That's to be expected. Some labels will only come off in tiny, tiny pieces (i.e. as soon as you start peeling, it rips). What you need to do is let it rip as much as it wants to, just get the color layer off so you have a completely white area, even if it's exactly the size and shape of the whole sticker (meaning it kept ripping so much you couldn't even reduce the perimiter of the sticker). Once you have the graphics off, you can soak the white part of the sticker with Goo-Gone for a few seconds and it should peel off nicely.

If you're dealing with a sticker that just will NOT budge, even enough to get the top layer off, you can soak it with Goo-Gone right away. By this I do NOT mean to soak the item in a tub full of Goo-Gone -- I mean squirt just enough Goo-Gone on the label until it soaks in and completely moistens the paper label. If you have at least some of the top layer removed, squirt the Goo-Gone onto the ripped white area and it should soak into the entire label.

As I've mentioned before, you really need to be careful if you're using Goo-Gone on any surface where there's still ink. Ink from intact labels will start to run, and your paper towel will quickly become a magic marker once the ink soaks in. If you're removing a sticker from a plastic or metal surface, Goo-Gone should be fine. However, any time there's a sticker on a cardboard slipcover or something similar, you have to be VERY careful. If the slipcover has a glossy surface, you should be fine. Still, don't let the Goo-Gone or any liquid run to the edge, because it can soak in there. Also, if the cardboard doesn't have a slick glossy surface, the Goo-Gone can soak right into it, so while you might be able to remove the sticker, you'll probably be left with a big grease stain that's larger than the sticker itself. That's not to say that Goo-Gone actually contains grease, it doesn't. It's just that the stain will *look* like a grease stain.

Good luck! :)

Uh, how many times do I have to say "naphtha lighter fluid?" Man, I really don't mean to be rude but screw Goo-Gone. I've used lighter fluid countless times to remove stickers and it has NEVER DAMAGED in any way either paper or plastic covers. Seriously, get it! The Walgreen's brand is like $1.50. Soaked the hell out of stickers with no damaging. A thin layer evaporates completely in seconds.

Well, I think a lot of it is the fact that's it's a petroleum product and Goo-Gone is simply citrus oil. Since there's often plastic involved, people are usually hesitant about reaching for lighter fluid. Also it seems that using a product specifically designed for the task is preferable to using a flammable liquid just because it might get the job done.

I'm not saying which is better, just trying to answer the question as to why people don't use lighter fluid. Seems logical to me, though. As for the cost issue, Goo-Gone is dirt cheap as well. I'd imagine that most people don't have any other use for lighter fluid, so they'd have to go out and buy something either way, and when they got it home they'd have a flammable liquid around that they'd only need once in a while.

Just my theory, though.

Lighter fluid doesn't work any better than Goo Gone. I've used them both extensively and they work about the same. The idea that lighter fluid is "safe" on paper products is ridiculous, however. It's a liquid and liquid will damage paper if it soaks in. The positive results he's getting are probably with slip covers and other papers that have a heavy gloss layer.

Another vote for Zippo type Lighter Fluid - I'm 59 years old and been using it for 30 years on those hard to remove sticky things - like when you move into a new place and open up all of the boxes and there's tape residue left on the linoleum floor, for removing the sticky crap when you try to remove the labels from many items bought in the stores nowadays - and for the past 7 years ---- for removing that sticky residue from trying to peel the DAMNED security stickers off DVD cases! When using it on DVD cases I always remove the paper cover from beneath the plastic first and then put some lighter fluid on a single square of toilet paper (T.P.) and rub that on the residue until gone. If there is a whole heck of a lot, then you need to turn the T.P. often and sometimes finish the job with a 2nd square of T.P. - again squirted with the lighter fluid.
I ALWAYS have Zippo Lighter fluid in the house - and I do not use a lighter!

I've heard that some book restorers use it in their work. I never tried it on plain, non-glossy paper so I just now applied some to a photocopy. It evaporated completely with absolutely no staining of the paper (*edit to add* and no curling of the paper either). The copied writing did not run at all nor did the ballpoint ink handwritten on the page. Ridiculous, I tells ya.

Goo Gone has never done me wrong.

Not being snide here, but this may be a large source of the gap between Goo-Goners and Zippo-heads (yaaay... I coined new terms! :) ). I'm not saying that lighter fluid doesn't work, just that we younger folk have products that are specifically designed for certain jobs, whereas older folks are used to adapting existing products to work at other tasks. For example, Vaseline was used for years for, erm, all kinds of things, even though that's not what it was designed for. Now we have all kinds of other products for the same purpose that work much better. ;)

This debate is already, er, flammable enough, but I have to say that even though Zippo-heads might not notice a scent, I can always tell when I buy or receive a DVD in trade that's been in a WD-40/Zippo user's household. I'm not talking smokers vs. non-smokers, just people who don't recognize the lingering aroma of industrial lubricants. Might be a blue-collar vs. white-collar thing, I don't know.

I found a great way to remove sticker adhesive from DVD cases. I've only used it on DVD cases but it may be good for removing residue from the label side if discs.

Though it's use is intended for removal of adhesive caused by bandages it works like a charm on adhesive residue left on DVD cases. I had one ugly looking case that adhesive residue was left behind on from the security labels and it got worse because dirt and other particles got stuck to it. I used Remove wipes by Smith and Nephew and it looks brand new.

A seller on amazon has a 50 pack but if you search the net it maybe less expensive elsewhere. I've tried all sorts of methods with mixed results and this is the first time I've been completely satisfied with how it turned out.

http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Nephew-R.../dp/B000GG7R9K

i might have to try these. i have several that could use a little help.

[rant]it freaking drives me nuts when the sticker pulls off the bottom edge of the cover. [end rant]

I always use 90% isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. Gets anything off my discs, even off the slipcovers.

And yes, it is very annoying.