Duct tape is one of the strongest and most durable tapes. It can hold wood, metal, plastic, glass, and stone. The reason why duct tape is so strong is because of its unique material and resilient adhesive.
It’s easy to fix things with duct tape. Just take a piece of duct tape, peel and stick on the surface you want to fix. But as easy as it is to use, it’s a pain to take off especially on the hardwood.
Duct tape is known to leave thick trails of glue residue that can accumulate dust and hair on wood. How do you remove duct tape residue effectively on wood?
Removing duct tape residue on wood
Duct tape residue should be removed at once. As soon as you remove duct tape, use the following measures to remove residue fast. Here are the simple steps to do it.
Things you will need
- Alcohol
- Acetone or nail polish
- Dish soap and warm water
- Cooking oil
- Baby oil, peanut butter, or mayonnaise
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- WD-40
- Vaseline
- Commercial residue remover
- Hair dryer
- Butter knife or putty knife
- Soft cloth
- Paper towel
Instructions
Method #1
Before using any technique, scrape the residue with a dull blade, a butter knife or a putty knife. Hold the blade flat against the surface and slide the knife over the surface to completely remove the residue. Avoid scratching the surface but if the surface is vulnerable to scratching, stop scraping the wood.
Source: https://blog.knife-depot.com/how-to-get-tape-residue-off-your-knife-blade/
Method #2
Soak a cloth in rubbing alcohol and gently rub this at the area. Make sure the cloth is clean and soft to prevent damaging the wooden spot you are going to treat. Rub back and forth on the area until the adhesive has been completely removed.
Source: https://www.meijer.com/product/health-beauty/medicine-first-aid/first-aid/rubbing-alcohol/meijer-isopropyl-rub-alcohol-70-32-oz/t1/t1-866/t2/t2-9985/t3/t3-314/t4/t4-1887/4125056294.uts
You may also use acetone or nail polish remover but be very careful because these may cause damage to any wooden painted surfaces.
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Nail-Pure-Acetone-fl/dp/B009SDJQCI
Method #3
Clean the area with a mixture of dish soap and warm water. A little is enough, place only a tablespoon of liquid dish detergent in two cups of water and stir. Use a soft cloth, dip into the soapy water and use it to scrub the residue.
Scrub the area clean until it does not feel slippery or sticky to the touch. Dry the surface with a cloth. Rub the clean cloth or paper towel on the surface to absorb the water. The surface should no longer feel rough or sticky.
Source: https://www.tested.com/science/life/459452-doing-it-wrong-hot-water-and-antibacterial-soap-dont-help-kill-germs/
Method #4
Treat the residue with cooking oil. Lay it over the residue. Dab a paper towel into any kind of cooking oil and lift it after a few minutes. You may also rub or scrape the residue to remove it.
You may also use baby oil, peanut butter or mayonnaise.
Source: http://allrecipes.co.uk/consent/?dest=/recipe/41511/garlic-mayonnaise-aioli.aspx
Method #5
Mix part coconut oil and part baking soda in a small bowl. Mix these to form a paste. If you don’t have coconut oil, mix baking soda or vinegar into the warm water. Apply the paste on the residue and let it stay on the area for at least 30 minutes.
Use an old toothbrush or cloth and dip this into the paste. Spread it across the residue. Wash off the paste when the allotted time is done using warm water.
Now use another clean cloth and dampen this with water. The remaining residue will be removed after these steps and will be easy to remove with a damp cloth.
Source: https://dailyvanity.sg/questions/doctor-popular-acne-hacks/attachment/doctor-popular-acne-hacks-coconut-oil-baking-soda/
Method #6
Use heat to remove the residue with a hairdryer to remove it. Point the hairdryer at the residue in an effort to soften it. Heat the dried glue enough to get rid of it using a knife or other implement.
Source: http://www.thesweetbeastblog.com/2018/06/25/how-to-make-your-own-canvas-float-frame/
Method #7
Spray WD-40 on areas with a lot of residues. Dampen a terry cloth to treat smaller areas with residue. Let the WD-40 stay in the area for a minute and then scrub it with soap and water. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the product and follow these closely.
Vaseline or car wax may also be used as an alternative to WD-40. If all home treatments don’t work, use a commercial residue remover for a stronger and more efficient treatment.
Source: http://funnyand.com/30-ways-to-use-wd-40-that-youve-probably-never-thought-of/
Conclusion
Removing duct tape residue on wood is one of the hardest dilemmas for a woodworker. This residue is very sticky and very persistent. These techniques are known to work but if all else fail, contact a professional for help.
