# How do I remove duct tape adhesive from fabric? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930 "2007-07-16T02:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/1 "2007-07-16T02:56:32Z")
D’oh! I somehow sat on a piece of duct tape while wearing my best khaki shorts. I peeled the tape off and ran the shorts through the wash, but the adhesive is still there on the seat. Any good suggestions on how to remove the stuff without ruining the shorts? The shorts are 100% cotton. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/2 "2007-07-16T03:07:08Z")
WD 40. Use it as you would a stain pre treat compound. (Spray it on, let it sit for a few hours, and then toss it in the laundry. There is a small chance it will react with the dye (very small, worth the risk, unless these are your “special” shorts), in which case you can test it on an inside seam or some other “Hidden” area. Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/3 "2007-07-16T03:15:48Z")
I just happen to have some WD40 laying around, so I’ll give that a try next time I do laundry. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/4 "2007-07-16T05:09:38Z")
Good Luck with that… let us know how it works out FML ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/5 "2007-07-16T05:14:32Z")
Peanut butter works too. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/6 "2007-07-16T14:07:27Z")
Goo Gone. It has a nice citrus scent, too. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/7 "2007-07-16T17:06:11Z")
Goo Gone is great on adhesive, but can affect many fabric dyes… FML ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/8 "2007-07-16T17:21:55Z")
Goo-be-Gone Goof Off. One of their products (they make several each) advertises as being great on latex paint removal. Don’t choose that one. Choose the other one and the dyes will be safe. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/9 "2007-07-16T18:08:30Z")
[Unseal](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/47233-REG/Seal_Bienfang_SE470_Unseal_32_Fluid_Oz_.html) or [Bestine](http://www.dickblick.com/zz239/04/). Those are industrial-stregth (and toxic), though. Goo-Gone would probably work. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-duct-tape-adhesive-from-fabric/411930/10 "2007-07-16T19:51:42Z")
You could try Un-Du or Grip Solvent. No idea if they’ll damage cloth, though. > **[Un-Du / Gri Solvent – Cool Tools](https://kk.org/cooltools/undu-grip-solve-1/)**