Honestly, I’ve run into the same thing—some of those “eco” removers barely soften the glue, let alone get it off. What’s worked for me is a three-step process: first, score the label with a utility knife (lightly, just enough to break the surface), then hit it with a heat gun for a few seconds, and finally go at it with the old metal scraper. Sometimes I’ll use a bit of rubbing alcohol if there’s stubborn residue. It’s not fancy or greenwashed, but it gets the job done without all the frustration. Funny how the simplest tools just keep winning out...
I get what you mean about the “eco” removers—some of them are basically just overpriced water with a fancy label. But I always get a little nervous using a heat gun, especially on certain plastics or if there’s paint nearby. Have you ever had any issues with surfaces warping or getting damaged from the heat? I tried it once on an old storage bin and ended up with a weird shiny patch where the plastic melted a bit.
Also, I’ve found that sometimes the metal scraper can scratch softer surfaces, which kind of defeats the purpose if you’re trying to keep things looking nice. I started using one of those plastic razor blades instead—takes a bit more elbow grease, but less risk of gouges. Curious if you’ve run into any surface damage and how you deal with that. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it...
