# Cleaning Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150 "2001-06-26T01:17:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saucy\_potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@saucy\_potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucy_potato)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150/1 "2001-06-26T01:17:14Z")
What is the best way to remove tape residue from a wall? I’m painting my room, but first I have to get rid of the gummy stuff that’s behind my posters… it’s a pain. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150/2 "2001-06-26T01:38:59Z")
I asked my husband this question, as he’s the one that usually does this stuff. He says the best thing to use would either be mineral spirits or enamel thinner. Enamel thinner won’t cut the paint on the wall as much as lacquer thinner will. Mineral spirits is the least caustic and really the best thing to use. Use very sparingly. (Either one you choose.) Wet a rag with the thinner or spirits. Don’t put it directly onto the wall itself. Then remove the adhesive. Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![Katie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a4c791/32.png) [@Katie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150/3 "2001-06-26T12:32:21Z")
I often find that getting a fresh piece of tape and sticking it down over the residue then pulling it off works pretty well (same for blu-tack - use a clean piece of blu-tack and it’ll remove old blu-tack marks easily) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150/4 "2001-06-26T14:24:44Z")
I would scrub with soap & hot water with a brillo pad cause you are gonna redo this wall anyway. [howtocleananything.com](http://howtocleananything.com) has hints for cleaning anything. ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-question/70150/5 "2001-06-26T15:24:59Z")
There is a product called ‘Oops’ that works wonders on sticky stuff like that. You can get it at Wal-Mart, and it comes in either a spray or a liquid. I’ve used it to take duct tape gunk out of carpet and it took it all out.