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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover
un-du® Adhesive Remover
un-du® Scrapper's Solution
un-du® Gunk & Goo Remover Towelettes
un-du® Candle Wax Remover
un-du® PhotoCare products

The information on this page is independently prepared by Aspen Shops LLC, an online retailer of un-du® brand products. Although much of the information is derived from material and information provided by the manufacturer, un-du, Inc. is not a participant in this website. Aspen Shops is a proud seller of un-du® products and provides this information for the benefit of it's customers and potential customers. Aspen Shops sells un-du® products through it's un-du products pages at
www.un-du.net. We also sell many other hard-to-find products on our main website at www.aspenshopsonline.com.

TOPICS

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un-du® Candle Wax Remover

Q. check I hear un-du® Candle Wax Remover is back

A. un-du® products including a new formulation of un-du® Candle Wax Remover are available online through the un-du products pages at Aspen Shops Online. The new formulation for Candle Wax Remover meets all state requirements.

Improved dispenser top on un-du® 4 ounce product bottles
Sticker, Tape & Label Remover and un-du® Candle Wax Remover sold by Aspen Shops Online have a much improved dispensing top which provides more control of the solution, avoids spillage and evaporation during storage. These bottles also include the famous un-du® sticker removal tool.


Name changes: un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover
Spring 2008 - un-du® Adhesive Remover and Scrapper's Solution are being relabeled as un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover. This new label will better describe the product and help to consolidate the various un-du labels under one product label. This name change also applies to un-du® Sticker & Decal Remover, un-du® PhotoCare Solution, and Quickie® Professional Gunk & Goo Remover. un-du® Framing Adhesive Remover will continue to be marketed with that name.

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What can un-du® products be used for?

 

Q. What is un-du good for?

 

A. un-du® can safely be used to remove all types of petroleum based self adhesives. Here is a short list of things un-du® can be used to remove or release:

·  remove price stickers from merchandise

·  remove candle wax from furniture and carpet

·  remove product labels

·  remove/reposition scrapper's stickers and tapes

·  remove bar-code labels from small parts, hardware

·  remove lip balm from clothing

·  remove crayon markings

·  remove gum, grease, tar and tree sap

·  remove tape: including carpet tape, friction tape, transparent office tape, packaging tape, duct tape.

·  remove self stick postage stamps

·  remove/reposition vinyl truck and car decals and signage

·  remove shelf liner

·  remove/reposition framed pictures and artwork mounted with adhesives or dry mounting tissue.

·  remove photos without damage from old magnetic photo albums

·  clean/remove fingerprints and adhesive residue from photos, films, and negatives.

·  clean adhesive residue left by tape, stickers, spray adhesives, other self stick items.

·  remove self stick hook and loop fasteners (Velcro®, etc.)

·  remove video tape labels

·  remove stubborn scuff marks from floors

·  remove permanent felt tip pen ink

·  clean scissors, knives, tools

·  remove adhesive from iron-on products

·  remove tape residue from windows

·  remove vinyl numbers from boats

·  remove and reposition pin striping on automobiles

·  remove shipping labels from boxes

·  remove bumper stickers

·  remove self adhering car trim

·  clean wheel rims, hubcaps

·  auto detailing

·  remove self adhering signs, decals

·  scrapbooking

·  remove stamps, labels, decals for collections

·  free photos stuck inside photo album pages

·  clean gunk from movie film

·  clean fingerprints from films and negatives

·  clean gunk or tape adhesive from photographs

·  unmount photos

·  release framed photos and artwork

·  preserve for evidence fingerprints on tape during removal from the applied surface.

·  as a rubber cement thinner

un-du® is safe to use on:

  • painted finishes (including walls, auto paint, deck paint, etc.)
  • glass, plastic, fiberglass
  • finished leather (may harm unfinished leather or suede)
  • vinyl
  • upholstery
  • flooring including vinyl and wood flooring. Does not affect laminates, paints, varnishes.
  • carpet
  • metal, paper, countertops, camera lenses
  • film, negatives, photographic prints, albums and album/book covers

The list could go on and on. If in doubt, test this product first, but for the most part, it works fine on all surfaces except suede and unfinished leather.

