A method for removing microorganisms and small insects from fabric or animal's hair comprising applying and removing an adhesive composition comprising at least one adhesive polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the amounts of this plasticizer range from about 5 to about 45% by weight of the total weight of the wet adhesive composition. The adhesive composition used in the method of the invention thanks to the presence of high plasticizer concentrations are very fluid to allow said micro-organisms or small insects to be removed and, at the same time, they leave no residue on the fabric, or animal's hair. The present invention further relates to adhesive compositions to be used in the method of the invention further containing active ingredients which are released from the adhesive composition during the step of removing the organisms from the fabric or the animal's hair.