Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Topic: Removal of Duct Tape Residue (Read 1272 times) previous topic - next topic

Removal of Duct Tape Residue

September 23, 2014, 06:48:07 pm

I am pleased to announce that I have finished reattaching the latch to the door of one of the bays. It is now reassembled and aligned so it works properly.

Hold the applause, please. Yeah, I know, I know; there were some doubters out there. Who won the forum pool?

Now it is time to clean the tape residue from all of the times I had to reinstall new tape to keep the door closed. Had to open it a couple of times to access the on-generator switches; other times, it just decided to quit holding.

I went out with my stool and trusty Goo-Gone, but it let me down. For any except minor spots, you need to let it soak on the area before removing it. Unfortunately, most of my areas are vertical. Is there another product that will remove these thick patches of tape residue?

Here are a couple of pictures to show the extent of my problem:

Thanks,

Trent

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #1 – September 23, 2014, 07:04:46 pm

I think I would try carefully heating it with a hair dryer to see if that would soften the residue enough to remove it.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #2 – September 23, 2014, 07:18:41 pm

Spray WD-40. rub and wipe off with a microfiber cloth.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #3 – September 23, 2014, 08:00:50 pm

Goo-Gone has been good for removing many kinds of residue but vertical surfaces are challenging. I resorted to acetone with gloves and mask to get the decal sticky stuff off. Make sure to do it outside. It can't be good for you if you breathe or get it on you.

Pierce

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #4 – September 23, 2014, 10:50:33 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – September 23, 2014, 07:18:41 pm

Spray WD-40. rub and wipe off with a microfiber cloth.

Peter, thanks; I will give that a try tomorrow.

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 23, 2014, 08:00:50 pm

I resorted to acetone with gloves and mask to get the decal sticky stuff off. Make sure to do it outside. It can't be good for you if you breathe or get it on you.

Pierce, if the WD-40 doesn't work acetone is next. I do have some and a very expensive mask. Guess something more chemically resistant than latex medical gloves is in order, huh?

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Trent

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #5 – September 23, 2014, 10:53:25 pm

I agree with the heat or WD40 both have work for me on a lot of different things.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #6 – September 23, 2014, 11:24:31 pm

Gasoline and a shop towel..
Goo-Gone is worthless and acetone is hard on paint.. pc

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #7 – September 24, 2014, 09:05:44 am

Simple green extreme at 75% strength.

Roland

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #8 – September 24, 2014, 09:15:24 am

I like the suggestion of gasoline. It works. Follow up with a little polish and you are good to go.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #9 – September 24, 2014, 09:56:29 am

When I used duct tape to seal my slide out when I had a bad air seal, it left stains in the gelcoat. I did need to used wf-40 and a plastic razor blade to get the goo off. Scraperite.com Then a polish with a very mild polishing compound took off the stains.

Rich

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #10 – September 24, 2014, 11:16:47 am

This stuff has worked great on hard to clean adhesives.

NAPA AUTO PARTS

Mark

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #11 – September 24, 2014, 11:25:17 am

Quote from: joeszeidel – September 24, 2014, 09:15:24 am

I like the suggestion of gasoline. It works. Follow up with a little polish and you are good to go.

Too flammable and dangerous. Beware...

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #12 – September 24, 2014, 03:15:35 pm

Definitely be careful cleaning with gasoline. If you insist on using gasoline, use proper protection. A friend of mine almost died when the gasoline he was using to clean parts destroyed all the platelets in his body. The Benzene in gasoline is highly toxic and can be absorbed through thr skin as well as thr lungs.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #13 – September 24, 2014, 03:20:30 pm

I use a product called "Goof Off" Will take duct tape residue off DAN

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #14 – September 24, 2014, 03:28:47 pm

Thanks, Dan. I have some Goof Off and will give it a try. Without getting it out, my recollection is that it was sold as a product to remove latex paint spills or goofs. Will try it on my tape residue.

Trent

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #15 – September 24, 2014, 04:59:10 pm

Goof off is good but can remove/damage paint. So i'm with Peter, have had good success with WD-40. May take a little elbow grease but will safely get the job done.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #16 – September 24, 2014, 05:36:08 pm

As a part time job, I maintain some apartments.....most tenants use duct tape after installing their air conditioners. By the time I see an apartment to clean up for a new tenant, the tape has baked on for many years. I have tried goof off but it just don't cut it. I use ammonia............common household ammonia............also use ammonia for greasy stuff like hoods over stoves..put some ammonia on a sponge and wipe with moderate pressure and it will clean right down to the metal through the grease..it will take more persuasion with the tape, I also use a scotch pad or any plastic scrubber that won't scratch. Try it for your hard cleaning projects and you will like it!!

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #17 – September 24, 2014, 05:52:56 pm

I would be very cautious using acetone, toluene, laquer thinner or MEK, particularly on decals. My first choice for tough adhesive would be the 3M product mentioned by Mark previously. Next would be denatured alcohol or paint thinner or turpentine then a product called Penetrol for oil base paint. Also, rather than gasoline try clean diesel fuel on the decals. I would be reluctant to use it on the white gel coat for fear of staining.

The other option is a plastic scraper and elbow grease to remove the bulk of the adhesive. If heat doesn't help, try dry ice to crystallize the adhesive so it will scrape off easier.

3M makes a tan "Scotch Pad" for auto finishes that won't scratch gel coat or even clear urethane coat finish. Use it with a chemical remover as discussed above to expedite removing duct tape adhesive. Oh, and these 3M pads work great on "Love Bugs" for those who travel in the south. They are really bad here in N. Florida right now.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #18 – September 24, 2014, 08:06:18 pm

For the compartment doors, I opened and put a weight on them to keep the door level so the Goo-Gone didn't run off where the decals had been. Plastic scraper then takes most of the residual off.

Pierce

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #19 – September 24, 2014, 10:34:34 pm

turpentine is just as effective as gasoline with less risk of flammability - or kerosene for that matter

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #20 – September 26, 2014, 11:24:24 am

Too late now, but there is a wonderful 3M product - Scotch Tough No Residue duct tape. I've left it on in the hot sun for a month and removed it with no residue. I never use regular duct tape any more. More expensive, but maybe not when you factor in the Goo Gone, etc.

Scotch Tough No Residue Duct Tape, 1.88-Inch by 25-Yard - Tape For Cords -

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #21 – September 30, 2014, 12:36:24 am

And the winner is ...

After all the recommendations I was going to use turpentine, which I thought I had but did not. I did have some old gasoline from the days before I hired my lawn mowing service a couple of years ago. So I used gasoline and it worked!

I did it outdoors with an old roller paint tray to hold a little gasoline and catch any runoff (which then evaporated). I did it in three sessions, because the odor definitely gets to you after a while. I did windup using a plastic blade scraper for the most difficult spots, but the results speak for themselves. These pictures are the before and the pictures I took this evening (not as much light).

Tomorrow I will use Wash Wax All and to clean and protect the surface.

Thank y'all for your input.

Trent

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #22 – September 30, 2014, 12:50:21 am

Looks good Trent.
Raymond

Re: Removal of Duct Tape Residue

Reply #23 – September 30, 2014, 04:11:09 am

Looks good. If the odor was getting to you, it's a good indication that you should have been wearing a mask. They are not that expensive. This recommendation is froze someone suffering from chemically induced asthma. And I wore masks most of the times I worked with chemicals. It's the few times you don't that get you.

Affiliate Notice