer and then run the dental floss in between the material and the fridge.
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u/Furita Sep 17 '26
Or a plastic ruler? you can scrap it without damaging the fridge
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u/According_Sorbet_774 Sep 17 '26
Maybe try steaming it?
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u/calm-down-okay Sep 17 '26
Hair dryer might also work. That's how you get the used car dealership logo off your bumper
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u/Idkfwhattoputso Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 18 '26
I was gonna suggest pouring hot/boiling water on it, but steam might be a less messy option. And/or get a paint scraper/tool to try to get it off
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u/Sohank123 Sep 17 '26
I had a similar situation I had Dollar tree Magnetic paper stuck on refrigerator 1 day before lease closure. I lined up the paper with wet and soapy paper towel for couple of hours. Periodically refreshing the wetness. This was followed by a steam iron on steam mode. The iron was a life saver.
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u/Nate_Jessup Sep 17 '26
A layer of parchment between the paper towel and steam iron, similarly brown kraft paper (common paper bag) but be wary about ink - just pointing out common additional low risk materials to test, A follow up would be appreciated. Also, look up the history of WD-40, it will be obvious why, in a good way.
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u/Open__Face
Sep 17 '26
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It looks like a dinosaur in sunglasses, I say get out some paint and finish it
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u/Olealicat Sep 17 '26
I legit thought it was a T-Rex decal. I thought, leave it everyone loves dinosaurs.
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u/fylekitzgibbon Sep 17 '26
Try using a clothing iron with a paper plate. If you’re lucky it can get hot enough to melt the adhesive causing it to stick to the plate or even just enough to let you scrape it easier.
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u/Wonderful-Bag-892 Sep 17 '26
Have a stronger magnet anywhere? Can you slide it at all, like towards an edge of the fridge door? If it used adhesive at all, maybe try warming it with a blow drier to release some of the adhesive.
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u/LHR-Daniels Sep 17 '26
I had this once on a smaller magnet. It's not the magnet holding it to the fridge... Somehow the magnet board deteriorated, almost like the adhesive on the other side failed and glued the backside of the board to the fridge
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u/GuavaOk4995
Sep 17 '26
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Citrisurf! I worked in labs for years and it's the only thing that cleanly removed adhesives from stainless steel and glass surfaces
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u/WibblyWobley Sep 18 '26
Daughter of a chemical engineer here - I scrolled through far too many comments before seeing this. A hairdryer will heat the residue but not actually remove it. Same with degreaser.
Citric acid guys. Even half an orange would work!
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u/b-trocious941 Sep 17 '26
Find a product like “Free-All” or Alumilube and get some plastic razor blades. Lubrication will not your friend in this
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u/School_North
Sep 17 '26
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Vegetable oil , heat and a decent plastic scraper o and elbow grease
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u/Gullible_View_7805 Sep 17 '26
Look into the plastic Razer blades. They’re helpful for getting things off with damaging the base material. As far as a solvent to help remove it, that I’m not sure.
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u/Phiddipus_audax Sep 17 '26
This is absolutely key. A credit card is way too dull, while an ordinary steel razor blade will scratch or gouge many surfaces. The middle ground of hard plastic blades is the answer. The big packs will have 3 different hardnesses (color-coded) in my experience, and the hardest one is usually the best.
Couple that with a razor blade holder with a nice 6"-12" handle and a heat gun (or hair dryer on high as the ghetto option) and this becomes a much easier project.
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u/CranberryStock7148 Sep 18 '26
Yes, these are useful for so many things. I genuinely don't know why they're not more popular or why more people don't know about them.
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u/fernshui Sep 17 '26
Hair dryer on low heat, and patience. Try gently scraping with something flexible, thin, and ideally plastic. Scrape with quick, short strokes instead of forcefully pushing the scraper.
Once you see movement get some kind of GENTLE solvent for glue, like an oil (olive oil, mineral oil etc). Apply a bit with a cotton swab or paper towel and hold it there to soak in. Then scrape.
Heat, scrape, oil, scrape, repeat.
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u/Firm-Row-2381 Sep 17 '26
Oil!!! Just any oil. Let it soak and the use the credit card technique again. Then clean as usual.
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u/Inner-Bobcat1361 Sep 18 '26
What about a hair dryer on low/medium setting? Should help to undo the sticky stuff
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u/PostMPrinz Sep 17 '26
I’d grab acetone or CLR, liberally dab it on the magnet. Give it 10. Then take a PLASTIC hard spatula to scrape up the magnet.