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How does un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label remover compare to other brands?
un-du® outperforms other adhesive removers and adhesive release agents. Click here to view a competitive analysis.

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Using un-du® solution to remove letters and numbers from a fiberglass boat


Q. I'm looking for something that will take the letters and stripes off of my fiberglass boat. Will this product work for me? Mike

 

A. According to the manufacturer's claims and some statements by independent testers, this product is safe on all surfaces except suede and leather. It is my own experience that it is completely safe on several types of plastics, car finishes, papers, paints, etc. I assume you have the vinyl self adhering letters, numbers and stripes. This product is probably the best product on the market for that purpose. If your letters are painted on, then this product will not remove paint. Note: see item on this page regarding problems with mylar.

 

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Using un-du to remove candle wax

Directions:
note: applies to un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover and un-du® Candle Wax Remover. Do not use VOC compliant (green on label) Sticker, Tape & Label Remover to remove wax.

Non porous surfaces - on surfaces such as wood, plastic or metal:

  1. Apply un-du® solution directly to the hardened wax.
  2. Allow a minute for the solution to penetrate and begin breaking down the wax.
  3. Use the attached tool to gently lift the wax away.
  4. Wipe area with a clean cloth after use.

Caution: un-du® may remove furniture polish.

Porous surfaces - On surfaces such as fabric or carpet:

  1. Apply un-du® solution directliy to the hardened wax.
  2. Allow a minute for the solution to penetrate and begin breaking down the wax.
  3. Use the attached tool to gently break the hardened wax into small pieces.
  4. Apply additional un-du® solution and then lift the remaining wax away. Launder fabrics immediately after use. Clean carpets with stain remover.

Vertical Surfaces - When removing candle wax or crayon from surfaces such as walls or mirrors:

  1. Hold the bottle upside down with the front un-du label facing the vertical surface. Let a few drops of the un-du® solution run down the attached tool and begin working on the affected area.
  2. Wipe the area up and off with a clean cloth.

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Refilling bottles

Q. Can four ounce bottles of un-du® be refilled?

A. Yes, four ounce bottles of un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover can be refilled using un-du® Framing Adhesive Remover which comes in 32 ounce conventional capped bottles.

Four ounce bottles of un-du® Adhesive Remover and un-du® Scrapper's Solution can also be refilled if the bottle was provided with a screw-on cap and has a removable translucent dropper nipple. We advise against refilling bottles with a red swing-up spout as the bottle is likely to be damaged when the top is removed or replaced.

Bottles of un-du® Candle Wax Remover should not be refilled as the new formula is different from other un-du® products.

Problem reported: Does not work for some mylar products

Aspen Shops has received and confirmed reports since April 2006 of users of un-du ® not being unable to get effective adhesive release from certain adhesive backed mylar products including boat numbers, bumper stickers and decals. Mylar products of this type are usually very thin compared to similar vinyl products. We believe a new type adhesive is being used in the manufacture of these items upon which un-du® apparently has no effect. This problem appears to be limited to a vary narrow range of mylar products, particularly very thin decals and stickers. The only way we know to remove these products is to lift a corner and slowly roll back the material. The adhesive is extremely strong and the material will likely tear during this process. Be aware that unless the underlying paint job is of best quality, there is a possibility of lifting the paint along with the material. It is perfectly safe to test un-du® with mylar products as not all mylar adhesive backed materials use the same adhesive.

It has been suggested to warm the material with a heat gun to make it easier to remove. Be very careful as heat might exacerbate the situation. We have not tested this method and make no claims that it will work for you.

 

un-du® nevertheless continues to be the most effective product for removing petroleum based adhesives including most vinyl products and is effective for all uses mentioned in our advertising.

 

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Does un-du® affect automotive surfaces?

