How to remove adhesive tape glue. All the most useful tips

How can you remove adhesive tape glue? Sometimes removing used adhesive tape is not particularly difficult. The problem is often that of removing the adhesive tape’s glue, that is, the residue which remains on the surface even after removing the tape.

This is a problem which can be presented to everyone, in the most diverse contexts: just think of the posters and flyers attached on windows, children’s drawings hanging on bedrooms closets, and so on.

The risk, when you want to remove double-sided adhesive tape glue, is to ruin the affected surface, ending up scratching or staining it. Therefore, it is much better to follow our advice to understand how to completely remove residue, without any risk, using accessories found in all our homes whenever possible.

Today we will outline to remove adhesive tape glue from three different materials, namely glass, plastic, and finally wood. Enjoy reading!

How to remove adhesive tape glue from glass

Here is an absolutely typical example: how to remove glue from double-sided adhesive tape on glass? The problem in this case is that even the smallest residue is perfectly visible, and for this reason a complete cleaning, with the total removal of the adhesive tape’s glue, is a must.

How can you proceed?

Well, usually you start by trying to peel off the residue by scratching with your own fingernails. The strongest glues, however, do not always give in to these attempts, and this activity is certainly not a great for nails, nor for your patience.

Much better, then, is to act on two fronts: on the one hand, trying to soften the industrial double-sided adhesive and make it more yielding; on the other, looking for something that is more effective than your nails to scratch away the residue.

As for the first step, the advice is to use ethyl alcohol – the classic one used for house cleaning can be fine – or alternatively acetone – the one used to remove the nail polish.

Those who do not have one of these substances on hand can opt for water and baking soda, which will not have the same effect, or hot water.

First, treat the affected area with alcohol and acetone, and leave it be for a few minutes. At this point the adhesive left on the glass or on the window will be much more yielding: you can then scratch it off. Instead of using your fingernails, you can use something more solid.

Think for example of a plastic scraper, such as those used to remove ice from car windshield of during the winter season, or an old plastic card (old telephone cards, the gym or pool memberships, or so on).

In the case of particularly tough glue, it is also possible to scratch the glass using a razor blade – with all due care – using it gently and at an angle, to avoid scratching it.

How to remove adhesive tape glue from plastic

How to remove strong double-sided tape glue from plastic surfaces? Well, the technique to be used is very similar to the one outlined for removing glue residues from glass. We are talking about smooth, homogeneous surfaces, which can be scratched if “grated” with the wrong tools.

It all depends of course on the type of object that you must “clean up”. In the case of small, non-electronic objects, such as a bottle or vial, it will be possible to attempt the removal of adhesive tape glue by simply immersing the plastic object in warm soapy water for about half an hour, then proceed to the removal using a sponge.

However, it is not always possible to soak the surface to be treated. Let’s consider about larger objects, or those which cannot be put in water. In this case it is possible to soften the glue with alcohol or acetone, as outlined above (it should be said that some types of plastic can withstand the use of solvents) and then proceed with the removal of the adhesives with a scraper.

How to remove adhesive tape glue from wood

And then there’s wood. For example, a table, a shelf, a piece of furniture, or a piece of untreated and unpainted wood. In principle we are dealing with a delicate, porous (if not painted) surface that could react badly if treated with solvent.

Much better, first of all, is to try with heat, directing hot air towards the affected part with a hair dryer. Another safe way to soften industrial double-sided adhesive tape glue is to use a solution of water and vinegar, or water and oil, to be applied on the affected part with a clean cloth.

You can then proceed to the removal with a sponge, with an old telephone card or even with tweezers, so as to be sure not to scratch the wood!