If you enjoy decorating with stickers, you’ll know that unfortunate moment when stickers inevitably start to peel. This post lists several methods on how to prevent stickers from peeling.
For people who love to collect stickers as memorabilia, a sticker peeling off is such bitter moment. After all, you want to buy and enjoy your stickers for a long time! Fortunately, there are several helpful tips on how to stop stickers from peeling.
Let’s get started!
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How To Prevent Stickers From Peeling
Not sure how to stop stickers from peeling? Prevention! Proper application, sealing, and maintenance are key to long lasting stickers.
This post lists several tips and options on how to apply, care, and seal stickers. I’ve also listed several products to prevent stickers from peeling off and losing their stickiness.
Be aware that some of these solutions are permanent and should not be used if you plan to remove your stickers in the future. If you do, you might damage your surfaces and leave behind some difficult-to-remove residue!
Best Products To Seal + Protect Stickers
1. Acrylic Clear Coat
An acrylic clear coat is one of the best ways to prevent stickers from peeling, as well as, protect stickers from moisture and weather. I recommend selecting an acrylic clear coat with a matte finish like this Matte Finish Aleene’s Acrylic Sealer (best budget choice). A matte finish is unnoticeable and will help preserve the look of your stickers for years to come.
Before using, I would note that acrylic clear coats are permanent should not be used on stickers you might remove. For people who do want a permanent solution, this is a great choice for both indoor and outdoor stickers.
Note that acrylic sprays are smelly so I recommend applying them outside and allowing your stickers to air out for at least a day. Otherwise, this is one of the best methods on how to keep decals from peeling!
2. Clean Surfaces Before Sticking
One of the easiest ways to keep stickers from peeling is to clean the surface before applying. Stickers don’t stick well to dirty or dusty surfaces. The dirt under the stickers make them less sticky, causing the stickers to peel off over time.
To prevent this from happening, I recommend wiping down the area thoroughly with a clean, damp rag. Remember: the cleaner the surface, the longer the sticker will stay on. If you need to, try rubbing the spot with a small amount of dish soap to loosen up stubborn dirt, then wipe away with a dry, clean cloth.
Dish soap is cheap and effective at removing even the most difficult-to-remove dirt. If you are interested in finding other amazing household uses for dish soap, I wrote a post.
3. Apply Stickers On Flat Surfaces
Stickers stick best on flat, smooth surfaces. Avoid placing stickers on bumpy, uneven areas for best results. In general, bumpy surfaces will also cause stickers to crease and wrinkle, making them look less attractive.
To stop stickers from peeling, aim for surfaces that are as flat as possible like a page in a notebook, the back of a laptop/phone case, and the front of a binder. If you need more ideas of creative places to decorate with stickers, I wrote a post.
4. Mod Podge (Or Decoupage Glue)
Mod Podge (aka decoupage glue) is another excellent sealer to try on your stickers. Mod Podge works well on most surfaces and dries quickly for easy use. I would note that it does go on white but will dry clear.
I recommend using a Matte Mod Podge for an invisible finish on your stickers. Mod Podge is inexpensive and excellent for most DIY projects. To prevent stickers from peeling, apply a layer over your stickers/surface with a brush and allow them to dry overnight.
Mod Podge is another permanent sealer so only use if you don’t plan on removing your stickers. When the Mod Podge is still wet, you can cleanup and remove any mistakes with a soap and wet, making this a great sealer for beginners.
5. Firmly Smooth Down The Sticker With Your Fingers Tips When Applying
Proper application is an easy way to keep your stickers from peeling in the future. When applying stickers, firmly press down on the stickers with your fingertips.
Reapply if needed to ensure there are no wrinkles or bubbles. Make sure your stickers are stuck on properly for best results.
6. Tacky Glue
Not sure how to stop stickers from peeling? Use an additional adhesive to keep your stickers sticky! I recommend using tacky glue over regular liquid glue for a better long-lasting seal.
Tacky glue will permanently adhere your stickers to any surface, so only use it if you want your stickers to stay put forever. Aleene’s Always Ready Tacky Glue is a great low cost option that also works well on most surfaces. I would note that this glue is not water resistant so I would only use it for indoor stickers not exposed to moisture.
To use tacky glue on your stickers, spread a small amount of glue to underside of the sticker. Apply the sticker like normal. Smooth out the sticker with your fingertips or with a card.
For best results, make sure your stickers are as flat as possible and don’t have any bumps from the glue. Wipe off any excess glue that may spill out the side with a damp paper towel. Note that this will help keep your stickers from peeling, but won’t do anything to protect the surface of your stickers (unlike mod podge or an acrylic clear coat).
7. Clear Tape
If you are looking for a nonpermanent way to prevent stickers from peeling, place a clear tape over your stickers before applying. I recommend using a clear packaging tape like this Scotch Clear Heavy Duty Shipping Tape. This tape is crystal clear and large enough to cover most stickers with one strip.
To use, tape a strip of packaging tape over a sticker. With scissors, cut around the sticker neatly, leaving a small border. Apply your sticker onto the surface of your choice and smooth out any awkward air bubbles.