 

Q. Will this absolutely work to remove decals from my sports car without damaging the paint?

 

A. When you ask me to answer "absolutely" I am hesitant to do that as there can always be unforeseen situations where the product "might" not work as desired. As a re-seller we are not in a position of guaranteeing or accepting liability for the product.

Having said that, I would like to assure you that we have never received, nor seen anywhere any complaint about this product ever damaging any automotive paint, or for that matter any other surface including such sensitive materials as photographic films, paper, etc. The manufacturer specifically states it is safe on most surfaces except suede and unfinished leathers. To give you an idea of how benign this product is, forensic experts use un-du® to lift tapes such as duct tape, scotch tape, etc. in order to obtain fingerprints from the reverse side.

We have received feedback from several users who were very pleased with how well this product works. It is designed to neutralize the adhesion properties of the adhesive so that the decal or other self-adhesive item simply loses it's stickiness and can be lifted easily. After the solution dries, the self-adhesive properties are restored to the item removed making this particularly useful for repositioning or re-using the item.

 

It should be noted for anyone removing a decal from a painted surface on a car or truck that although un-du® adhesive remover does not affect the paint in anyway, users should be aware that surfaces beneath a decal have not been exposed to the same environmental factors such as airborne chemical pollution, oxidation or fading as the rest of the vehicle and that a shadow effect may be apparent where the decal was removed. un-du® removers would not be responsible for this effect.

 

I personally have used this product to remove bumper stickers, dealer stickers (the ones on the back trunk lid), rubber side molding, and tar from a variety of vehicles without any damage to the paint, fiberglass panels, or the stickers. It does not appear to work well with certain self-adhesive mylar products such as mylar graphics used on vehicles (race cars, etc.)

 

You can view the manufacturer's flyer at www.aspenshopsonline.com/images/info_Sticker and Decal Remover.pdf . The flyer is for un-du® Sticker and Decal Remover which is actually the same solution as all un-du® products (past and present), including un-du Sticker, Tape & Label Remover. The following un-du products (some are no longer available) are made with the same ingredients: un-du® Candle Wax Remover, un-du® Adhesive Remover, un-du® Scrappers Solution, un-du® PhotoCare® Solution, and un-du® Sticker and Decal Remover. un-du® Gunk& Remover towelettes are soaked with this solution.

I hope this will help you in your decision. We understand your concerns which is why I have provided this information including the "shadow effect" mentioned above. I am confident that if you choose to try this product that you will find it works as described and be pleased with the results.

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Are these the same products as other branded products?
un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label remover has many uses. This product has been marketed under a number of labels in order for customer's to identify products associated with their need. Some of these labels have been discontinued. We understand that the following products all contain the same ingredient:

  • un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover (current product)
  • un-du® Framing Adhesive Remover (current product)
  • un-du® Adhesive Remover 4 oz
  • un-du® Scrapper's Solution Adhesive Remover
  • un-du® Sticker and Decal Remover
  • un-du® Candle Wax Remover (effective 2010 not the same)
  • un-du® PhotoCare Solution
  • Quickie® Professional Gunk & Goo Remover Solution
  • un-du® Gunk & Goo remover (towelettes soaked in un-du® solution)

Some these products have appeared in the past marketed under the following name: Duomar, Lee

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I would like to see the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for un-du®
Click here to view or download the MSDS (pdf format) for select produts.

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Use of un-du® products in forensics for recovery of latent fingerprints
Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes applied to porous surfaces are commonly submitted to forensic identification laboratories for separation from their applied surface followed by latent friction ridge processing techniques. The use of a commercially available adhesive "neutralizer" (containing heptane) was tested to determine if this product could successfully and consistently remove various pressure-sensitive tapes from their applied surface, while also allowing for latent friction ridge development.

To view a complete Technical Note on this subject by Jon T. Stimac of the Oregon State Police, Forensic Services Division titled Un-Du - Adhesive Tape Separation click here.

