If you’re planning to redecorate your home or move into a new place, you might want to consider adding accents to the walls. That way, the space will look more interesting and attractive. To do so, you might think about using removable wall decals or stickers that have double-sided tape as their adhesive. If you intend on moving out of your house in the future or if you just don’t like the idea of permanent decorations on your walls, removing them will be important. However, most people find it difficult to get rid of double-sided tape from walls. After all, its staying power is quite impressive! In this blog post, we explore some useful tips and tricks on how to remove the double-sided tape from walls.
How To Remove Double-Sided Tape From Walls?
WD-40
We’re not kidding when we say that WD-40 is useful for everything! It was created by three workers at Rocket Chemical Company and was originally called “Water Displacement-40th Attempt”. So, essentially, the product was created to displace water, hence the name “WD-40”. While there is no scientific reason why WD-40 works, many people report that it is a great way to remove sticky substances, including double-sided tape, without damaging your walls. However, if you don’t want to risk damaging your walls and are looking for a more effective way to remove the tape, read on!
Acetone
Similar to WD-40, acetone is a solvent that will help break down the adhesive on the tape. And like the other methods, it won’t harm the walls (or anything else) when it’s removed. It won’t work on all surfaces, though. Acetone is a great solution for removing double-sided tape from cardboard and wood, but you can’t put it on most fabrics. It will dissolve the glue and make a mess, so use a different solution for fabrics. Some fabrics, like silk and wool, contain proteins that are soluble in acetone, so be careful when applying them to those materials.
Heat
This one sounds like it might be dangerous, but it’s not. You don’t want to get the walls too hot, but using an iron on the lowest heat setting will help melt the double-sided tape and make it easier to peel off the wall. Just like the other methods, it helps to apply the iron to the tape for a few seconds, then let it cool before peeling it off. Make sure you’re using a clean, lint-free cloth first to wipe away any dirt and dust from the wall, then proceed to heat the tape. Keep the iron moving so you don’t accidentally burn the wall.
Using a razor blade
This method is risky, so you’ll only want to use it if the other methods didn’t work. Since you’ll be scraping the double-sided tape off the wall, you run the risk of gouging the surface if you aren’t careful. And scraping a metal razor blade across drywall will cause a lot of damage. We recommend using a plastic razor blade, which will be less aggressive and won’t cause as much damage. A razor blade will remove only the top layer of the double-sided tape, so you’ll need to go over it a few times to remove all of the adhesives. Just be careful when scraping, and go slowly so you don’t gouge the surface.
Using paint thinner
Paint thinner is a solvent that will help break down both the tape and the adhesive. It should work on any surface, though you’ll need to use a clean cloth to wipe off the surface after you’ve applied it. It won’t leave any residue behind like acetone would. You’ll need to use a paint thinner solution, not the solvent that’s in the can. Make sure you’re wearing gloves and safety glasses when applying it, and don’t let it sit on the surface for too long. Paint thinner will soften the paint if you leave it on too long.
Why You Should Remove It Before Painting?
It’s Difficult to Paint Over Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a thin, woven fabric that’s glued to the wall and then covered with a layer of paint. This fabric is tough to remove without causing damage to the wall. If you’re painting over wallpaper, you need to scrape the old layer of paint and glue off the wall. This isn’t as easy as removing paint from clean drywall; the texture of the paper and the moist glue underneath creates a difficult surface to scrape clean. Additionally, if you’re covering up an old wallpaper pattern, you’ll have to make sure your new paint colour doesn’t clash with the pattern. This may mean choosing a very limited palette of colours that match what’s already on the wall.
Wallpapering is a Mess
The process of applying wallpaper is messy. While the paper itself is thin, the glue used to adhere it to the wall is thick and messy. Applying wallpaper also involves lots of stretching and pressing the paper against the wall until the glue dries. You can expect to get glue on your hands, clothes, and even on the wall itself. You’ll also create a mess if you decide to remove the wallpaper by ripping it off the wall. While this method works, it’s not the quickest or easy way. To remove the wallpaper neatly and easily, you’ll need to use a steamer. This equipment is similar to an iron, but it uses super-heated steam to loosen the glue and remove the paper. Although this process is mess-free, it can be time-consuming.
There are Different Options for Removing Wallpaper
If you’re not sure whether you should remove or keep the wallpaper before painting, there are a few things you can do to determine the best course of action. First, get an idea of how securely the wallpaper is attached. Use your hand to gently push on the paper. If it’s loose and easily peels away from the wall, removing it should be an easy task. However, if it feels firmly attached, you might want to try a different approach. If the wallpaper is badly stained or torn, you should remove it. This is especially true if it’s water-based paint, as water stains can easily spread and permanently damage the wall. In this case, you’ll have two options: – Stripping the Wallpaper – Stripping the paper involves applying a chemical solution that loosens the glue and peels the paper off the wall. This is a messy process and should only be done in a well-ventilated area. Be aware that the chemicals used in stripping the paper can damage the wall underneath. – Steam Removing the Wallpaper – If you want to remove the wallpaper without damaging the wall, you can use a steam remover. This equipment works by blasting super-heated steam onto the paper, loosening the glue and making it easy to peel off the wall.
You Can Choose Your Own Colour Without Limits
One of the benefits of removing the existing wallpaper is that you don’t have to worry about matching an existing colour palette. You can select any colour you like, without worrying about matching an existing colour scheme. If you do choose to repaint the existing wallpaper, you’ll have to choose colours that match the paper underneath. If the wallpaper is a muted tone, matching that colour might not be too difficult. However, if the paper is a bright or bold colour, you might have a challenge on your hands. If you’re repainting, you’ll have to choose colours that match the existing paper. This means that you’ll have a limited colour palette to choose from. Besides the colour of the paper, you also have to take into consideration any dark colours that may have seeped through the paper and discoloured the wall.
You Can Transform the Surface Before Painting
Before painting a wall, you might want to add texture, apply a coat of primer, or apply an anti-fungal treatment. Instead of doing this to the existing paper, you can transform the surface before applying new paint. Any wall treatment, such as spackling holes and cracks, sanding down rough patches, or stucco patching areas where the paper has come away from the wall, will help prepare the wall for a fresh coat of paint. You can also transform the surface of the wall by using an anti-fungal treatment. This treatment creates a barrier between the surface of the wall and the paper, preventing fungus from growing and keeping your walls clean and dry.
Conclusion
Double-sided tape is meant to be removable. However, it won’t come off easily unless you use the right method. If you try to remove it with your hands, you won’t get anywhere. You need special cleaners to dissolve the glue, and you need to know how to apply them properly. Once you remove the tape, you can start painting your walls. Wait for the paint to dry, and you can start to decorate your room the way you want it to look. Double-sided tape is meant to help you with your decorations.