A clear tape is an excellent way to add an additional layer of protection for your sticker, while keeping them from peeling. Unlike the other methods above, packaging tape is more noticeable and will add extra shine to your stickers. However, this is an effective, cheap way to protect your stickers without permanently adhering them to a surface.
8. Avoid Placing Stickers On Surfaces Exposed To Weather
Weather (sunlight, moisture, etc.) will inevitably damage your stickers over time. To keep your stickers from peeling, avoid placing stickers outside if possible. If you have to, I recommend using a waterproof acrylic coat or decoupage glue to seal and protect your stickers.
9. Clean Stickers Regularly
Over time, stickers get dusty and dirty. To care for your stickers, every once in a while, clean them off with a slightly damp clean cloth. Dirt and dust can get under your stickers, causing them to lose their stickiness and peel.
To prevent stickers from peeling, make sure to clean them regularly. Caring for your stickers is also an effective way to keep them lasting longer and looking fresh.
10. Clear Nail Polish
Although I would personally recommend other solutions from this list, clear nail polish is another sealer to help stop stickers from peeling. If you don’t already have a bottle at home, you can get a clear nail polish for dirt cheap like this Revlon Clear Matte Top Coat one.
Nail polish is technically not permanent, but because of how harsh some polish removers are, I would be careful using a polish remover on some surfaces. To use nail polish for stickers, you can swipe a coat of nail polish over the surface of the entire sticker or just around the edges. Avoid touching the sticker and wait for the polish to completely harden overnight.
Although clear and “invisible”, the nail polish will be slightly noticeable because you should still see the nail polish layer/brush swipes. However, this is a great solution for people who already have clear nail polish and don’t want to buy other products.
11. Super Glue
Besides tacky glue, super glue is another permanent adhesive to try on your stickers. I personally recommend tacky glue because 1) is easier to work with and 2) adheres items well onto surfaces much like super glue. That being said, super glue is still a good choice for people who would rather use it (I recommend using a super glue gel like this Gorilla Super Glue Gel).
To use, you’ll only need to dab small amount of glue onto the sticker. Dot tiny bits of super glue under the sticker, near the edges. Apply the sticker like normal.
Use a rag or paper towel (don’t use your exposed fingers!) to carefully press down on the sticker to get rid of any airs bumps and to spread out the glue. Wait for the glue to dry over night.
Be careful using super glue! When I was younger, I once accidentally sealed together two of my fingers with super glue and it took several hours before I could get them to separate (as you could imagine, it was an unpleasant couple of hours). I recommend using as little as possible to prevent glue spilling out the edges and going on your work station.
12. Don’t Touch The Stickers
Here’s how to prevent stickers from peeling: don’t touch them! Frequent contact can cause stickers to get dirty and lose their stickiness over time.
If your stickers are applied to frequently-touched surfaces, I recommend using a sealer like Mod Podge or an acrylic clear coat to protect them. Otherwise, place your stickers on surfaces that have less contact (like on the back of your phone under a clear phone case).
13. Use A Clear Phone/Laptop Case To Protect Stickers On The Back Of A Phone/Laptop
Looking for tips on how to protect stickers on phone case? Instead of placing stickers on top of the case, apply them directly to the back of a phone or laptop. Then use a clear phone case or laptop case to protect your stickers and electronics. This is a clever way to keep the stickers on the surface of your phone/laptop visible, while protecting them from contact and dirt.
I personally use a clear phone for my own phone (you can buy a cheap clear phone or laptop case on Amazon like this iPhone 13 Clear Case or M2 MacBook Pro Clear Case). Although phone cases are effective at preventing contact, the inside of the case does inevitably get dirty over time.
To prevent your stickers/phone from getting nasty, I recommend regularly cleaning off the inside of the case and the back of your electronic with a lightly damp clean cloth. This is a great tip on how to keep stickers from peeling off phone case!
14. Use Heat When Applying Stickers
To make stickers stick better, heat them up with a hair dryer before applying! The adhesive on the back on stickers is “stickier” on warmer temperatures, making stickers adhere better to surfaces. Heating up a stick is an easy way to prevent stickers from peeling off in the future by creating a better seal around the edges.
Best Products To Seal + Protect Stickers
- Aleene’s Acrylic Sealer Spray
- Mod Podge Matte Waterbase Sealer
- Aleene’s Always Ready Tacky Glue
- Scotch Heavy Duty Packaging Tape
- Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Conclusion: How To Keep Stickers From Peeling Off
This post lists several tips on how to prevent stickers from peeling. Proper application and care can lengthen the life of your stickers. However, to permanently keep your stickers from peeling, you’ll need a strong adhesive to keep stickers stuck.
Keep in mind that several solutions above, like super glue, are permanent and will make it difficult for future removal. If you do remove your stickers, expect them to leave behind residual and/or damage on your stickers or surfaces. Plan ahead and opt for a temporary solution if you know you might need to remove stickers in the future.
In this post, I’ve listed some of the best ways to stop stickers from peeling. I hope this was informative and gave you some ideas on how to prevent your own stickers from peeling. If you need help deciding on where to place your stickers, I wrote a post on the best things to decorate with stickers.