The Goo Gone Mess-Free Pen
I have been selling books online and in a retail location for nearly ten years, and have always used some variation of Goo Gone (bottle, spray, and now the Goo Gone Mess-Free pen) since I was told of its' quick and effective cleaning properties on the Amazon Seller Discussion Forum.
While Goo Gone certainly should not be used on all types of books (older dustjackets, cloth boards, non-glossy paperbacks, etc.) it has been my favorite liquid of choice for cleaning most newer books through the years. Note: You should always test an unfamiliar surface before using Goo Gone. If the surface mars, discolors or fades, do not continue use.
Most notably, Goo Gone gets rid of sticker and price tag residue in an instant. When used in conjunction with a carefully guided razor blade, it can clean the messiest of dustjackets and covers. I have also successfully used Goo Gone to clean general surface scuffing and markers applied to withdrawn ex-library copies. It works particularly well on cleaning mylar and restoring the original luster to a slightly dusted cover. Be careful not to overuse and apply large amounts, as a small dab of Goo Gone will go a long way.
The benefit of the Goo Gone Mess-Free Pen is that it is capable of quick spot treatment. If you have always used the bottle by dabbing it on paper towels, I seriously suggest that you try the pen instead and see which method you prefer. I think you will find that the pen is much tidier. Have you ever cleaned a book with Goo Gone and then packaged it only to notice that you overused the bottle and it left liquid streaks on your packaging materials? Sure, there will still be instances when you need a larger amount of liquid to clean a larger surface area, but for small spot treatment like sticker residue, the pen works wonders. It is simple to operate (press down the tip to release a small amount of liquid) and comes with a cap to prevent drying.
You can purchase them on Amazon individually or in packs of 3
, 6
or even 12
. I have yet to see them turn up at a local office supply store. They are not cheap, but can make the difference between being able to describe a book as Good, Very Good, Like New or even Brand New. I highly recommend the Goo Gone Mess-Free Pen to all online and open shop booksellers. Steer clear of the Goo Gone Sticker Lifter, which I intend to review in the near future.
I use the bottles, paper towels and razor blades for larger surfaces. I have heard that this is usually available at your local Dollar store, but I would call first
More Goo Gone than you will ever need:
7 comments:
Thanks for this information, Kristian! I'm going to try that because I just got through having to remove about 20 price tags from a day at Goodwill, and not all of them wanted to be removed! ;-)
You're welcome Chrissy. I think you will find the pens will make your life a whole lot easier! Let me know how they work out for you. On the stubborn tags, I would try letting the liquid soak for a minute before you begin to peel. It also works well on markers, but not the dreaded crayon pricer!
Sorry JGodsey, it looks like your post was made in error:)
Will definitely be trying one. One drawback to goo gone was residue overspill. I usually use lighter fluid first on a sticker and then follow up with goo gone if it is resistant. I prefer the quicker evaporation of lighter fluid (zippo not charcoal lighter fluid if someone reads this and is unfamiliar).
One thing I have done with goo gone is to lightly saturate a clean cloth which I keep in a zip lock bag. Occasionally I need to add some liquid but not often. It makes a nice clean up tool for residue left that is tough for the lighter fluid. Makes my bottle last and last.
I stocked up on the original formula and using this method my stock should last well beyond my selling lifetime.
Richard
Thanks for the feedback and new ideas Richard. I agree with you that Zippo lighter fluid is another good antidote to stubborn stickers. I'm curious about your saturation technique in a Ziploc bag. How much Goo Gone do you soak on the cloth, and do you wear gloves when you take it out haha? I think that you will find that the pens eliminate the problem of residue overspill...sometimes the opposite is the case, you might need a bit more than what the pen is pushing out- but not often.
Kristian,
The cloth barely has any liquid; Over time there reaches a level that is correct. Guess it is hard to explain.
Here is a though: Keep the cloth you use with goo gone in a zip lock and at some point you will not need to add any but will just use the cloth. At that point you will see what I mean; then you might need to add a small amount once in a while.
No, I do not need gloves, though I have clean cloths handy to wipe/clean my hands on. Really just finger tips.
Richard
Thanks for sharing Richard. I will experiment with the Ziploc/cloth method.
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