How to Remove Double-Sided Tape From a Wall

Double-sided tape is such a convenience ... until you need to remove it! Here's how to get that double-sided tape off your wall without damaging the paint or wallboard underneath.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rags
• Rags
• Adhesive Removers
• Blow Dryers
• Putty Knives

1. Gently position the blade of a putty knife at the edge of the tape and, using light force, attempt to slide the knife under the tape without pulling up any paint or wallboard.

2. If you experience difficulty getting the knife underneath the tape, stop and get a blow-dryer.

3. Heat the tape with the blow-dryer, alternating between low and high heat, and stopping occasionally to work at the tape with the knife. The heat should make the tape soft and easy to remove.

4. Clean the sticky residue that remains with an adhesive remover such as Goof Off or Un-Du, using a dry rag. A few careful strokes with the adhesive remover and you're finished!

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when using the blow-dryer not to overheat the wall, which may damage the paint or wallboard you're trying to salvage. Heat the tape just enough to make it supple.
• Goof Off will remove some kinds of paint. Use sparingly and apply gently.

on 8/8/2006 I used a flat-head screwdriver with the big part of the tape, then I heated the small parts of the tape with a blow drier on medium. Then I took a flat-head screwdriver to the rest and it came off.
Only do this if you are doing so on wood!

on 8/4/2006 I had mounted 4 square cork boards with 36 pieces of double sided tape. When trying to take it all off, I used a blow dryer on full blast and a flat head screwdriver (but at the right angle). This way your hand is far away from the heat of the blow dryer. With a lot of patience, everything came off just fine without chipping the paint already there.

on 6/30/2006 Our room-darkening, temporary shades used sticky tape, which I had to remove from the walls. I followed the tips, but the putty knife actually scratched the paint. So, I used the hair dryer only, and the tape peeled right off!

on 3/11/2006 My dirt bike uses a stick-on Velcro pad to mount the goggles. I used a hair dryer and plastic putty knife to remove the double sided tape, cleaned the rest with Windex. It worked great. I recommend medium heat.

on 11/22/2005 I didn't have a putty knife, so I used a library card from a city I no longer live in. I had to be careful not to melt the card. We wiped off the residue with lighter fluid and an old towel! Thanks for the tips.