Duct tape on my arm and a frown on my face

January 23, 2007 12:54 PM

I have a beautiful velvet blazer. While teaching today, a piece of duct tape got stuck to it (I don't know how). When I try to peel it off, it totally screws up the finish (the little fibers come with). How do I get the duct tape off the velvet?
posted by rbs to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

I have seen an adhesive-remover product (a liquid I think), that is advertised as being able to remove duct tape from toilet paper and leave the toilet paper intact. I can't remember the product name, or anything of any actual use, but I thought you might like to know that Something is Out There.
posted by -harlequin- at 1:00 PM on January 23, 2007

Maybe try a citrus oil adhesive remover? Goo Gone works pretty well. Get the original formula. The reformulations aren't nearly as effective.
posted by chairface at 1:10 PM on January 23, 2007

I second chairface's suggestion. My mom uses Goo Gone for price stickers; it works well. I noticed on their site they sell carpet wipes, maybe those would work for your blazer.
posted by lkm at 1:20 PM on January 23, 2007

Maybe if you freeze the blazer? It works with chewing gum.
posted by infinitewindow at 1:23 PM on January 23, 2007

Be sure to check the Goo Gone label and the blazer's garment-care label before you use it, though. Goo Gone is pretty oily and could leave a stain that's as bad as the tape.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:24 PM on January 23, 2007

I think you are screwed. Velvet does not handle much (especially Goo Goo Gone- don't do that). The best suggestion I can lend is take the thing to a tailor and see what they can do. Is it on a sleeve or the main body of the coat?
posted by bkeene12 at 1:35 PM on January 23, 2007

okay, noticed the title... it is on the sleeve. A tailor can replace the sleeve for you. Not sure how much it will cost but it will be cheaper than a new velvet blazer.
posted by bkeene12 at 1:37 PM on January 23, 2007

Go out and buy a little piece of velvet fabric, and stick some duct tape on it. Put some ice cubes in a baggie and lay on the tape to see if that will break the adhesive bonds. If it doesn't work, you haven't ruined your blazer. If it does work, then you know your blazer will be ok. And by "work" I mean - it should break the bonds to allow the tape to peel off, but it should leave the fibers of the velvet intact.
posted by iconomy at 1:45 PM on January 23, 2007

Supposedly Goo Gone is safe to remove tape, gum, etc. from non-washable fabrics like silk and satin, so I guess velvet would theoretically be okay... I, personally, wouldn't have the nerve to do anything except take it to a very reputable dry cleaner's, though.
posted by scody at 1:59 PM on January 23, 2007

Have it dry-cleaned. Dry-cleaning solvent should eat duct tape glue.
posted by flabdablet at 1:59 PM on January 23, 2007

maybe try naptha, don't know if it will affect the fabric, but it will break up the adhesive on the tape.

work slow, use cotton swabs, patience is a virtue.
posted by Max Power at 2:01 PM on January 23, 2007

Isopropyl alcohol dissolves tape adhesive, but I have no idea what it would do to the fabric. Suggest testing on a separate piece of velvet & tape before actually trying it on your jacket.
posted by vignettist at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2007

If you think the velvet can handle it, you might try using a razor blad. Get a long exacto or box-cutter, extend it so that you have a good, long, fresh section of blade, and try to work it as close to the duct tape as possible. You might end up with a patch of velvet that's slightly shorter than the rest, but if you're careful, and especially if you're good at long, even strokes, you might just be able to get it to look pretty uniformly like it did before. Maybe you can ask someone who knows how to skin an animal (or cut the skin off a fish) to help you with this (I'm not kidding!); someone who is used to making long, precise strokes of the blade.
posted by louigi at 3:16 PM on January 23, 2007

Yea, definitely take this to a (competent and good -- meaning much better than average) dry cleaner and ask what they think. I would expect dry cleaner fluid to eat through the glue, but I might be wrong.
posted by raf at 4:19 PM on January 23, 2007

I'd reach for my trusty can of Bestine and soak the velvet thoroughly, then slowly detach the duct tape. The suggestions for GooGone upthread say that substance is oily, but Bestine is a clear, alcohol-like liquid which evaporates quickly. You can get it at artist supply stores.
posted by Rash at 5:29 PM on January 23, 2007

-harlequin- is remembering the ad for Un-Du adhesive remover. Link goes to Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools archive review of the product. I haven't use it myself, but it sounds like a miracle product.
posted by IvyMike at 11:41 PM on January 23, 2007

You could also try nail polish remover (maybe test in on the inside of your cuff first to make sure it will not discolor the velvet)
posted by rmless at 8:15 AM on January 24, 2007

a couple of weeks ago i googled how to remove can/jar labels as it tends to be laborious.

i tried the following procedure on a particularly sticky label and it worked fantastically; i suspect it would work for duct-tape as well, though you'll have to be careful not to melt your velvet:

using a standard hair-dryer set to 'high', heat the duct tape for approximately 30 seconds. then turn off the dryer and gingerly try to remove an edge...if it's gotten hot enough the adhesive will loosen up and pull away without leaving any residue.

if you try it, let me know if it works! i have used goo-gone and it works well but is messy (use latex gloves). it probably won't hurt your velvet and you could test a small area first. but i've totally switched to the hair-dryer method for label removal; it works much better and faster, and creates no mess (plus i don't have to inhale toxic fumes).
posted by jjsonp at 9:02 AM on January 24, 2007