10 Effective Tricks to Remove Sticky Packaging Tape Residue Fast and Safely

Placing an order initiates the buyer’s impatient wait for the package’s arrival.. Maybe the product in transit is of high value or the customer desires to have an experience of a lifetime, unboxing the packaging. This signals the essentiality of both the product’s and the box’s perfection and they have to be in mint condition to ensure optimal use. Nevertheless, tape residue is common on such containers due to adhesive applied for sealing or labeling and the first priority of box receivers is often to remove sticky packaging tape residue.
Moreover, residue is typically visible. It reflects the unclean appearance of the product containers. Getting rid of it is imperative to refine the aesthetics. Also, sticky surfaces are dirt magnets and can easily attract dust. Therefore, it is imperative to determine practical tips, making the surface tidy and ready for future use.

The Topnotch Methods to Quickly Remove Sticky Packaging Tape Residue

Fortunately, there are various approaches to effectively eradicate such marks. For instance, using commercial removers. Oftentimes, a straightforward and homemade solution can be the appropriate substitute to harsh solvents. In order to remove sticky packaging tape residue, you can even scrape using mechanical force. Keep reading to ascertain the specifics.

Oil-Based Solvents Helpful in Dissolving the Glue

Commonly found packaging tape adhesives are soluble in oils and not in water. Oils are known for their non-polar nature, whether it is the coconut, olive or baby oil. Hence, this aids them in breaking down the non-polar polymers in the glue. To benefit from these features, pick any sort of oil. Use its small amount and apply it to a cotton pad. Then place it over the residue without removing the pad instantly. This will help to soak for a few minutes. In the end, gently rub the residue off.

Apply Heat to the Surface to Loosen the Bond

This is also the best way to remove sticker residue. The heat is to soften the material. This residue thus becomes more flexible and less sticky. Increasing the temperature means minimizing the bond strength between the surface and the glue. Moreover, the substance effortlessly peels away. We recommend avoiding using a heat gun as it is too intense. Instead, depend on a hair dryer. Also, do not remove the heat quickly. Let it do its magic for a maximum of one minute.

Spirit-Based & Alcohol Solvents Because They Evaporate

The aim here is to dissolve the adhesive rapidly. You will find rubbing alcohol to do the job effectively and there will surely be one in your or your friend’s medicine cabinet. Oils can be slightly less useful in this regard due to the residue they leave behind. Instead, alcohol is a good option to remove sticky packaging tape residue as it evaporates quite quickly, eventually cleaning the surface. Furthermore, put some spirit on a piece of cloth and apply it directly to the area.

Mild Acid in White Vinegar Dissolves the Adhesive

There is acetic acid in this sort of vinegar. It is a mild acid that assists in breaking down the chemical bonds in the glues. And do not fret about damaging the box surface, as this acid is not toxic. In fact, it is gentler and even affordable than harmful chemical solvents. But, please bear in mind that this approach is not apt for custom cardboard packaging boxes. Vinegar is okay for materials that do not absorb liquid. Examples of such materials are plastics and glass.

Create the Mild Solution with Warm & Soapy Water

This trick is gentlest in our opinion. Also, the solution is convenient to prepare due to the ingredients being already found in many houses. The two prime ingredients are warm water and dish soap and both serve their value to clean away the glue residue. Warm water softens the sticky substance and the soap lowers the surface tension. Only put some drops of this liquid into the water and dampen a piece of cloth in the solution. Place this cloth on the area for a few minutes and use the same cloth to scrub off the substance.

Scrape to Remove Small Amounts of Adhesive

To physically lift the glue, you can depend on scraping that utilizes mechanical force. However, you have to soften or harden the material beforehand in order to ease the scraping process. Furthermore, fingernails are adequate to perform the task and another option is to use a plastic credit card. Make sure not to utilize anything that is made of metal to remove glue from tape residue, as it can leave a permanent mark.

The Multipurpose Water Displacement, 40th Formula

It is also called WD-40 and is a very versatile solvent. The role of its ingredients is very similar to that of spirit or mineral oil: to dissolve the adhesive bonds. Take a piece of cloth, spray a small amount of this lubricant on it and apply it directly onto the substance. Again, wait for some time before cleaning off the substance.

Use Ice Cubes & a Plastic Bag to Freeze & Harden the Glue

To help you further with how to remove tape residue, set the goal of hardening the flexible material with the assistance of extreme cold application. Once it becomes brittle, you can scrape it off due to the loss of grip on the surface. Instead of applying the ice cubes directly on the area, take a plastic bag and contain these cubes in it. Besides, you have to wait until the surface becomes extremely cold to ease the scraping process.

A Clean Pencil Eraser to Rub the Stickiness Away

It is all about the friction and the softness of the eraser is valuable in grabbing the glue as well as rolling it up into small balls. Take a neat pencil eraser, rub it on the targeted surface, and be consistent. Once the material begins to form the pills, get rid of them and repeat the process until the area becomes perfectly smooth. Nonetheless, the reason behind avoiding an unclean eraser is that it might transfer its particles onto the box surface.

Commercial Removers Available as Sprays or Gels

Last but not least, there are commercial products designed to dissolve the adhesive polymers without posing any harm to the surface. The best part is that these removers come with detailed instructions on the packaging or you can check out their brand websites. Typically, a short period of time is required to allow the product to penetrate before wiping it away with the help of a cloth. Furthermore, we put immense effort into making this guide highly useful for everyone. For more custom packaging tips and tricks, you are welcome 24/7 to visit the Boxit Packages website a best packaging supplier all over the US.

Conclusion

The aforementioned information included useful tips to remove sticky packaging tape residue at a low cost. You can rely on alcohol solvents, heat application, cold application, commercial removers and a clean pencil eraser. Additionally, you can form your own solution by using warm water and dish soap as core ingredients. Most of the techniques require scraping with the help of non-metal and sharp objects, such as plastic credit cards.