I've used Goo Gone for the longest time to remove stickers, but in recent years I really put the stuff to heavy usage as I have been cleaning all my games even the tiniest residues. Well, I always thought that Goo Gone is non-toxic for some reason. Well, one day I was using it and my wife said it smelled badly and I said, "nah it's non toxic, just a citrus scent." She replied that the stuff IS TOXIC and proceeded to show me the ingredients. Well, turns out she is right. It's not poisonous, but it definitely isn't "non toxic", maybe somewhere between.

Well, in the last year, my fingernails have been showing some signs of damage, such as ripple marks and rough surface. I saw my doctor a while back and he said it's nothing to worry about and could have been from anything, even stress! Well, after the conversation with my wife and realizing I didn't use to use Goo Gone so excessively, I am beginning to think that's what has caused my nail damage since I'd work with it for a while at a time with it on my skin, especially in my nails as I would scrape off a sticker that had been soaking in Goo Gone.

I'd like to know if anyone else who uses Goo Gone a LOT can tell me their experience. And for those who use it a lot, do you work with gloves or anything?

What better place to bring this up than a forum where 100's of others probably sulk in this stuff the way I do!

We use Zippo or Ronson lighter fluid in our shop. Don't know if it's any better but we've been using it for years and haven't had any problems yet. The goo gone just always irritated us.

It works really well!

It's not been a problem for me, and I've been using it for 6-7 years. I tend to use a rag most of the time though, with only using my fingernail for the stubborn stuff.

No, I use a LOT of it at work, and 6 years later no problems. It does dry your skin out though.

There is an alternative to goo gone, and I implore you to use it. Instead of a harsh chemical, use a all natural, non aerosol, citrus based air freshener. I personally us it to clean everything, and it takes residue off better than industrial strength Goof-off. Its seriously a miracle cleaner, and at $2 a can you cant go wrong. Trust me, this is what you want to use. If youd like a picture of what i use i can post one.,

All I can say is that we used to have a compound exact to that of Goo Gone in our hospital to remove residue of medical strips on patients. After a short test phase we found out that a lot of patients got skin irritations when exposed to the compound, even though the supplier promised it safe for skin and surfaces. It even stated so on the bottles. Now it only states for use on surfaces. I use it on carts every now and then, but also find lighter fluid a lot better lately.

Personally, I never noticed any irritations on my skin. I work with gloves at work, but even at home I never noticed any thing.

Yeah, goo gone is probably 90[or so]% petroleum distillates with the rest being ether [well a form of it] and citrus extracts. The petroleum distillates could slightly absorb into your skin [also strips the oils off your skin causing your skin to dry out], and the ether could irritate your eyes, but that would be about it. Have a picture of your fingernails?

Thorpe, yes. please post a picture or brand name, where I can buy it, sounds awesome......... and won't irritate my skin like GG does. I forgot to mention GG also makes my eyes watery/itch if I am exposed for too long in a closed room.

Did you consider wearing nitrile gloves?

If you're working with any kind of solvent on a regular basis you need to protect yourself. Quite a few of the chemicals can leech through your skin and can damage your kidneys.

And your liver and bladder, too. And a respirator to protect your lungs.

Here is the MSDS sheet for it. Decided to dig it up since people on here seem to be interested in the information. 

But just as I suspected, 90-95% petroleum distillates and the rest being tripropylene glycol methyl ether and citrus extracts. 

Also, the MSDS states gloves should be worn. 

Here it is. This specific brand comes in orange and citrus, they both work fine. Sold nationally at walmart, kroger, meier, and home depot. Those are just the ones I know of, most stores should carry an equivalent. Brand does not matter, you just need a citrus based air freshener (non aerosol). Keep it off of lables! This will remove any type of glue out there. Safe on carts and system plastic. Hell, it won't taste good, but you could drink it.

I don't see the part where it says it is non-toxic.

"natural" should not imply "safe".

As my dad loves to say "a rattlesnake bite is natural".


That said, this might be just orange oil extract, but if it doesn't say "non-toxic" then it should be assumed to be toxic.

Here is the Pure Citrus MSDS if anyone is interested. 

Looks like there are terpenes in this, so there could be skin irritation with repeated use... especially if you already have pre-existing skin conditions.

Well, in the back it didn't have any warnings not to ingest it. Good enough for me lol. Not that I'm drinking the shit lol

I don't think oranges are naturally flammable (I can see the flammable warning on the can)......

As far as using nitrile gloves, the only potential issue with that is you couldn't use your fingernail as well.

Citrus oils are definitely flammable.

Take a piece of orange peel and pinch it to squirt the oils out as a mist... they will definitely combust if they come into contact with fame.

Actually, orange oil is naturally flammable.

Take a piece of orange skin and bend it in half and squeeze the oil into the flame of a lighter. It is flammable for sure. 

I only see one thing in this picture, and it ain't citrus cleaner!

Haha! I was thinking the same thing!

I know what I'm doing this weekend!

I was wondering if that would be noticed or not lol. Always be on the lookout for hidden easter eggs!

Un-du

that is all

I always wash my hands immediately after using it. My thumbnails tend to get a rough texture, but thats because I tend to pick at the cuticle which causes it to grow weird.

Like others have said wear some gloves and use a plastic scrapper rather than your figernail. I wear gloves for any and all cleaning/restore projects. It simply makes life easier and healthier.

Goo Gone gives me a headche everytime. I seldom use it.
Olive oil works just as well with removing decals from plastic, glass etc

I use it almost everyday and haven't noticed anything bad. I'm not using it for hours and hours at a time though

No issued here, been using it for a few years now but always have a cloth with me unless I'm peeling the stickers. Goof Off on the other hand is too strong for it's own good and I'm pretty sure will damage your nails. Then again it's industrial strength.