An Ultimate Guide On How To Remove Duct Tape Residue
All of us know the value of duct tape at home. It has supremely strong adhesive powers that can work on almost anything. This can be owed to the rubber based adhesive that tends to stick well and remain like that. The difference between duct tape and other tapes is that the latter is made from plastic polymer adhesives while the former has a rubber base. This is the reason the adhesive power of duct tape is so strong. You should also have some of it at your home by reading the duct tape review by Tools Freak.
However, the duct tape comes with a disadvantage. The glue is strong and powerful, but when you remove the duct tape, the residues are equally stubborn to remove. This problem is faced by everyone who uses duct tape. In this article, we are going to tell you how to remove duct tape residue.
With the help of these pointers, you will be able to remove those strong and rigid residues. There might be a number of possible solutions available to you for removing these residues, but not all are that effective. Let’s learn two of the best ways to remove these residues from any surface.
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Method 1
What will you need to follow this tutorial
A piece of cotton cloth | Vaseline, car wax or a mineral oil |
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A butter knife or a razor blade | Dish soap |
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Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Scrape The Surface
As part of the cleaning process, the first job would be use the razor blade or butter knife and scrape away the bigger residues overlying the duct taped area. This is essential in order to loosen the dirt before treating it with a suitable solvent. However, it is essential to be careful here such that the surface is not damaged by the scraping process.
Delicate areas should be dealt with a lot of attention and also the paint from the surface should not be scraped off in the process.
Step 2: Soaking The Affected Surface
Next up, we need to do the second level of cleaning. In this case, we need a suitable solvent in order to get rid of the stronger dirt. This is where Vaseline or car wax will come into use. For this purpose, use a piece of cotton cloth to gently apply the solvent on the affected area. This is done in order to ensure that the surface is not scratched or damaged in this process.
There are other options for the fluid that you can choose from including the likes of alcohol or acetone. Some liquids need some extra soaking time in order to be effective on the residues. Also, some surfaces need some more time in order to work under the influence of these solvents.
Step 3: Rubbing The Surface
Once you have given enough time for the fluid on the surface and it has been soaked properly, we can go ahead and remove the extra dirt. For this, use a fresh piece of cloth and dab against the stained ends. The piece of cloth cannot be rough and a thicker material is usually preferred to get the job done easily.
Sometimes, it also helps if you can put some of the solvents on the ends of the cloth and rub it against the surface.
Step 4: Cleaning Up
Once the area has been cleaned well, it is now time to wash it with soap and remove all the excess dirt. Using the most basic and gentle dish soap and water is sufficient for this part of the process. In the same way, use the piece of cloth to apply the soap water on the surface and then keep rubbing it till the slippery texture has gone.
This is important in order to get a smooth surface.
Method 2
What will you need to follow this tutorial
A metal lubricating spray or olive oil or coconut oil | A paint scraper | Baking soda |
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 |  via Amazon.com |  |
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1
Soak the affected area in a suitable solvent in the likes of olive oil or coconut oil. This will loosen the residue and prepare the surface to be cleaned. You could also use a metal lubricating spray for this purpose.
Step 2
In the next step in the process, make a paste of all the materials available to you and then apply it on the surface. For this purpose, take a few spoons of baking soda with coconut oil and mix them together till they form a thick and dense paste.
Now, apply this paste on to the residue surface and let it stay like that for 30 minutes to an hour. This should be enough time to get rid of the residues.
Step 3
Finally, we make use of a paint scraper to rub against the surface and get rid of the dirt. If the dirt has become loose enough, you could also merely use your fingers to roll the residues in tiny balls and get rid of them.
Using a cloth could also be an option here since the residues are loose enough at this stage. With this step, the area is now clean and free from all dust and dirt.
There are other tricks that can help you get rid of duct tape residue as well. These would include wrapping duct tape around your hand and then dabbing against the residue such that the adhesive chemicals are taken up by the fresh piece of tape. Also, the dirt can be hardened by covering it with a plastic bag containing ice. This will make it easier to scrape the dirt off.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the ways in which duct tape residues can be removed from a surface. This can be a wooden area, a glass surface or even a plastic surface. As a regular duct tape user, we find it essential to know these tricks in order to have clean and smooth surfaces at home. This is why we are sharing this tutorial with you such that we can avail of the benefits of duct tape and yet not have sticky surfaces around the house.
Have you enjoyed the tutorial? Do you have other methods to clean duct tape residues? Let us know your ideas in your comments! If you like the article, do share it with others such that these minor everyday tricks can be out to use for the best results!