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Using un-du® to clean film, photos and lenses

Q. I heard that un-du® PhotoCare Solution was discontinued and that un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover can be used in it's place. Is this correct and is un-du Sticker Tape & Label Remover safe to use on camera lenses, films and photos?

A. Yes, un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover can be used to clean lenses, films and photos*. Both PhotoCare® solution and un-du® Sticker, Tape Label Remover have the same chemical formula. This formula works to loosen all types of self stick adhesives, wax, tar, gum, most sticky substances, and fingerprints.

For normal removal of dust and other loose particles simply blow off or use a lens cleaning brush. Followup as necessary with a microfiber cleaning cloth such as used for eyeglasses. Do not clean any lens with paper products such as tissues!

For cleaning sticky substances from photos, film or lenses we recommend applying a small amount of un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover to a new microfiber sponge, if available, to avoid applying too much solution. Lightly wipe the wet microfiber sponge several times over the sticky substance until it loosens and is picked up by the sponge. Avoid wetting the edges of a lens around the inside perimeter of the lens barrel. Some lens manufacturer use a thin, clear adhesive to fix the lens in the barrel. If this adhesive does get soaked with un-du solution, stop wiping, remove the sponge and allow the lens to dry in place. As long as the lens has not shifted position in the barrel (rare), it should be fine once the solution dries (approx 1-3 minutes...much longer if using the special VOC compliant blend required in California). You can then proceed to clean the lens by reapplying an appropriate amount of un-du solution to the microfiber sponge and wiping as before.

* Do not apply un-du solution to inkjet photos. The ink used to produce photos using an inkjet printer will dissolve in the solution.

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Using un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover to unclog a paper punch

Q. Our three hole paper punch has become clogged and very hard to use. When I punch holes and release the handle, the punch pins are stuck and I cannot remove the sheets of paper without tearing. How do I get the punch pins to retract properly?

A. Most multi-hole punches operate pretty much the same way. There are spring loaded punch pins located under the handle. When you press down on the handle the mechanism pushes the punch pins down through a punch guide, through the paper and into a receiving plate which has holes matching the pins.

Punches generally do not clog when used to cut paper. If, however, you punch through a self adhesive material such as a label the adhesive residue may attach to either the punch pin, or inside holes in the punch guide or the receiving plate. This causes the punch pin to become sluggish or stick. Repeated use just makes it worse as paper dust mixes with the adhesive residue to thicken the goo.

You can easily clean sticky goo from the punch pins, punch guide and plate with un-du® . Other brands generally do not work as they leave their own residue. un-du® leaves no residue on the punch.

Start by placing your paper punch on a clean hard surface such as a counter top.

If the pins are stuck:

1. If you have access to the bottom of the receiving plate you can try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the pins back into place. (you can also use other pencil shaped items to push the pins back such as an old pen barrell or even a carpenter's punch.) Direct a small flow of un-du® solution onto the pins to soften the sticky goo and make this process easier.

2. If you do not have access to the pins through the bottom of the receiving plate, some pins have a ridge near the top to hold the spring in place (these pins are shaped somewhat like a screw or bolt with a screw head. The spring is pressing against the bottom of the head). You can try placing the flat blade of a screwdriver under this head and try lifting the punch pin out of the guide.

If possible, remove the punch pins from the assembly.

Take a small rag, wrap a portion around your finger and soak that portion of the rag with un-du® Sticker, Tape & Label Remover. Quickly wipe the sticky goo from the punch pins. Repeat as necessary.

 

Direct a small flow of solution into the punch pin guide holes and the receiver plate holes to dissolve and flush away most of the goo in the holes.

Replace the pins in the guide.


Direct a small flow of un-du® solution from the dispenser bottle directly onto the exposed shaft of the punch pins while repeatingly operating the punch. The purpose is to try to flush the solution down into the guide holes where it can dissolve sticky goo and wash it out of the bottom of the punch.

Clean the holes in the receiving plate by squirting solution into the holes and operating the punch several times.

