how to remove shrink plastic insulation tape

November 22, 2008 8:20 PM

does the double sided tape from shrink plastic window insulation kits come off a painted wood window frame all the way without peeling the paint?
posted by let444 to home & garden (7 comments total)

Not always (speaking from experience with very very old paint). But the more frequent problem is that it leaves some residue behind, or stays stuck in places.
posted by dilettante at 8:24 PM on November 22, 2008

I agree 100% with dilettante. The more carefully and slowly you peel it off, the less damage, it seems.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:26 PM on November 22, 2008

Best answer: it depends. There's still residue on some of my windowframes, and there's none elswhere, on frames that were painted from the same can.
posted by notsnot at 8:43 PM on November 22, 2008

Peel it off v-e-r-y-s-l-o-w-l-y and you should be okay.
posted by amyms at 9:19 PM on November 22, 2008

I've never had a problem with old paint. New paint (< 6 mos) was a bit iffy in spots. Possibly wasn't primed properly, which is a grave painting sin (that all of us are tempted by, in our first attempts).
posted by IAmBroom at 9:51 PM on November 22, 2008

Try heating it gently with a hairdryer first to loosen the adhesive.
posted by Solomon at 3:32 AM on November 23, 2008

I've had it take off very old/fragile lacquer. With paint I've only had the residue problem.
posted by jessamyn at 4:35 PM on November 23, 2008