how to get packing tape residue off windows
February 1, 2023 7:03 AM Subscribe
I put packing tape on my window...maybe 6 months ago? It's been off for a couple of months. I wasn't too worried about the residue because I figured I'd take it off with some goo-gone, but oops...when I finally got the goo-gone out, it did nothing. I assume it's somehow baked-on due to the sun. How do I get it off?
Goof Off is petroleum-based and works well as a residue solvent. (Plus use a razor blade.)
posted by DB Cooper at 7:16 AM on February 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by DB Cooper at 7:16 AM on February 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
I've had great success removing stubborn residue with a paste made from vegetable oil, baking soda, and dish soap. Apply the paste, wait 5 minutes, and then scrub firmly with a rag. It might take several applications and a fair bit of scrubbing.
This works because many adhesives are oil-soluble, so the vegetable oil softens the adhesive and makes it easier to remove. The baking soda acts as an abrasive. And the dish soap binds to the adhesive bits making them less likely to re-adhere to the surface.
If that doesn't work, rubbing alcohol is worth a try.
posted by mekily at 7:17 AM on February 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
This works because many adhesives are oil-soluble, so the vegetable oil softens the adhesive and makes it easier to remove. The baking soda acts as an abrasive. And the dish soap binds to the adhesive bits making them less likely to re-adhere to the surface.
If that doesn't work, rubbing alcohol is worth a try.
posted by mekily at 7:17 AM on February 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
You can also try warming the dried on adhesive with a hair dryer in case that softens it.
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:20 AM on February 1, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:20 AM on February 1, 2023 [8 favorites]
Apply oil to it - cooking oil or bacon grease, the thicker the better, and leave it overnight, reapplying as needed. Mekily's paste sounds good because it would stay in place. Then wipe it up and try goo gone or any solvent with the razor. Masking tape residue is hard to remove.
posted by theora55 at 7:21 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 7:21 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
When we moved in we had tape on our windows, I think it was just regular tape but it had been stuck there for ages and Goo Gone was no help.
I tried a magic eraser and that took a little effort but took it off and left no blemish or scratches. You might want to try one area and make sure it doesn’t damage anything before you do all the spots though.
posted by cali59 at 7:23 AM on February 1, 2023
I tried a magic eraser and that took a little effort but took it off and left no blemish or scratches. You might want to try one area and make sure it doesn’t damage anything before you do all the spots though.
posted by cali59 at 7:23 AM on February 1, 2023
I would try (in no particular odor:
Rubbing alcohol
Acetone
3M adhesive remover
Goof off (this is different than Goo Gone, as mentioned above)
posted by thejanna at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
Rubbing alcohol
Acetone
3M adhesive remover
Goof off (this is different than Goo Gone, as mentioned above)
posted by thejanna at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
Naptha, which can be found near the paint at your local hardware store, or lighter fluid (same thing), paper towels, and a razor blade.
There's a sweet spot for scraping with a blade. The bevel of the blade should be flat against the glass. Wipe some naphtha on the residue with a paper towel, let it soak in for a few seconds, and scrape it with the blade.
It doesn't dissolve the residue, but it makes it less sticky and will release it. It'll kind os spread it around. Once it's released, wipe with paper towels until the residue is gone. Finish with some window cleaner.
posted by bondcliff at 7:32 AM on February 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
There's a sweet spot for scraping with a blade. The bevel of the blade should be flat against the glass. Wipe some naphtha on the residue with a paper towel, let it soak in for a few seconds, and scrape it with the blade.
It doesn't dissolve the residue, but it makes it less sticky and will release it. It'll kind os spread it around. Once it's released, wipe with paper towels until the residue is gone. Finish with some window cleaner.
posted by bondcliff at 7:32 AM on February 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
I am squeamish about scraping glass with metal, so I would use a plastic razor blade in this situation. I don't have one in my house, but I do have other random plastic tools including one with a sharp angle that is for prying apart stuck Lego blocks. Your kitchen might have something like that, too.
posted by soelo at 7:44 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by soelo at 7:44 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
WD-40 is surprisingly very effective at removing adhesive. It is also very easy to find in most stores compared to the specialty products.