Your punch should be operating smoothly now. If not, repeat the above steps (including removing and cleaning the pins if possible).

Do not oil your punch unless the manufacturer has recommended you oil it.




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Where to buy

Q. Where can I buy un-du® products online?

A. un-du® products are available online through the un-du products pages at Aspen Shops Online.

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Removing labels and stickers from magazines and books

Q. I have vintage magazines and would like to know which of your products would
be best to remove mailing labels.

A. Historically magazine address labels were applied with a water activated adhesive. This continues even today, although most magazine publishers today use a petroleum based adhesive.

The process of removing both types of labels differs greatly. The first step is to determine what type of label adhesive was used.

Determining label adhesive type:

  • Labels that have water based adhesive:
    These labels, if properly applied, are much more difficult to remove. If insufficient water was used to activate the adhesive, then these labels often lift off the cover in places while other areas stick hard.
  • labels are generally much thinner paper material than current petroleum based labels.
  • The color may be slightly off-white.
  • labels are often (but not always) characterized by small half-moon shaped cut-outs on each end of the label
  • Has some of the label lifted from the cover? If you press down on the lifted area does it stay down or does it pop back up? (If it pops up it is likely a water based adhesive)

Labels that have petroleum based adhesive:

  • these labels tend to stick uniformly across the entire label and do not separate on their own.
  • these labels are generally thicker and brighter white than older water based types. Most colored labels also use petroleum based adhesive.
  • In most cases you can test the adhesive by picking at the corner of the label. If the corner separates cleanly from the magazine it is likely water based. (water based often cannot be picked in this manner and sometimes the label paper tears.) If it separates with steady resistance than it is likely petroleum based adhesive.

un-du products are effective only on petroleum based self-stick labels and stickers. un-du has no effect on water based adhesives.

REMOVING LABELS WITH WATER BASED ADHESIVE:

If you have labels or stickers with water based adhesive the only effective method for removing these is with water. You must consider what water will do to the underlying product before deciding whether you should remove the label.

For instance: magazines and paperback book covers.... The covers of these items are usually printed on coated paper stock. That's the smooth and shiny paper that is often different from the inside pages. The coating is actually a type of clay mixture used in the paper making process. Clay is water soluable which means it can turn to mud when wet. We do not recommend using water to remove labels from these products.

If your item can be soaked in water, then water based labels should remove easily by soaking the product in room temperature water. The amount of time needed will vary by label and could take as long as a 15 minutes soak. This process may distort the underlying paper.

REMOVING LABELS WITH PETROLEUM BASED ADHESIVES (Self-adhesives):

Petroleum based adhesive self-stick labels and stickers can often be removed by simply picking at a corner and slowly lifting the label from the item. SLOWLY is the key word here. If you have many labels/stickers to remove this process can be very tedious as you must take your time and allow the adhesive to release slowly while peeling back. Any residue adhesive can often be lifted by pressing the label you just removed down on the residue and lifting off again. This method is not without hazards however. Sometimes the adhesive is so strong, especially if it has had years to cure, that you can tear the underlying paper or stretch the plastic film wrapper or other surface of the product. If your item has value, such as books, photo albums and the like you definitely want to avoid this procedure and use un-du solution to neutralize the adhesive.

UN-DU to the rescue! un-du Sticker, Tape & Label Remover or un-du Framing Adhesive Remover can be used safely and successfully on almost any surface including paper, fabric, fine wood furniture, plastics, glass, porcelain, ceramics... you name it.. except unfinished leather products or suede. It leaves no chemical residue, no lingering odor, no stain, no nothing! It works very fast. Apply to exposed adhesive such as that along the edge of a label, and the exposed adhesive is immediately neutralized. Continue to peel the label while applying more un-du to the adhesive's edge and your label is off within seconds. The 4 oz bottles come with a handy dispenser top and a sticker/label lifter tool that will direct the solution to the label's edge to assist in lifting the label while applying solution.

un-du® products are available online at from Aspen Shops Online on the un-du products pages.



