Adhesive Removers: Un-Du® Vs. Duck

Thanks for visiting Craft Critique! If you've come here from a search engine or from a direct link, you might be missing out on more content! Please visit CraftCritique.com. And for more amazing content such as projects, artist interviews and more, sign up for our Monthly Newsletter.

Reported by Jessica Ripley

I remember first reading about Un-Du in an online scrapbooking forum where countless scrapbookers were expressing their love for a product I had never heard of before. It was statements such as "I could not scrap without it!" and "It works like a miracle!" that got me intrigued, and I decided to seek some out for myself to try.

But how great could it really be I wondered? Especially when I found Duck Adhesive Remover in the same section of an online craft store that looked to be so similar? Not to mention Duck was cheaper for a larger bottle, and Duck is a brand I know and trust (I'm partial to their adhesive runners for scrapbooking). Still I remembered what I had read, and added both to my cart determined to test them out on equal ground and decide for myself.

Well, after the tests I performed below, add me to the believers in Un-Du!

As mentioned above, both products look fairly similar. They both come with handy scrapers attached to the nozzles of the bottles meant to aid in getting the product where it needs to go and then for removal of the stuck on item.


The difference is when you open the cap however, that Un-Du has a drip nozzle, where as Duck has a sponge applicator. I thought that I would prefer the sponge at first. The drip nozzle made it a little difficult to not use too much remover without first having to screw the cap back on.


However the "well" in the applicator for Un-Du caught any extra fluid that dripped out, and it didn't create a mess. It was also a bit easier to control the flow from a drip nozzle once I got the hang of it, rather than dabbing a project with an overly saturated sponge from the Duck brand.

The Sticker Test:

I'll admit many a time have I applied a letter sticker on a layout only to do so crooked. I've tried all the tricks; using a vanishing ink pen to draw a line first, sticking the very edge of the letter to a ruler first to be sure they are lined up, etc. They just don't always work! And I'll end up with a wonky title with no hopes of saving it.

What I'd do in the past is try to deftly remove the sticker with my fingernail, and depending on the quality of the sticker, would usually end up with this:


Ruined (and time for some creative embellishment masking).

So, I was particularly interested in this test and grabbed the Un-Du

At first application, it soaked the paper and I got a bit concerned:


However the letters came right up with hardly any poking or prodding. The soaking actually helped the product get to the adhesive and make it easy to lift the letters off the page un-damaged.


Next I tried the Duck bottle, and dabbed the product on the letters using the sponge. This brand also soaked through the paper:



And the stickers once again came off fairly easily. I found the edge of the Duck scraper to be a bit sharper and better at getting under the sticker to lift it off. Again not really any damage to the face of the sticker.


And here is key point number one about the comparison of these two brands (and I'm guessing just about any remover compared to Un-Du since it's formula is patented, invented by the gentleman that created Twister by the way)

Un-Du evaporates, leaving any removed product re-usable.

The removed stickers were just as tacky and sticky as they had been when originally applied. How wonderful! To be fair, the stickers removed with Duck were also still slightly sticky on the back and could have been reapplied to a project, but a greasy film remained on them several minutes after removal, not to mention:

It ruined the paper I was using. The amount of product that soaked through stayed and did not evaporate away. The only way to remove excess fluid from the Duck brand would be to wipe and clean it away, not something that can be done with paper.

The Photograph Test:

To anyone reading this review who has been an Un-Du fan for sometime, I'm sure this is the reason why you love it so much and was the first thing that popped into your head about comparing these two brands. When it comes to using either on a photograph (which most of us have on our scrapbooking pages of course), there just really is no comparison.

Un-Du is acid-free and photo safe. Duck is not.

With that in mind, I only tested the Un-Du on a photograph. Besides, after the sticker test above, I didn't care to chance it with the Duck. I dug into an old scrapbook, the one where I keep my first layouts from years ago when I was still learning that I don't really care to show off. It was there I found a good test subject. A layout I wouldn't mind redoing, especially since I had scrapped the only, original copy of one of my favorite photos of my sister, mom, and me (I know! I know! Never scrap the original!).


I wanted to cut that photo out of there, but would have been stuck with half a butterfly sticker on one corner if I had done so. This sticker has been there awhile too, at least 5 years, so I was wondering how this would work if at all.

Using the Un-Du it came right off quickly and easily:



Though just a little residue was left behind:


However using my finger I rubbed a little of the fluid on the residue, and it easily wiped away as if it had never been there.



Not to mention, that 5 year old sticker? Completely sticky and re-usable. That part really amazed me.


Unfortunately, Un-Du does not work on glue (nor water-based adhesives, so no using it on a sealed envelope if you wish to play super spy and open a letter without anyone knowing, not that any of you would do that). So since the photo was attached with a glue stick back in the day, I couldn't completely remove it from the layout. Still, now I could trim it out and scan it for safe keeping.

As this layout was going away in the name of science anyway, I decided to try the Duck brand on the same type of sticker which was applied to an area of the layout with no photos. I didn't have nearly as great a result.

Once again soaked paper with a greasy feel:



And it didn't work very well. This sticker is toast:



The Price Tag Test (on a wooden item):

For my final test I wanted to try out both products on what I thought now the Duck brand would be most useful for, removing those pesky price tags that are stuck on and impossible to remove. I found a wooden box I had planned to alter. Just peeling the tag off wasn't going to work, I could barely budge it:




On one side I used the Un-Du and it worked just as well as in other tests. On the other side I tried the Duck, and it didn't work at all. Duck is not recommended for use on furniture, perhaps this is one reason why.



When all is said and done is there really any comparison? Well, no not in my mind. While there are applications for using Duck I'm sure (mostly household cleaning remedies come to mind), when it comes to crafting, there is one clear winner.

Here's a chart of some of my final thoughts (click for a larger view):

In summary:

Un-Du brand:

Pros:

• Acid-free and photo safe.


• Completely evaporates leaving no trace of product behind (and removed items re-usable).


• Works on almost any surface, including wood.

Cons:

• The applicator and scraper are a little cumbersome.


• Doesn't work on glue or water-based adhesives.


• Unfortunately from what I have read, is not available to be shipped to certain states or internationally (it can't be sent via air). Of note however is that recently a low VOC version of it has been made available for residents of California.

Duck brand:

Pros:

• I preferred the scraper on this brand, it has a slightly sharper edge for removing items.


• You get more product for a cheaper cost.


• Has a nice citrus scent.

Cons:

• This product is not photo safe.


• Leaves a greasy residue.


• Didn't work well on items that had been "stuck" for quite some time.

All in all, when it comes specifically to crafting I have to declare Un-Du the clear winner. While Duck may have its uses, if you had the other in your stash, why even bother?

Have you used either of these? Are you a huge fan of Un-Du? Or any stories about either to share? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Disclosure for Duck and Un-Du