How to remove adhesive tape from different types of surfaces?

Plastic

Scotch tape residue often needs to be removed from plastic window frames, PVC panels, surfaces of household appliances and car parts. To get rid of the problem neatly and not make it worse, first of all, you should familiarize yourself with the restrictions.

The following should not be used to remove tape from plastic surfaces:

• Abrasive cleaning agents (powders, soda).
• Rough materials (melamine sponge, knife, spatula).
• Aggressive substances. This is especially true for glossy plastic: various chemical mixtures must be tested in an invisible place.
• Strong heating with an iron or a building hair dryer. Using a regular hair dryer is acceptable.

The easiest way to remove scotch tape stains from plastic is with a soft cotton pad and vegetable oil. All you need to do is thoroughly soak the pad in oil and rub until the problem disappears. This method will remove even old glue stains.

Regular dishwashing detergent or liquid soap will help remove fresh scotch tape stains. Lather a soft sponge or cotton pad and rub the sticky scotch tape stain.

If the stain is old and you can’t use oil for some reason, try the third, no less effective method: alcohol. You can try a glass and mirror cleaner or take undiluted ethyl (medical), methyl, or ammonia alcohol.

Clean the dirty area in the same way as with oil: wet a swab or napkin and rub. But you can also use a simpler option: place a disk soaked in alcohol on the sticky area and leave for 5 minutes. After that, all you have to do is wipe the area with a clean cloth to remove the dirt.

Important! Be sure to test the effect of alcohol-containing solutions on an inconspicuous area of the surface being treated.

You can clean small stains from scotch tape without using any liquids at all. To do this, take a regular eraser for removing a simple pencil from paper (eraser, “eraser”, “eraser”) and rub until the glue from the tape completely rolls off. Afterwards, simply brush off the debris and wipe the surface with a clean cloth.

In the most serious cases, instead of improvised means, use special professional tape removers, which can be found in construction, hardware or auto stores:

• AntiScotch. An aerosol that easily removes stickers from plastic, glass, and painted surfaces. It is applied from a distance of 15-20 cm from the dirt, and does not drip even from vertical surfaces. Most often used to clean car parts, as it does not cause corrosion or damage the coating. It works 2-3 minutes after application, allowing you to easily and without a trace remove the sticker or tape from the base.
• Sticker remover from Brauberg (Brauberg Max). It is available in the form of a spray, suitable for any hard surfaces, but prolonged contact with plastic is not recommended. Apply, leave for 20-30 seconds, remove together with the stain using a plastic spatula or cloth.

Furniture

The methods for removing scotch tape from furniture depend on its type, as well as the material from which it is made.

Cabinet

Tables, cabinets, pedestals, shelving units have hard surfaces, however, the approaches to caring for natural wood covered with wax or varnish and laminated chipboard are strikingly different. As well as methods for cleaning off scotch tape.

Wood

First of all, evaluate what the wood has been treated with (and whether it has been treated at all). Never use acetone, solvent, or even white spirit on painted or varnished parts. Use gentle cleaning methods: soap solution, vegetable or essential oil, eraser.

If glue marks are left on untreated (waxed) wood, it is strictly forbidden to use edible oils and other fatty substances. A solvent or regular hot air will come to the rescue – heat it with a regular hair dryer, glue a fresh strip over the glue residue, carefully remove the new tape with the old one.

Chipboard

Regular lamination like shagreen is absolutely undemanding to external influences – you can use regular or purified gasoline, powder detergents, oil removers, acetone. The only limitation is heating. If the temperature rises significantly, the lamination itself may peel off.

If the film is glossy, put away abrasives and chemicals. To remove the tape, a soft cloth and edible oil are enough.

Important! Be sure to wear gloves when working with acetone. Always test the effect on an inconspicuous area before you start cleaning.

Soft

Simple tape marks on upholstery are rare, but double-sided tape can surprise owners with a ruined chair or sofa. But even this problem can be dealt with.

In most cases, the sticky piece can be removed with acetone. Soak a cloth in it and rub gently until completely removed. After finishing, wipe the area with clean water.

