# Getting scotch tape off a door? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088 "2004-04-26T13:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/1 "2004-04-26T13:51:38Z")
My idiot roomate has moved out. Woohooo! Anyway he apparently used scotch tape to tape a poster to his bedroom door and he just cut the tape to get it off. The tape is still there. I’ve been told that simply pulling it off may take the finish with it. Does anybody know a trick to keep this from happening? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/2 "2004-04-26T13:57:44Z")
What kind of finish? Alcohol is kind to many finishes when used sparingly and is a good adhesive remover. ---
**Author:** ![Grant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/3 "2004-04-26T13:59:25Z")
I guess it is just a wood stain finish. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/4 "2004-04-26T14:00:44Z")
Orange oil based cleaners are good for removing tape. Test first though, as they might damage some types of wood finishes. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/5 "2004-04-26T14:05:07Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Alcohol is kind to many finishes… Excepting varnish of the type used on many 70 year old doors, which it dissolves. Test first! ---
**Author:** ![Grant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/6 "2004-04-26T14:22:12Z")
Thanks. I think I have some orange oil cleaner. I’ll give it a try. The door is only 3 years old so if that doesnt work maybe some alcohol… Hopefully tomorrows thread won’t be how to make a finish repair look natural. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/7 "2004-04-26T15:02:48Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Excepting varnish of the type used on many 70 year old doors, which it dissolves. > Test first! Hey, I asked first and didn’t say ‘all finishes’. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-scotch-tape-off-a-door/242088/8 "2004-04-26T15:45:19Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Hey, I asked first and didn’t say ‘all finishes’. Sure, I just didn’t want **Grant** to experience the same surprise I did while learning that particular little factoid. 🙂