How and how to clean double-sided tape and glue from furniture
Consumers of scotch tape never cease to amaze its universal properties. Its unique ability to bond objects to various surfaces makes it extremely popular. In everyday life, tape is an indispensable assistant; it is also used in many industries.
Today it is not only a packaging material, but also a universal adhesive, from which traces are sometimes very difficult to get rid of. Some methods have been invented to clean surfaces from adhesive tape, but they should be used taking into account the individual characteristics and chemical composition of the surface to be cleaned.
Fresh film can be easily removed by prying it off with a utility knife, and then walking along its trail with a cotton pad or a washcloth and detergent.
If the tape has been stuck on for a long time, it will take a lot of effort to remove it. A drill or screwdriver can come to the rescue here.
A special rubber disc is installed on them and they begin to work at minimum speed so as not to damage the surface. This technique is suitable for very stubborn dirt that occupies a large surface area.
Do not use soapy solutions, regular detergents, or scouring powders. They are ineffective or useless in the fight against strong acrylic adhesive, which is responsible for the stickiness of the tape.
The use of chemicals
At home, such contaminants most often have to be removed from wooden surfaces, glass or plastic. For each individual case, you should select a method that does not harm the products.
Chemicals are very effective in removing double-sided tape. They soften it, making it easy to clean. They can be used to clean glass, unpainted metal, wood and concrete surfaces, as well as fabrics.
It should be used with caution in relation to plastic objects. It is better not to use for wiping off varnished or painted surfaces.
The easiest way to remove acrylic adhesive from glass, porcelain, mirror or ceramic surfaces is with a glass cleaner. The one that is sold in car dealerships will be more effective. It fights dirt much better and will allow you to quickly wash off adhering dirt.
To clean the surface from traces of double-sided tape, you can use such chemical compounds as: nail polish remover, gasoline, medical 95% ethyl alcohol, white spirit.
Before using the product, it should be checked on a similar surface or on a less visible small area of the object requiring cleaning.
White spirit or refined gasoline, as well as kerosene, do an excellent job of cleaning surfaces contaminated with adhesive from adhesive tape, even very resistant ones. To do this, it is enough to apply them on a cotton pad and rub the stains. However, these solutions are very toxic and must be washed off with soapy water. Particular attention should be paid to children's things and toys.
Nail polish remover, acetone and rubbing alcohol are less effective than previous products, but they are considered more versatile. They are great for removing tape marks on most surfaces and even fabrics.
But for all their versatility, they must be used very carefully on products coated with varnish or paint, as well as on plastic surfaces. Otherwise, the coating may be damaged.
The easiest method is to glue fresh tape over old tape marks. With a sharp and quick movement, they remove it, and with it the old dirt. This procedure may not seem very effective, but the surface will not be damaged. The manipulation with the tape can be repeated if necessary.
Home remedies
It is much more difficult to wipe off traces of glue from fabrics than from hard surfaces. The longer the tape has been on the fabric, the more difficult it is to get rid of traces of its presence.
For a start, you can try to iron the dirt with an iron through a clean sheet of paper. In some cases, a baking soda solution can come to the rescue, in which you should soak the item for a while.
It is not recommended to use vegetable and essential oils for cleaning fabrics, as they leave stubborn greasy stains. But oil is just perfect for removing scotch marks on lacquered furniture. It is applied to the stain and left for several hours, after which the dirt is easily removed with a napkin and no residue remains.
Some types of plastics turn yellow after cleaning with chemicals. In such cases, it is also recommended to use vegetable oil.
The rubbing alcohol is suitable for all surfaces and is especially good and safe for fabrics. A solution of 90% is powerful, but for painted surfaces it is better to use 70% alcohol.
Lemon acid
Citric acid crystals are diluted with water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon of powder to 2 tablespoons of water - a 70% substitute for vinegar essence is obtained.
To get a more gentle solution, you need to take 1 tablespoon of the resulting essence and dissolve it in 11 tablespoons of water - you get 6% table vinegar. This solution can be used, just like regular vinegar, to remove adhesive tape from surfaces.
Vinegar
Table vinegar is an aggressive adhesive that softens the adhesive. After processing the dirt, it remains only to wipe the place with a dry cloth. With its help it is good to clean plastic, metal, glass, porcelain, mirrors, ceramics.
If you don't have a window cleaner, you can make one yourself. To do this, you need to mix 275 ml of water, 60 ml of vinegar and a few drops of liquid soap.
With an eraser
A regular eraser is able to remove even old traces of scotch tape. The dirt is wiped off in the same way as the traces of a simple pencil on a piece of paper. The remaining dirt remains to be removed with a damp cloth.
This method is just perfect for things and surfaces that can be damaged or spoiled by chemical compounds. These include: furniture, toys, plastic doors and windows, electrical equipment.
However, getting rid of the dirt in this way takes a lot of effort. Especially if you need to clear a decent area.
A more effective remedy is a melamine sponge. It is enough to moisten it with water and rub the contaminated area. However, it is good for walls and doors, but not suitable for cleaning polished and glass surfaces.
We use a hairdryer
A regular household hair dryer can also be used to clean stubborn and coarse dirt. Before removing them, they are well warmed up with a hairdryer, and then wiped with a cotton pad with solvent or vegetable oil - it depends on the composition of the surface.
Be very careful when handling varnished surfaces, as white spots may appear on them when heated. Plastic requires special attention during work: thin parts can deform and even melt under the influence of a stream of hot air.
This method is very good for cleaning glass products.
Solvent
This solution has the ability to soften and dissolve the sticky backing of the adhesive tape. It allows you to clean glass, wood (without varnish and paint), some types of plastic, concrete surfaces, metal (without a layer of paint), fabrics.
The base of the tape is moistened with a solvent, and after a certain time, the contamination is wiped off with a cloth.
White Spirit
Refined gasoline or white spirit is used very carefully.
First, you need to test its effect on a less visible area of the surface to be cleaned. Otherwise, you can remove not only the adhesive tape or traces of glue, but also remove the upper protective layer from the surface of the product.
In order to never again puzzle yourself about removing traces of glue from double-sided tape for gluing anything, you can use new versions of adhesive tapes, which are not only easy to attach, but also easily removed without leaving any traces.
Video: how to wash traces of scotch tape from furniture
