Thank you! I'm actually working to make a guide and repository for folks, so you'll see a lot more similar, but slightly different, methods being shown. I don't have one single "this is my favorite" method, and want to give people a handful of options to try!
Just found you and wanted to say keep up the good work. It's refreshing to find cleaning/repair videos from someone that actually seems experienced with what they're doing instead of coming across like they're doing it for the first time. I actually tried to remove a blockbuster sticker from a GBA cartridge the other day but it didn't go so well. I used mostly the same technique here but I used a hair dryer instead of a heat gun. The sticker was really crumbly and at one point it started to tear the label while I was peeling it. Maybe I just didn't get it hot enough.
Glad you liked the videos! I've been cleaning and restoring games for 20+ years, but figured I could start to document all cleaning methods to help out folks who want to clean up and curate their collection! Oooooh but those Blockbuster stickers. Those can be tough. I have a few methods that work well enough, but it'll be some time and refinement before they're ready for videos. If you can get underneath those stickers, heptane will work to remove the adhesive. Heat can be tough on GBA labels. But I will add that to my video to-do list!
Absolutely! I love to help folks get rid of those stickers the most. I had to put so many on, and it never made sense. Now years later I'm still seeing side stickers on expensive games, it kills me. So the more I can do to help folks, the better! More of these are going to come out soon too!
I usually have really good luck getting these stickers off with a mix of heat and goo-gone. I never once had any tearing or bleeding into the cover art with it. The trick is to be really careful with the application and to do multiple light coats, and little by little pull it off very gently.
Stickers are often found on manuals for older games-NES, Genesis, SNES, N64. It is a bear to get them off without ripping the page, and this video should help. Also, and I’m sure you know this, there are so many kinds of stickers, and different stickers require different approaches. Sometimes stickers are fused to the paper and a heat gun won’t work in softening the adhesive because the adhesive is bricked. Thanks.
I resisted the urge to make a video where I talk about sticker types. (I STILL MIGHT!!) But you are absolutely right, the type of sticker can really impact how it's removed. Which is why I started with the GameStop stickers I know fairly well.
Anytime I get stuff with those yellow GameStop stickers, I will occasionally get lucky and the sticker has lost all it's adhesive strength and just comes right off with a touch, have also had some that had the stickers still on the plastic not peeled off so it would just slide right out, but usually I don't mess with them if they don't easily come off
Mine left a yellow residue on the cover art unfortunately. They also put a sticker on the disc. Like why not on the outside of the case. Who the hell puts a sticker on the disc. 🤦
I have a few of those too! Yellow staining! Usually it's PS2 games with white or lighter color spines. Still working on a few methods to remove the staining, but it ends up being a challenge. Thanks GameStop...
Once used a q-tip and IPA to get a sticker off by just brushing it with a little bit of force, stopping after a few seconds, then doing it again and scraping at the edges with my fingernail, and somehow got it off without anything soaking through and tearing it, never did that again, and if I did, I'd only try it on a cheaper game, lol
I remove all the stickers off the game cases and wash all my cases in Dawn dish soap and cap full of bleach and wash rag and wash the cases best i can inside and out
I've done the washtub sink method tons of times! It's good for the bulk buy of games when EVERYTHING has a sticker on it! Be careful with the bleach though, it can dry out the polyethelene sleeve of some cases!
Super stoked at how thorough you are. Most people won't make videos on the same technique just to show how results may vary. Can't wait for more!
Thank you! I'm actually working to make a guide and repository for folks, so you'll see a lot more similar, but slightly different, methods being shown. I don't have one single "this is my favorite" method, and want to give people a handful of options to try!
Just found you and wanted to say keep up the good work. It's refreshing to find cleaning/repair videos from someone that actually seems experienced with what they're doing instead of coming across like they're doing it for the first time.
I actually tried to remove a blockbuster sticker from a GBA cartridge the other day but it didn't go so well. I used mostly the same technique here but I used a hair dryer instead of a heat gun. The sticker was really crumbly and at one point it started to tear the label while I was peeling it. Maybe I just didn't get it hot enough.
Glad you liked the videos! I've been cleaning and restoring games for 20+ years, but figured I could start to document all cleaning methods to help out folks who want to clean up and curate their collection!
Oooooh but those Blockbuster stickers. Those can be tough. I have a few methods that work well enough, but it'll be some time and refinement before they're ready for videos. If you can get underneath those stickers, heptane will work to remove the adhesive. Heat can be tough on GBA labels. But I will add that to my video to-do list!
this is gamestops biggest sin
I put on so many stickers during my time behind the counter. SO MANY SINS COMMITTED!!
Wow man that was amazing, great job. I thought those were impossible to get rid of. This is a game changer figuratively and literally.
Absolutely! I love to help folks get rid of those stickers the most. I had to put so many on, and it never made sense. Now years later I'm still seeing side stickers on expensive games, it kills me. So the more I can do to help folks, the better! More of these are going to come out soon too!
I usually have really good luck getting these stickers off with a mix of heat and goo-gone. I never once had any tearing or bleeding into the cover art with it. The trick is to be really careful with the application and to do multiple light coats, and little by little pull it off very gently.
Removing GameCube Stickers Too!
Stickers are often found on manuals for older games-NES, Genesis, SNES, N64. It is a bear to get them off without ripping the page, and this video should help. Also, and I’m sure you know this, there are so many kinds of stickers, and different stickers require different approaches. Sometimes stickers are fused to the paper and a heat gun won’t work in softening the adhesive because the adhesive is bricked. Thanks.
I resisted the urge to make a video where I talk about sticker types. (I STILL MIGHT!!) But you are absolutely right, the type of sticker can really impact how it's removed. Which is why I started with the GameStop stickers I know fairly well.
Anytime I get stuff with those yellow GameStop stickers, I will occasionally get lucky and the sticker has lost all it's adhesive strength and just comes right off with a touch, have also had some that had the stickers still on the plastic not peeled off so it would just slide right out, but usually I don't mess with them if they don't easily come off
Mine left a yellow residue on the cover art unfortunately. They also put a sticker on the disc. Like why not on the outside of the case. Who the hell puts a sticker on the disc. 🤦
I have a few of those too! Yellow staining! Usually it's PS2 games with white or lighter color spines. Still working on a few methods to remove the staining, but it ends up being a challenge. Thanks GameStop...
Once used a q-tip and IPA to get a sticker off by just brushing it with a little bit of force, stopping after a few seconds, then doing it again and scraping at the edges with my fingernail, and somehow got it off without anything soaking through and tearing it, never did that again, and if I did, I'd only try it on a cheaper game, lol
I hate those stickers on cover art i peel them off but without heat gun i go slow and easy
I remove all the stickers off the game cases and wash all my cases in Dawn dish soap and cap full of bleach and wash rag and wash the cases best i can inside and out
I've done the washtub sink method tons of times! It's good for the bulk buy of games when EVERYTHING has a sticker on it!
Be careful with the bleach though, it can dry out the polyethelene sleeve of some cases!