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 7:59 AM on February 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 7:59 AM on February 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
Razor blade.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 8:33 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Ardnamurchan at 8:33 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
How long did you leave the goo-gone on? If just a few seconds, try leaving it on for a good few minutes and see if it makes any difference.
posted by trig at 8:59 AM on February 1, 2023
posted by trig at 8:59 AM on February 1, 2023
Smear some vegetable oil on there, let it sit and then scrape off with a razor or utility knife blade.
posted by ssg at 9:53 AM on February 1, 2023
posted by ssg at 9:53 AM on February 1, 2023
Goo-Gone is just concentrated citrus cleaner and I haven't seen it work on anything. Goof-Off is acetone and quite good at this job, plus know that nail polish remover would be a somewhat weaker version but is still acetone (mostly, but non-acetone removers will be obviously labeled as such). There are now also "sticker remover" products in the auto aisle of big-box and auto-parts stores. Just add razor blade, plastic or metal, or a credit-type card, or a putty knife...anything with a decently hard edge. If it's quite dry due to the sun, I imagine it's pretty brittle and might not need a solvent until the very end, but do what seems easiest. It's really dependent on the chemicals you use.
posted by rhizome at 1:01 PM on February 1, 2023
posted by rhizome at 1:01 PM on February 1, 2023
Yeah, acetone, or Butanone - Wikipedia (MEK - methyl ethyl ketone) and a razor blade will do the trick. The only worry is about the coatings (if any) on the glass that has the sticky on it. It takes really hardened steel to cut/scratch glass, but like you see all the time, soft steel or copper ice scrapers used to rip ice off your car's windshield. Held at the right angle and with the right pressure, the razor blade will bend and conform to the surface of the glass and go right under the sticky stuff. The solvents just make it a bit easier by softening up the sticky stuff.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:40 PM on February 1, 2023
posted by zengargoyle at 2:40 PM on February 1, 2023
Goof-Off is acetone
I don't think so - Goof-Off smells a lot like Xylene, which is an organic solvent sold at paint stores. Both of these are good at dissolving dried latex paint, without damaging oil-based finishes like varnish. Acetone is much more volatile - leave it open & it will evaporate in no time. It's often the primary ingredient in nail polish remover. It has a nasty habit of dissolving things you don't want it to, like some plastics. But it's very good on glass.
On glass I'd try alcohol (rubbing or denatured), then acetone, then Goof-Off.
posted by mr vino at 7:08 PM on February 1, 2023
I don't think so - Goof-Off smells a lot like Xylene, which is an organic solvent sold at paint stores. Both of these are good at dissolving dried latex paint, without damaging oil-based finishes like varnish. Acetone is much more volatile - leave it open & it will evaporate in no time. It's often the primary ingredient in nail polish remover. It has a nasty habit of dissolving things you don't want it to, like some plastics. But it's very good on glass.
On glass I'd try alcohol (rubbing or denatured), then acetone, then Goof-Off.
posted by mr vino at 7:08 PM on February 1, 2023
I suggest acetone and a razor blade, but be aware acetone will dissolve pretty much any form of paint, so be careful of the window frames and anything that may be dripped on. Acetone is very volatile (ask me how I know), so be very careful with it and ensure you eliminate any source of ignition nearby.
posted by dg at 8:06 PM on February 1, 2023
posted by dg at 8:06 PM on February 1, 2023
Just a few comments wrapping up things from others here:
1. Acetone would work. So would a grenade. Acetone is a very powerful solvent and will remove paint, coatings etc.
2. Goo gone is useless honestly.
3. Goof off works very well but isn't as aggressive as acetone
4. Heat works (say a hard dryer) sometimes but I wouldn't like to heat up a modern gas filled window.
5. Razor blades in glass is absolutely fine and no need to be squeamish.
Id put goof off on a cotton ball and soak the area a couple times. Wait maybe 30 seconds, and then use a straight or utility razor blade flat against the glass to snow shovel it off. The entire project should take you maybe 1 minute.
posted by chasles at 4:43 AM on February 2, 2023
1. Acetone would work. So would a grenade. Acetone is a very powerful solvent and will remove paint, coatings etc.
2. Goo gone is useless honestly.
3. Goof off works very well but isn't as aggressive as acetone
4. Heat works (say a hard dryer) sometimes but I wouldn't like to heat up a modern gas filled window.
5. Razor blades in glass is absolutely fine and no need to be squeamish.
Id put goof off on a cotton ball and soak the area a couple times. Wait maybe 30 seconds, and then use a straight or utility razor blade flat against the glass to snow shovel it off. The entire project should take you maybe 1 minute.
posted by chasles at 4:43 AM on February 2, 2023
Goo gone is useless honestly.
Is it really? I only used it once, to remove packing tape residue on a surface that I really didn't want to scratch- and while it didn't work immediately after I sprayed it, it worked great after I sprayed some more and left it on to soak for a bit.
posted by trig at 4:52 AM on February 2, 2023
Is it really? I only used it once, to remove packing tape residue on a surface that I really didn't want to scratch- and while it didn't work immediately after I sprayed it, it worked great after I sprayed some more and left it on to soak for a bit.
posted by trig at 4:52 AM on February 2, 2023
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posted by jonathanhughes at 7:04 AM on February 1, 2023 [15 favorites]