Without leaving marks: effective ways to remove regular and double-sided tape from glass

Adhesive tape has become indispensable in our lives and solves a lot of household problems. But it is most often used temporarily, after which it is necessary to get rid of it.

It is quite problematic to remove from glass, which after use must be restored to its original form.

How to avoid damaging the glass by removing tape covered with a sticky adhesive base of different compositions, as well as how to remove double sided tape without scratches? Details are in the article.

How to remove glue and remove stains?

The tape inevitably leaves sticky spots, which is due to the presence of an adhesive surface.

The difficulty of restoring the original appearance of the glass surface is due to:

• with homogeneity or heterogeneity of the adhesive layer;
• long or short period of stay on the surface;
• chemical composition of the glue.

Depending on the type of tape and its purpose different adhesive bases:

• transparent stationery tape coated with acrylic glue;
• painting and construction tape has a rubber base;
• mounting and double-sided covered with acrylic.

Different coatings require different approaches to processing. If the tape was on the surface for a short time, then there will be no problems, but if it is used for a long time, getting rid of the adhesive base will not be so easy.

Before you get started, you need to understand a few simple tips that will help you avoid trouble not only with glass, but also with your own skin.

Things to remember:

1. hot air (hair dryer) is used to heat the tape, but prolonged heating can lead to the formation of cracks in the glass;
2. the same applies to the steam cleaner, which must be kept at a distance of 30 cm from the surface;
3. when exposed to acetone, the adhesive coating may smear, since this composition only partially dissolves the glue, which will complicate the work in the future;
4. soda in the form of a dry powder is not suitable for processing, as it leaves small scratches and the glass loses its original transparency.

For removing tape from glass they use both home remedies that are always at hand, and chemicals specially designed for this purpose, purchased at hardware stores.

Do not scrub the adhesive base with metal or other brushes. with a hard surface, abrasive sponges.

It is prohibited to use aggressive acid or alkaline solutions on frosted or tinted glass.

Non-aggressive home remedies

So, how to remove traces of tape from glass? Glue cannot be removed with water or a damp cloth, so most often modern housewives use a choice of:

1. Vegetable oils (olive, essential, flaxseed). Soak a cloth in the oil and fix it on the glass for 2 hours, then wash it with dishwashing liquid and wipe dry.

   Essential oils not only cope well with the problem, but also leave a pleasant aroma.

2. Eraser or eraser. The eraser is moved across the glass in the same way as a drawing on paper is erased.

   Sometimes a small amount of glue “pellets” remains on the surface, but they are easily washed off with water. Glass can withstand minor mechanical stress and is not damaged.

3. Stationery knife. The knife is placed at a slight angle to the spot being treated and the adhesive is removed from the tape. This method is used as a last resort when there are no other options: careless handling may leave scratches on the glass. Instead of a knife, blades or a scraper are suitable.
4. Scotch. It is glued to the contaminated area and quickly pulled from the bottom up. The glass is cleaned by wiping it with a damp cloth. You need to act quickly, without leaving the tape for a long time, otherwise the problem will become doubly difficult.
5. Hot solution based on laundry soap. Crumble shavings of laundry soap into water, dip a cloth in the soap solution and fix it on the adhesive stain for 5 minutes, then rinse with water, removing the dissolved glue with a napkin. An alkaline solution solves the problem well and quickly.
6. Hairdryer. Heat as much as possible and direct the jet onto the dirty glass. 10 minutes is enough for the adhesive from the tape to soften. After this, it is simply removed with a dry cloth. The method is dangerous because the glass may burst from the hot air.
7. Steam cleaner. The device acts on the adhesive base from a distance of 30 cm for 5 minutes. After this, the glue is removed with dry paper or a napkin, and the glass is washed again to remove stains. If you get too close, the glass may crack. It is important to be careful when working with painted, frosted or tinted glass.
8. Soda. Soda is dissolved with water to a paste-like state and applied to the adhesive stain, rubbing it in a circular motion without strong pressure, since soda consists of particles that can leave micro-scratches on the glass.

If the first procedure does not give the desired results, it can be repeated a second and third time.

One of the life hacks on how to remove remaining tape can be seen in the video:

Use of chemicals

Some housewives prefer exclusively chemicals and cleaning compounds, which they consider the most reliable.

In everyday life they use:

• Vinegar (table, wine, apple). Apply vinegar to a cloth and rub the stain on the glass in a circular motion.