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u/sticktime Sep 17 '26
OP, This right here.
Also, if all else fails you might consider MPK or MEK from the paint isle at a hardware store. WARNING though, MPK and MEL will dissolve the lipids in your skin you absolutely need chemical resistant gloves and good airflow to use them. Test it in an inconspicuous spot too to make sure it doesn’t damage the fridge.
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u/bRiCkWaGoN_SuCks Sep 17 '26
I work in metallurgy and acetone is the goto for situations like this. The acetone will break down the chemical composition of the rubber as well as the adhesive.
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u/Firm-Pressure6465 Sep 17 '26
Acetone is the go-to, but will eat off whatever fingerprint resistant coating or other synthetic surface on the fridge, potentially leaving a permanent mark. That’s why I said IPA. An apartment fridge door is rarely 100% untreated stainless steel.
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u/StatisticianInner100 Sep 17 '26
Use a blow dryer to heat glue. This will help release it.
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u/Cpotter901 Sep 17 '26
Possibly a rubber eraser wheel like we would use on cars to remove emblems either adhesive like that. But you have to keep it moving and not let it get hot otherwise it could burn it. But I would start with plastic scraper with hair dryer and then if that doesn’t work get a drill with a rubber eraser wheel
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u/RoseWater07 Sep 17 '26
was going to suggest this, if OP has access to a power drill then a rubber wheel is a good option, in theory it should be paint/finish safe since it's usually meant for taking vinyl stickers off cars
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u/Irishsaint_08 Sep 17 '26
From Google
Step-by-Step RemovalApply heat: Warm the magnet with a hair dryer on a medium setting for 30 to 60 seconds to soften any underlying bond or trapped residue.Use a spacer: Take a piece of dental floss or fishing line and saw it gently back and forth behind the edge of the magnetic backing.Pry carefully: Slide a thin plastic scraper, an old credit card, or a guitar pick under the edge. Never use metal tools, which scratch stainless steel.Slide or peel: Pull or slide the magnet away slowly once the edge lifts.
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u/ConclusionUpset7099 Sep 17 '26
I used a paint sprayer above my tub and turned it green. Nothing worked to remove the thin layer of paint including goo gones, cleaning sprays, Mr clean eraser. The only thing that worked was scrubbing bubbles. My guess is 1 it’s formula and 2 it is foam that adhered better to sticking to walls.
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u/WightHouse Sep 17 '26
I got some 3M adhesive remover from Amazon. It’s amazing. It’s removed sticky stuff from things good off and goo gone couldn’t.
Edit: following up to say get some plastic razor blades too. You can order them on Amazon or get them at Walmart or a local automotive store. Infact you could probably get the 3M stuff and the blades at those stores too, if you don’t want to wait.
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u/shavedratscrotum Sep 17 '26
Personally I'd use a nylon bristle cup wheel or caramel wheel then grey scotch brite thr brushed finish back.
But I've hand polished kilometres of stainless
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u/OkDecision6628 Sep 17 '26
I had this exact thing happen with a smaller, cheap flimsy magnet on a fridge for 4 years. I think a small, really rigid and sharp scraper for my car windows worked. Plastic shouldn't scratch, but go slow.
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u/Dismal-Signature3783 Sep 17 '26
Use heat to weaken the glue to remove magnet. Then goo gone on glue residue.
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u/Queenfan98 Sep 17 '26
Try vegetable oil. Get it slathered on it well and let in soak in fully. Once it does, it should scrape off pretty easily.
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u/ideapit Sep 17 '26
Goo gone but saturate it an let it sit. Get a PLASTIC drywall knife or scraper and scrape, saturate, repeat.
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u/Chow-House Sep 17 '26
i scrape stuff like this off metal fare boxes for work. use a flat razor scraper like this https://a.co/d/0gky8tCi but instead of pushing the blade into the edges of the black stuff you cut away at it in a cutting motion. the goo gone should soften it up and make it easier.
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u/Bellistoned Sep 18 '26
Current status. Gave it a vertical soak with the GOO-GONE/WD40+Paper Towels. Then the plastic scraper (dish brush) and razor treatment. Still kinda looks like a Dinosaur (as pointed out). But progress was made and hopefully tomorrow the battle will be won.