Deflectors, hood spoilers, LED strips, running lights, air fresheners, phone holders and other automotive accessories are attached with double-sided tape. Scotch tape is a universal tool. It can withstand up to 8 kilograms of weight and is resistant to vibration. The adhesive base securely attaches to any surface. But over time, the advantage turns into a disadvantage. When trying to remove the tape, the car owner encounters a problem. The tape leaves a sticky residue that turns into smudges. The old tape merges with the car body, becoming part of it.
Heating
The basis of the adhesive composition used in the manufacture of double-sided tape is acrylic with a low melting point. Given this feature, it is possible to wipe off its traces from the body by heating.
Use a hairdryer - household or construction, capable of heating the tape to 100˚C. The sequence of actions involves performing several stages:
- A stream of hot air is directed at the contaminated area.
- The top protective strip of tape should be removed with a sharp movement.
- The remains of the softened adhesive layer are rolled off using a narrow rubber spatula, a soft paper napkin or a plastic spatula with a rounded edge and removed.
A powerful construction hair dryer requires careful handling. The paint layer may not withstand strong heat and may be damaged.
Use of oils
Any vegetable oil is suitable for this method . It is applied and left on the trail for a short time. Next, you need to rub it effortlessly with a sponge or rag.
Some car enthusiasts claim that a melamine sponge helped them cope with the problem.
But such advice should be treated with caution, since this device is still an abrasive that can damage the paintwork of a vehicle.
Essential oils are also effective . Such gentle methods of dealing with traces of adhesive tape require repeating the procedure many times.
Eraser or special attachment
A regular school eraser can be used to safely remove double-sided tape from glass or a car body. Considering the duration of the procedure, it is advisable to use it on small stains, carefully wiping off adhesive traces.
You cannot use such products with an abrasive that can leave microscopic scratches on the surfaces being processed.
If you have an electric screwdriver or drill in your home workshop, use a rubber attachment. The body is pre-washed to prevent small grains of sand from getting under the rapidly rotating rubber, which can scratch the coating.
After turning on the tool, the nozzle is applied without excessive pressure at minimum speed to the marks left by the tape. Cleaning occurs quickly, and even stubborn particles of glue can be removed. Having completed the procedure, wash off the remaining crumbs and, if necessary, degrease or polish the surfaces.
What products should not be used
To avoid damaging the appearance of the machine, do not use abrasive substances. They may leave micro-scratches. Avoid using products such as:
- Soda.
- Hard sponge.
- Mustard.
- Kitchen cleaning products in powder form.
Don't use ice. The glue should dissolve or melt when heated. If you use the method of freezing tape stains, you will have to scrape them off the surface. This may damage the coating of machine elements.
Solvents
Various solvents are considered effective means of easily removing double-sided tape residues from car bodies. Most often they resort to using purified gasoline or kerosene, as well as white spirit. You can purchase specialized chemical products aimed at removing stickers from various surfaces, for example, HG Sticker Remover.
Cleaning algorithm:
- Carefully separate the tape along the edges.
- Using a cotton swab, distribute the solvent over the entire surface of the tape.
- After a few minutes, the tape is removed by prying one edge.
- More solvent is applied to the remaining adhesive trace.
- Use a rubber scraper or soft cloth to wipe off all stains.
Wash the cleaned area of the body with car shampoo. This technique simultaneously allows you to degrease the surface.
Aggressive liquids, which include white spirit, gasoline, kerosene, can cause swelling of the paintwork. It is advisable to use them if you plan to re-glue something onto the cleaned area with double-sided tape.
Similar to similar
Usually adhesive tape and adhesive tape are removed with a bang, and you have to deal exclusively with their traces. But what to do if the strip of tape was glued so long ago that it seems to have already grown to the body? A new, fresh piece of tape can help you remove marks; you need to glue it overlapping the old one, leaving a free end for you to pull.
It's also a good idea to heat up the old strip a little with a hairdryer, as the increased temperature will make the glue a little more sticky and make it easier to remove.
Now all that remains is to pull the free edge of the fresh strip: the old strip should begin to come off along with it.
Advice
It is better to pull the tape not towards you at an angle of 90˚, but as parallel to the surface as possible at an angle close to 180˚. Thus, the paintwork will experience virtually no impact, which is especially important if the car was not repainted very well or if the paint in the area of the marks is slightly cracked.
Acetic acid
The list of effective liquid compositions that allow you to quickly and completely remove double-sided adhesive tape from a car body includes a vinegar solution.