Important! Acetone can be used to clean most furniture fabrics, except flock.

If you are afraid to apply acetone, you can use a special stain remover Taygeta S-405. It is designed to neutralize traces of scotch tape on hard and soft surfaces. Easily removes chewing gum, scotch tape and even bitumen from furniture, clothes, carpets, textiles. The composition is based on solvents, so Taygeta cannot be used for flock either.

Glass

Glass surfaces are among the easiest to remove glue from scotch tape from. Firstly, they are absolutely smooth. Secondly, they are not afraid of fats, solvents, soap, alcohol. Only abrasive products such as melamine sponges or baking soda are prohibited.

If you need to remove traces of scotch tape from glass or a mirror, use:

• vegetable oil;
• gasoline;
• acetone;
• solvent;
• white spirit;
• vinegar;
• soap;
• alcohol.

Glass can also be heated, but it is advisable to use household appliances rather than construction equipment.

The easiest way to clean a window or mirror in the house is with glass liquid: the applied product will simultaneously remove scotch tape or glue and get rid of streaks.

If you use oil, after completing the work, wash the surface with a damp cloth and wipe with an alcohol solution.

Metal

Cleaning metal from scotch tape is complicated by several factors:

• The likelihood of corrosion. Metal may react negatively to some products and begin to rust.
• Processing method. Painted and cleaned metal are cleaned differently.
• Functionality. A shelf bracket is much easier to clean than a refrigerator part.

Based on the three listed factors, a cleaning method is selected. To prevent metal from rusting and paint from deteriorating, you can use one of two options: chemical or mechanical.

Chemical involves using special products that we wrote about above – usually called anti-scotch tape or sticker remover. Look at the back for the possibility of using on metal – if so, then you don’t need to worry about rust appearing in the future.

For mechanical, use a drill or screwdriver with a rubber attachment. It gently removes adhesive tape residue without scratching or damaging the surface of even painted metal (for example, on a car body).

Wood

We have already discussed wood in detail in the “Furniture” section. And for other wooden coverings, the algorithm of actions is the same:

1. Determine the type of wood treatment.
2. For untreated wood, solvents and acetone are suitable, but never oil.
3. For treated wood (over varnish, paint), it is better to use oil, an eraser, soap.

Finishing materials

Ceramic tiles

It is cleaned in the same way as glass – glossy tiles are not afraid of anything except abrasives. Matte or textured (especially floor) tiles are not afraid of even abrasives – you can rub them with a damp melamine sponge. The easiest way is to use oil and then wash the area of treatment.

See also recommendations on how to clean tiles after renovation.

Linoleum

You should be careful when using chemicals on linoleum. To understand why, let’s remember its structure: on the base layer of PVC there is thin fiberglass, a layer with a pattern and a protective transparent layer. If a solvent or gasoline damages the protective layer, this place will quickly become unusable – the pattern will fade or wear off, an unsightly stain will appear.

Therefore, instead of aggressive chemicals, it is better to use a household hair dryer and a soft spatula. Or you can use oil.

Wallpaper

Erasing the remains of adhesive tape on wallpaper is complicated by two problems at once: with mechanical action, you can remove the tape along with the top layer of paper. With chemical action, you can erase the paint.

It is almost impossible to remove tape from paper surfaces. But you can try with non-woven fabric or vinyl, especially hot stamping.

1. To do this, soak a cotton swab in ammonia or solvent;
2. test on an inconspicuous area to see if the chemicals harm the pattern and proceed to slowly and carefully treat the stain;
3. gradually the sticky layer will come off without leaving a trace, and the wet spot will dry after finishing the work, leaving no traces.

Advice! Instead of solvents, you can use alcohol or ammonia, which is sold in every pharmacy.

Laminate

The laminate surface also has a vinyl coating, which is best not to test for strength with aggressive chemicals. Try rubbing it with oil, and if that doesn’t help, use a stationery eraser.

Scotch tape, and especially its old traces, is an unpleasant problem that many people face in everyday life. Now you know the surefire ways to fix the situation.