Expert: Kirk Ryan - 8/13/2008

Question
I have a jar stuck on my night table.  I do not know what the adhesive is.  The jar contains an oil for perfuming the room.  The jar is stuck completely.  I am afraid if I force it off it will ruin the table top.  Can you give me advice about how to remove it without damaging the furniture?

Answer
I wanted to be careful about how I answered this, so I did quite a bit of research first.

I have learned that there are certain "remover" products out there, that will probably work, but they may also cause harm or damage to your wood.

Even after what I read, I still suggest you get a conditioner/oil that is specially made for that type of wood. After you try a remover, I suggest that you apply the conditioner/oil right away to prevent any damage or just to remove the remover products.

So the first thing that people are suggesting is WD40. Most people say they have good results.

The second option I have heard is a cooking oil or vegetable oil in combination with water.

Both say to dab the area and to be patient, they say it may take a while.

With the jar, since you can't get to the bottom right away, I would start on one side, and little by little work you way through.

I saw that many people who used a "goo gone" or similar product were left with quite a bit of discoloration to the wood after the removal. So this would be your last resort. I think if you tried using the furniture oil or conditioner after the goo gone, you might be able to avoid the discoloration after removing.

Best of luck to you, I hope this helps.