For the procedure you will need table vinegar, which is diluted in equal volumes with water. After wetting the stain with this composition, wait a few minutes. The tape softens quickly and is easily removed. It is torn off, and then the adhesive marks are completely wiped off.
How to clean the interior from traces of tape?
Every car owner wants his favorite car to be perfect, not only on the outside, but also on the inside. The salon is a special place; it is its condition that creates the impression of the owner of the car. If the car is perfect on the outside, but the inside is dirty and dirty, you can immediately see the owner’s character. Therefore, many people ask the question: how to remove traces of tape in a car dealership? There are several nuances here:
- If the interior is leather, then you can safely use vegetable oil; it will definitely not worsen the condition of the skin, on the contrary. The oil can also be used to remove stains from plastic interior elements.
- But if the interior is soft, then the option of using products that contain fat is excluded. Do not use sunflower oil, kerosene or gasoline. After removing the tape mark, you will end up with a greasy stain. Not the best option, is it?
- What to choose in this case? You can clean the interior using a hairdryer by heating the adhesive substance. If you don't have this option, use alcohol. It is better not to use acetone, vinegar or white alcohol; it can leave a white, noticeable stain on the upholstery. An ordinary eraser, which we used at school, can also save the situation. If the stain is fresh, then you will get rid of it quickly this way.
- If you are afraid of ruining the interior using homemade, folk methods, you can purchase a special product in a store or at a car market. Before purchasing, we advise you to clarify what this composition is suitable for, so as not to spoil the original factory coating. Experts will tell you how to remove traces of tape from your car and what is best to choose. We do not recommend that you buy too expensive products to solve this problem, because it does not occur very often. Plus, now you know at least five ways to get rid of sticky stains from double-sided tape.
- By the way, we’ll tell you another secret: if you find frozen chewing gum in your salon that doesn’t want to come off, use tape to remove it. To get rid of chewing gum, you need to take a piece of fresh tape and apply it to the problem area, then sharply tear off the adhesive tape and do this several times until the furniture is clean. This method will also help in cleaning clothes. The only thing is that you should not leave the tape for a long time, everything needs to be done quickly and sharply, otherwise you will have to use the tips described above. Now you know how to remove tape marks without wasting a lot of your time and money. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the paint does not wear off, do everything carefully and slowly. Getting rid of traces of tape is not as difficult as many people think, try it too!
Rubber disc
A special disc designed specifically for removing adhesive tape will cope even with such contaminants that even effective solvents and other cleaning methods are powerless against.
The disc is made of hard rubber and is not difficult to use . Simply install it on a drill, screwdriver or other suitable tool. Turn it on at medium speed and carefully walk through the contaminated area.
The disk has a huge resource. Therefore, 1 circle can be used throughout the entire operation of the vehicle, even if the stickers and moldings are reapplied on it every year.
Automotive air valve
If the solvent has dealt with the adhesive base unsatisfactorily, and there is no rubber circle or special cleaning agents against the adhesive tape, then a car air valve will help deal with the contamination.
This part is inexpensive. It is clamped into a drill and used at minimum speed for cleaning .
Accuracy and caution during work will not be superfluous. The surface is cleaned in stages. The treated area is then washed and wiped dry, and is now ready for polishing.
How to remove a sticker from plastic windows?
Chemistry. Pour denatured alcohol (technical alcohol) into a spray bottle and apply evenly around the entire perimeter of the sticker. Then leave it for 10-15 minutes to react, pry the edge with a sharp knife and remove it with a sharp movement. Remove traces of glue with solvent or alcohol.
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Baby wipes
A gentle method for removing marks left by tape is to use wet wipes. But only in this case will you have to work hard.
It is best to use wipes intended for the care of delicate baby skin , since they will definitely not contain substances that can damage the coating.
A damp cloth should be applied to the stain for 5-10 minutes. Periodically you need to rub this area without tearing off the napkin. After 10 minutes, you need, again, making an effort, to try to completely get rid of the contamination.
Tint remover
When re-tinting a car, the old tint film must be removed from the car windows. After this operation, glue stains remain.
To clean the glass surface you will need the following materials and tools :
- spray;
- pliers;
- soap solution;
- a stationery blade for a knife with a width of at least 20 mm.
You must proceed as follows:
Part of the knife blade breaks off. Tape is wound around its blunt end.- A soap solution is sprayed onto the glass using a spray bottle.
- The blade on the side of the tape is clamped with pliers.
- The adhesive base and old film are scraped off the glass. The blade must be held at an angle of about 30˚ to the glass.
When working, do not forget about accuracy. There should be no nicks on the blade, as they can scratch the glass surface.
