How to remove adhesive tape from glass. Tips to avoid leaving residue

How can you remove adhesive tape from glass?

Here is a question that many people ask themselves on the most different occasions. Think for example of the manager of a bar whose window display was used to showcase the poster of an event, or the family that as the Christmas holidays approached has adorned the windows of the house with children’s decorations.

In all these cases, at the time of the removal of what was attached to the glass, you’ll have to deal with an enemy that can be quite difficult, i.e., adhesive tape itself.

In some cases, removing the adhesive tape from the glass is quick and easy: with a single gesture you can remove the tape without leaving any residue. In other cases – especially in the case of high-performance professional adhesive tape – this operation can be more difficult.

Sometimes tape does not seem to want to break away from the glass, while other times, after a few attempts, it is possible to detach the tape, which, however, leaves some glue residue. How can you remove the adhesive tape glue from glass in such cases?

Let’s have a look at the most effective methods, based on the tools at your disposal!

How to remove adhesive tape from glass: let’s start with scraping

It is most likely that you stumbled on this article of our blog by entering on your search engine the words “how to remove industrial double-sided tape from glass”: we can therefore imagine that this is exactly the situation you are facing.

Most likely, before looking for an answer on the web, you have already tried to peel off the adhesive tape simply using your fingers, and then moving on to scratching with your own fingernails.

Then, you could continue trying to remove adhesive tape from glass mechanically, scraping it with something more effective: you could then use a scraper, a cutter, or a razor blade for the beard, taking great care not to get yourself hurt.

The trick, in this case, is to use these blades gently at an angle of about 30 degrees from the glass, thus avoiding any scratching. Slowly, millimetre by millimetre, you should be able to lift the double-sided tape from the glass.

However, you may not have a scraper, or you may not want to risk cutting yourself or ruining the glass. We can then try a softer approach, using what you have at hand!

How to remove adhesive tape glue from glass: household methods

Let’s consider other methods to remove adhesive tape from glass, without necessarily resorting to chemical and dangerous substances. You could, for example, help yourself by using vinegar, or even better with a mixture of lemon and vinegar: with this homemade recipe you can make adhesive tape strength less powerful.

All you have to do is heat some lemon juice in a saucepan along with vinegar, until they are more than lukewarm. You can then use this mixture with a sponge to dab the adhesive attached glass, and then leave it be for a few minutes: doing so the glue should become more pliant, making it easier to remove the double-sided adhesive tape from the glass using your own fingers, a toothbrush or scraper, as mentioned above.

Always looking at what can be found at home, even baking soda is one of the substances that, if employed on industrial double-sided adhesive tape, can facilitate its detachment from the glass, even better if it’s through a few drops of oil.

Another interesting and economical method to remove the adhesive tape from the glass is a hair dryer: by heating the affected area with a hair dryer, in fact, you will manage to soften the glue.

Removing adhesive tape from glass with solvent

Keeping in mind the more domestic methods to remove double-sided adhesive tape from the glass, let’s have a look at those involving the use of “rough stuff” as well, i.e., solvents.

In this case, too, as we have mentioned for the use of scrapers and razor blades, it is best to be careful: it’s a good idea to use gloves and opt for this option only in ventilated spaces.

You could use an alcohol solution, with acetone or another type of solvent, to be used in moderation, applying with a cloth, so as to soak all the affected area. After about 15 minutes the adhesive tape should be softer, so that it can be removed with greater comfort.

To finish the operation, of course, the glass must be cleaned with common degreasers and glass detergents, both to remove even the last of the glue residue, and to completely remove any solvent used, which as we know can be harmful and unhealthy to our skin.

Removing adhesive tape from the glass, as we have outlined, is not impossible: it may however take some time, finding the best method according to the type of adhesive tape employed!