Help...
At some point, apparently, my larger aloe got knocked into one of those sticky yellow white fly aphid traps. Anyone who has used them knows just how sticky they are. How do I get the adhesive off my plant without damaging it further? I've heard nail polish remover, WD 40, canola or olive oil, hand lotion, peanut butter, and citrus based solvents all work, but obviously some of these wouldn't be good for the aloe...
It is currently out if the pot as I was going to repot it today due to some root rot issues. The only thing I've tried is warm water and Dawn Platinum dish detergent. It...didn't work.

Lauren, try something like "Goo Gone" or other solvent on a Q-tip, and then once the sticky stuff is gone, wash the area with soapy water, (in a spray bottle, maybe?) and rinse thoroughly with plain water. Should not hurt the plant hardly at all as long as you don't let the leaves absorb the solvent.

I sure do know how sticky those traps are - got one stuck to my hair once

That's my favorite trick, Elaine! I have them hanging everywhere in my greenhouse, and they stick to my hair when I lean over to prune plants in the beds.

If Goo Gone would work, would denatured alcohol? My husband could get that free at work.

No idea Lauren, all you can do is try it and see. Use a Q-tip on a small area first and if it works you're golden. Let us know.

You might experiment with a sticky trap and solvents before dabbing the aloe with the solvent.

I find that some glues are quickly dissolved by isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) , but many are not.

Some are softened or even dissolved by water - most not.

Many are softened by HOT water, but that can't be good for a succulent.

Find some things that DO soften the glue quickly, and then try the one that seems most effective and least toxic.

"Goo-Gone" might win that competition, but mineral oil and mineral spirits have a chance.
I thought it had banana oil in it, but I guess not. I was smelling their perfume.

Ingredient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wt. %

Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 60 - 100 %
d-Limonene . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 5 %
Orange sweet extract . . . . 0.5 - 1.5 %

I used lemon juice on a sticky tag once and it came off in no time. I don't know how the juice would react on a live plant tho.

Really, I think as long as you use as little as possible (hence apply with a Q-tip) and wash it off again right away, there most likely will be no damage.

Thanks guys. 😊 I will experiment on a sticky trap itself first, as suggested, and let you know what works.

Well, out of what I have in my apartment, nail polish remover seems to work the best. I tried dish soap, olive and canola oils, hydrogen peroxide, and rubbing alcohol too. The rubbing alcohol worked, but not as well as the nail polish remover. If I do one leaf at a time and rinse extremely well the plant hopefully won't absorb it.

Good to know, Lauren. Thanks!

I'm going to have to get some nail polish remover or acetone for various gluey tasks.

Is your nail polish remover "real", or some new recipe that they took the acetone out of?

Well, out of what I have in my apartment, nail polish remover seems to work the best. I tried dish soap, olive and canola oils, hydrogen peroxide, and rubbing alcohol too. The rubbing alcohol worked, but not as well as the nail polish remover. If I do one leaf at a time and rinse extremely well the plant hopefully won't absorb it.

Don't know why that posted again...
Anyway, no, it has the acetone in it. Nothing fancy, just store brand nail polish remover. I'll let you guys know if it works on the aloe tomorrow.

Thanks!

Well, the nail polish remover somewhat worked. It's less sticky but after spending nearly 2 hours wiping off aloe leaves I gave up lol. I replanted it and can only hope it survives.

Great, thanks for letting us know how it went. If that spot doesn;t turn black, we'll know that acetone is safe in moderation for aloes.

Hopefully, as the leaves grow and exhale under the remaining goo, it will dry out and accumulate so much dust that the rest can be rubbed off after a few weeks or months.

Do aloes exude any waxy coating?

use BUTTER or Margarine, this works for pitch stuck to skin and hair and worked for getting the sticky trap goo off my stupid cat's belly when she came home dragging one this year. And she didn't mind finishing the clean up.