Duct tape comes in handy when you need to make a fast repair around the house. When you try to remove the duct tape, the powerful adhesive that makes it stick so well also leaves behind an uncomfortable, sticky mess.
However, there are many ways you can remove the tape and the sticky residue that is left behind with a homemade residue remover.
Once you learn how to remove duct tape residue, you’ll see you can do this with things you have around the home rather than purchasing commercial products to remove stubborn adhesives.
It is advisable to test your adhesive remover on a small, inconspicuous spot to ensure it doesn’t harm the area you are cleaning. A prime example being nail varnish remover or acetone, as these damage painted surfaces.
Here, you can learn different methods of how to remove tape residue to make cleanup much easier. (Learn How To Remove Gorilla Glue From Hands)
By the end, you’ll be able to clean remaining residue from many surfaces with cleaning products you have dotted around your home.
Does Vinegar Remove Duct Tape Residue?
To establish a strong and long-lasting binding, duct tape adhesive is manufactured with natural rubber components. As a result, duct tape is used for household repairs, construction, and other purposes where applying tape offers an easy fix.
However, this is also the reason duct tape residue is so difficult to remove. Masking and electrical tape can also leave a sticky residue, but not to the same level as duct tape.
You can also use these cleaning tips to get rid of other types of adhesive residue. In this post, you’ll discover how to remove duct tape residue from any surface without causing damage using a variety of techniques. (Learn How To Remove Tape Residue From Wood)
Remove Duct Tape Residue with Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic cleaning solution that may be used on various surfaces, including wood. However, to prevent large-scale damage, spot test in an inconspicuous area is still recommended.
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup of hot water
- ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap
- In a small bucket or basin, add equal parts white vinegar and hot water with a few drops of liquid dish detergent.
- Place a terry cloth cleaning rag or paper towel over the affected area and soak it in the solution.
- Allow it to sit for a few minutes before scrubbing or scraping the softened duct tape residue away. Use warm soapy water to wash the surface and a soft cloth to dry it.
How to Remove Duct Tape Residue Using Warm Soapy Water
Warm water and dish soap are the simplest and safest approach to clean duct tape residue from acrylic, enamel, glass, linoleum, plexiglass, vinyl, metal surfaces, and more hard materials with a non-porous surface that this process works well on.
- In a small pail of hot water, add a few drops of liquid dish detergent.
- Soak a clean cloth or sponge in soapy water and place it on the sticky residue for a few minutes.
- The soap helps loosen the glue’s adhesion to the surface beneath it by softening it with hot water. Using a putty knife, butter knife, or another dull blade scraper, scrape away the softened glue and then wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Tip: The heat of the water softens the glue as the viscosity helps push the residue away.
Remove Duct Tape Residue Using a Little Rubbing Alcohol
Duct tape adhesive can be removed from non-porous surfaces when you apply rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol should not be used on painted surfaces since it can damage the paint. Even on glass and metal, patch test a small area first. (Learn How To Remove Bleach Stains From Colored Clothes)
Soak a cleaning rag in isopropyl alcohol for several minutes and push it against the sticky spot. Alternatively, pour it directly onto the tape residue and wait for it to evaporate mostly.
Wipe away the adhesive with a clean cloth or paper towel once it has dissolved. Most hand sanitizers contain alcohol. To remove duct tape residue from various objects, hand sanitizer works just as well as isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
You can see this works as if you remove a band-aid and then use hand sanitizer. The sticky comes off your finger.
Use Heat to Eliminate Adhesive Residue
Hairdryer heating duct tape residue melts the adhesive as a non-solvent way to remove residue without damaging the underlying material.
Use a blow dryer, heat gun, or adjustable blow torch on the affected area for a while (around one minute), and then gently scrape the adhesive residue off with a putty knife or butter knife while still applying the heat.
Heat softens the glue, yet keep moving in back and forth strokes, so you don’t burn the job site.
Remove Duct Tape with Baking Soda
Using cooking oil and baking soda, make a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative to Goo Gone.
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- ¼ cup of cooking oil (coconut, vegetable, or canola oil)
Combine equal baking soda and cooking oil in a thick paste to make an adhesive remover using these easy components. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes after applying it to the affected area.
Scrub the duct tape residue with a soft-bristled brush or a non-abrasive sponge until it comes off. Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth after washing it with warm soapy water.
Remove Tape Residue with Oil
Using olive oil, baby oil, or another cooking oil to remove duct tape residue from fragile or porous surfaces is a safe and effective.
Without inflicting permanent damage, the oil loosens the adhesive’s binding to the surface beneath it. Oil should not be used on unfinished wood since it will stain it.
To loosen the adhesive, pour the oil straight onto the duct tape residue, cover it with a paper towel, and let it sit for several minutes.
Remove the tape residue with a scrub or scrape, wipe with a damp cloth, and buff with a soft cloth. (Learn How To Remove Gum From Shoes)
If you have this residue on the fabric, you may require laundry stain remover or laundry detergent to remove traces of the oil.
Does Goo Gone Remove Tape Residue?
Duct tape has developed into a universal utility that can be found in practically any home endeavor.
From start to end, this tape can help keep your project together. Unfortunately, unless you use painter’s tape, masking tape, you will find lots of sticky residue when using duct tape.
Fortunately, Goo Gone’s adhesive remover can help you get rid of stubborn residue from many specialty tapes.
It is an industrial-strength adhesive remover that gets rid of the most stubborn tapes, including duct tape. It’s also surface-safe, so you may use it on various surfaces such as finished wood as in painted or varnished.
Here’s how you can start removing duct tape residue with Goo Gone.
- To remove the adhesive, use Goo Gone Pro-Power.
- Let the formula soak into the tape for a few minutes.
- Pull the tape off the floor using a putty knife or gently rub using a dry soft cloth to remove the stubborn duct tape residue.
- Steps 1-3 can be repeated as required.
- After you’ve finished, wash the area with a damp cloth and soap, and warm water.
Does Acetone Remove Duct Tape?
If you use acetone products like nail polish remover for removing duct tape residue from pressure-sensitive adhesives, you can do this effectively to dissolve and break down the duct tape residue.
However, it would help if you were wary of the area you are working in. Never use acetone on painted surfaces or fiberglass and some plastics.
- To use, pour nail polish remover onto a clean cloth, cotton ball, or paper towel.
- Apply onto the duct tape residue.
- Let it soak in for a few minutes.
- Use a sponge or soft-bristled brush and plain water to rub the residue left on the surface.
