So the book store put a big sticker over the title.  I removed it carefully but now there's that gummy sticker glue stuff on the cover.  This a book that is on someone's WL and I'd like to post when I'm done.  Is there a way to get that stuff off or did I ruin the book's postability by removing the sticker.  Should I have left the sticker on?  It was just the  stores name and a clearance price.

You can use a small amount of rubbing alcohol or a drop of hand sanitizer on a paper towel to take to gummy residue off, these both work well and won't damage the cover as long as you don't use too much.  There is also a retail product called Goof off that works well and another called Goo Gone sold at hard ware stores that will do the same thing. 

FWIW stickers on the cover are allowed, though some members do have RC that state "no stickers"

Go to your local craft store and see if they have a product called Un-Do. It will remove the sticker, and then if you squeeze some on the book and rub it around with a tissue, it will also take off the sticker residue. It evaporates right off the book. I've been using it on my books that have bits of sticky left on them. It's a product marketed to scrapbookers who want to lift misplaced stickers or other adhesive items and reattach them elsewhere, so the top of the bottle reads "Scrapper's Solution."

There's also a product called Goo-Gone that works ina similar way, but it's sort of oily and could soak into the pages of the book if you spilled it or if a few drops flew awry. I like the Un-Do because it evaporates and doesn't affect the paper of the book cover at all.

Some people have told me you can substitute lighter fluid for Un-Do (cheaper) but I haven't tried that yet.

Ok thanks I'll look for one of those.  I was thinking some baby oil on a qtip but I don't have any babyoil.

I like to use De-Solv-It brand that I pick up at WalMart. It has "No harmful vapors, Organic, & Biodegradable". I think it works better than GooGone and certainly smells a lot better.

I've had some pretty amazing success with Goo Gone, although I agree with Carol that the smell is pretty overwhelming.  A little goes a LONG way!!  (I may have to look into that De-Solv-It Carol recommends!)

I used just a bit of pledge on the corner of a paper towel and it took off the residue quickly.

Goof Off works well - get the Goof Off 2, though (in the spray bottle). Original Goof Off has a very strong chemical smell.

I just used nail polish remover (just a dab will do ya) and the sticky came off.  However, you need to be careful that the smell of the polish doesn't linger on the book cover.  I let my air out for a while and was just fine to send out.

Furniture polish works great.

I've also used disinfecting wipes, seems to work just fine! 

I just read in one of my "womens" magazines (can't remember the name right now) to use a pencil eraser.  Haven't tried it, but it sounds like an inexpensive idea. 

Goo Gone works great on books - just put a little on a paper towel or rag and rub it over where the sticker was - should get rid of the sticky residue pretty quick - I've used it lots of times!

-Layne

I use Goo Gone too!  It's like the sticker was never there!

We use Goo Gone or fingernail polish remover now, but for years I volunteered prepping used books for resale and we always used the lighter fluid you buy to refill cigarette lighters (the kind no one has any more, the silver or gold ones).  We had to get it at the cigarette counter with the all the smoking paraphanalia (wow! no way is that spelled right!) but it worked great!  One or two drops at the most would take off a good sized patch of residue.

I use de-solve-it and I love it. It smells great. and the smell goes away pretty fast, for those who don't like it.

I use lighter fluid to remove stickers and sticky residue. Also to remove address labels from magazines. The lighter fluid evaporates completely in a few minutes, and leaves no marks on the paper. One can lasts for a looooong time.

Harlean from Arkansas

If baby oil works, then vegetable oil probably would work too.  And most of us have that in the house, even if we don't have babies!