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Removing photos from magnetic photo albums

Q. What is the best way to use un-du on old photos stuck in a magnetic photo album? (I have about 40 pictures that I haven't been able to remove with the dental floss technique.) Do I need to be careful that un-du doesn't touch the front of the photo?

A. I have not personally used un-du® on magnetic photo albums however we have received many reports from customers who rave because it is the only product that worked for them. I'm not aware of any special technique needed for this particular task.

I am familiar with magnetic photo albums and the problem removing photos. I encountered this issue years ago, long before un-du came to market. I could not remove the photos without damage.

Based on this knowledge and understanding how un-du works, I would approach this task as follows:
You will likely need to use generous amounts of un-du in order to have better control. Here is why: un-du neutralizes the adhesive properties of the album. It also dries quickly. It does not normally dissolve the adhesive (although it will likely soften the adhesive.) When un-du solutions dry, the adhesive properties return. Since photos are sandwiched between a clear plastic sheet and an adhesive coated backing it can become quite cumbersome to handle all three pieces if the solution dries on part of the material while still working in other areas. Once dry the adhesive becomes sticky again.

The first task should be to remove the clear plastic sheet. Lift slightly one corner of the plastic sheet and direct un-du solution under the plastic to release those portions that are in contact with the album backing. Continuously apply solution as you peel back the plastic sheet until it is completely removed. Do not allow the plastic sheet to recontact the magnetic backing.

Note:
If the plastic sheet is stuck to the face of any photos, then things get a little complicated. The best way to handle this is to direct slightly warm water (room temperature or slightly warmer) between the plastic sheet and the photo. Allow the water to work between the plastic sheet and photo face and separate very carefully. Watch closely for any evidence of the emulsion becoming distorted or tearing and separate more slowly if needed. (A photograph consists of a paper or plastic base with a layer of photographic emulsion. The emulsion contains the image.) In severe cases this may take several minutes for each photo. Remove and discard the plastic sheet and allow the album pages to dry before going to the next step.


Next, in a similar fashion, lift a corner of a photo and apply un-du solution under it and begin to peel the photo away from the magnetic backing. Continuously apply solution to the exposed magnetic adhesive as you peel back the photo from the album. Use caution not to pull too hard on the photo as you do not want to tear it. Un-du works quickly to neutralize the adhesion so peel back only as fast as the adhesion gives way. Once the photos are removed you can use the corner of a clean lintless rag (we recommend synthetic wipes such as Handi-Wipes) soaked in un-du solution to wipe up any residual adhesive from either side of the photos. un-du is perfectly safe to use on regular photos (not inkjet pictures), photographic negatives and film. This is true whether the photos were made years ago on paper, or newer plastic coated papers.

In most cases, the magnetic album pages are rendered useless during the process. After experiencing the problems posed by magnetic albums, you probably won't want to reuse the albums anyway.

Tip: You may find it easier to to cut the pages so that each photo is a separate piece and then apply un-du to these pieces. It is much easier to deal with one photo at a time.

If pieces become restuck, you can always reapply un-du solution to release them.

un-du® products are available online at from Aspen Shops Online on the un-du products pages.

Iron-on adhesive products

Q. How do I remove iron-on products such as patches from fabric?

A. Thermal bond products such as HeatnBond are typically found in the crafts or sewing notions department in retail stores. They are used to bond two pieces of fabric together. Some iron-on patches (uniform patches) have a thermo bond type adhesive. All require heat to activate the adhesive. Once properly bonded it is very difficult to separate the fabric pieces.

The manufacturer of HeatNBond products suggest the use of un-du to “dissolve” the adhesive. “Simply squirt it on the area where the adhesive needs to be removed, and use the scraper to help eliminate it from the garment or fabric.  The Un-Du will assist in dissolving the adhesive in the fabric.  Finally, launder as normal.”  

updated August 2, 2010