  After cleaning, the surface is wiped dry again. Vinegar adds shine and eliminates possible stains.

• Kitchen cleaning products (Mr. Muscle, Myth, Drop, Pemolux). One of them is applied to a sponge and the surface is thoroughly wiped, and then washed with water. It is advisable to use products in the form of gels so that the powder does not leave small scratches on the surface.
• Glass cleaning products. With their help, they remove adhesive stains and any strong contaminants: resinous substances, labels, glue.
• Ammonia: medical or technical. Soak a cloth in the ammonia solution and thoroughly wash the contaminated area in a circular motion. Wipe the surface dry. Ammonia cleans and adds shine to glass. Nail polish remover works in a similar way (works well with fresh stains).
• Solvents (alcohol, acetone, gasoline, kerosene). The sponge is immersed in kerosene, wrung out and applied to the contaminated surface. Rinse with water and wipe until dry. The method is suitable for glass and mirrors.
• Alcohol and solutions containing it (vodka, tinctures, cologne). Apply alcohol to a cotton pad and wipe the surface for a long time, and then wipe with paper until dry. The method is simple, but requires time and effort.

To clean glass in one go, use a combination of two products. This will make the effort easier and get rid of residual streaks and stains.

Industrial compounds that remove surface residues

The chemical industry offers options for products created in different forms for removing glue from different surfaces, including glass. They can be purchased at a price of 200-500 rubles. depending on the manufacturer, place of purchase and volume in most hardware stores.

Of the most common, it should be noted:

1. Sticker Remover, which is produced in the form of a pencil, spray, liquid: it removes different types of adhesive from tape, regardless of the type of surface.
2. Kiehl Tablefit removes the most difficult stains and is sold in the form of a liquid, which is sprayed onto a napkin and applied to the adhesive stain.
3. Taygeta S-405 works as a stain remover, which is used to spray the adhesive layer on the glass, wait a minute and wipe the cleaned surface.
4. Formula X-5 in the form of a liquid it copes with the problems created by masking tape.
5. Super CMF-240 It does not remove glue stains particularly quickly or efficiently, but it is hypoallergenic and therefore in demand.
6. Merida Impet designed to remove stubborn stains and removes glue from glass in 2-3 minutes.
7. Profoam 2000 Works great on any surface, so it is a universal and popular product.

You should also pay attention to the following:

• household chemicals Limpion (removal of chewing gum and tape MAXimum Scotch/Gum, 500 ml at a price of 216 rubles);
• Econobel (means for removing traces of adhesive tape MULTI-PLAST-2 1l at a price of 182 rubles);
• KANGAROO Scotch Remover (tape and sticker cleaner, 420 ml, price 510 rub.);
• CHIMITEK "Anti-sticker-aerosol" (for removing tape and labels, 400 ml at a price of 408 rubles).

What is the difference between removing rubber and acrylic base?

The easiest way is to remove masking tape from the glass, the base of which is paper. It allows moisture to pass through without problems and can be exposed to any product.

The composition may have to be used for a longer period of time to completely soak the paper and adhesive surface. Even old traces of glue can be removed with oil or solvent, and then the surface is washed with hot water.

Mounting tape is based on foil, and stationery tape is based on polyethylene, which do not allow moisture to pass through. Before removing the glue, you need to get rid of the base itself.

To do this, find a corner of the adhesive tape, pull it and remove it from the glass. If it breaks, remove it using a scraper, after heating it with a hairdryer. The adhesive stain remaining on the glass is removed using any of the above means.

Scotch rubber based is removed as follows:

• The contaminated area is wiped with an eraser;
• treated with a sponge soaked in a mixture of turpentine and solvent R-5;
• When using drying oil or vegetable oil, the glass is additionally wiped with a degreasing compound (for example, dishwashing detergent).

The housewife selects the most convenient method that most easily copes with the problem and subsequently uses it. There are many options, so getting rid of sticky and dirty stains on glass left by tape is not difficult.

Video on the topic

One of the options for removing tape and sticky base can be seen in the video:

Conclusion

The choice of products is quite large, so it is quite difficult to give specific recommendations.. Housewives usually choose a safe home remedy that they always have on hand. It's convenient and safe.

Some people prefer to go straight to the “heavy artillery” and buy a can of chemical composition, but in the age of allergies this can be harmful to health. In any case, the problem can be solved: the glass can be restored to its original shine without much effort or expense.