Goo Gone Vs. Goo Off: What Are The Major Differences?

These days, adhesives are stronger and more comprehensive than ever before. It is easier now to find industrial-strength adhesives for next to nothing. But that extra adhesive strength can lead to problems when it needs to be removed. Thankfully, there are a couple of products that can remove those adhesives.

Goo Gone is great for cleaning sticky surfaces, but Goo Off can remove more types of adhesive. The acetone base in Goo Off makes it more abrasive and effective than Goo Gone. Goo Off is best for removing tough stick residue, and Goo Gone is better for everyday household use.

Before getting into a full comparison of the two, it is important to know what Goo Gone and Goo Off are meant to clean. They are generally best when dealing with the removal of surface adhesives. That includes decals, stickers, chewing gum, residue tape, and even some glues.

Depending on the type that you choose, they can even introduce a nice, fresh smell in the air being cleaned.

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the individual features of each, the cleaning performance of each, and how they stack up against one another.

Goo Gone: Goo Gone is largely based on citrus-based cleaning agents. There are additional cleaning products in spray gel or all-purpose form and those meant for stickers, patios, grills, tile and grout, automotive, and kitchen degreasers.

Goo Off: Goo Off has an acetone base that is made from an ultra-potent formula. That increased potency is meant to remove any type of glue. That means epoxy glue, acrylic glue, and even gorilla glue. The 4-ounce containers allow for easy storage to be used at a moment’s notice.

First off, it should be noted that Goo Gone will not damage the surface that it is used on. That’s because Goo Gone does not have petroleum-based ingredients that won’t cause scuffing, scratching, or damage to the surface it is applied to.

It can also be used on a huge array of surfaces, handling most stains or sticky messes. Even better, Goo Gone can even restore the surface in question back to its original state. For stained and faded wood or metal, Goo Gone can restore that original shine.

Goo Gone is safe to use on just about any surface, including:

As touched on previously, the main difference between Goo Gone and Goo Off is that the latter has an acetone base. The solution is far more concentrated than Goo Gone and will take out even the toughest of stains, even some that Goo Gone doesn’t get.

Goo Off is most effective even on tough surfaces like brick, glass, and wood, though it can even work on hard metal surfaces and fiberglass. With a gentle application, Goo Off will even work on softer surfaces and even car upholstery.

It takes out sticker glue and residue, crayon, scuff marks, dried paint, candle wax, caulk, duct tape, tree sap and so much more. Goo Off may be the better bet for taking off tougher stains, though it can take multiple applications.

Goo Gone uses ingredients that are not flammable. You can safely use this product when cleaning appliances like the washer, dryer, and stove safely. Just make sure that you wash off the solution using water and soap when you’re done.

Even better, this is a non-toxic product that isn’t irritating to the eyes and skin. It has acquired a Federal Hazardous Substance certification to demonstrate its safety to use. It also is free of ozone depleters that can be harmful to the air. Just make sure that you keep it away from small children as it is a cleaning agent and should not be ingested.

So, now that we know what each can do – where they are effective and where they are not – it comes down to figuring out which one is better. The short answer is that it depends on what your intended use is.

Goo Gone. Goo Gone is better for most household applications. It can remove most normal stains and adhesives fairly easily. More importantly, Goo Gone can help to restore the surface finish wherever it is applied. For the long-term health of the surfaces in your home, that’s a big deal.

Goo Off. Goo Off, meanwhile, is better for heavy-duty stains. Though it may take a few extra applications, Goo Off can remove just about anything from most types of surfaces. The downside is that Goo Off can damage certain types of surfaces. Check manufacturer instructions before using as you could potentially damage some of those surfaces along the way.

Which one is better? For everyday household use, Goo Gone is probably the better choice. Its removal properties are good and the fact that it improves the shine and surface finish is also valuable. For heavy-duty use – shops and garages in particular – Goo Off is probably the better choice. It removes stronger adhesives and oils with no problem and surface finish is generally not important in those instances.

It is a good idea to have both available for use, especially for home workshops and garages. Between the two, all of your cleaning applications will be met.