For those who don’t know, blu-tack (or u-tack, or something else) is a clay-like substance that is normally used to stick things like posters on walls. My problem is that when I take blu-tack off my walls, sometimes a tiny bit remains and is an absolute bitch to get off.
The method I currently use is either scraping it with my fingernails wiping it with a soapy cloth - neither of which seem particularly effective. Is there another method for getting left-over blu-tack off walls or am I doomed to continue whittling my fingernails down to nothing?
I hate that stuff. I always wondered why it was such a bitch to get off the wall when the poster gets loose from it after about two months and will never stick to it again. Grrr.
Liquid wallpaper I can buy, a putty knife I have, and patience I can drum up. However, (and this may be a stupid question), how do I use the three together?
For future reference, the El Cheapo blu-tack (here in Illinois, BTW, it’s just known as “tacky”, whether it’s blue or white), is a lot harder to get off the wall than the upscale DAP brand.
It’s easier to get off of washable shiny latex than off of matte finish latex or wallpaper. But you probably already know that.
The best way to get it off is to use a wad of more tacky to pick it up.
But it’s too late for that, isn’t it? Otherwise you wouldn’t be here asking this. If you’re talking about a matte finish latex wall (or wallpaper), and it’s really embedded, then scrape with the putty knife (or even a table knife or the side of a single edge razor blade). See how much of it you can get off.
If it still looks terrible: Is the wallpaper glued on the wall with starch wallpaper paste, or is it the self-adhesive kind? If it’s the self-adhesive kind, use the remover to remove a small circle, then (ideally) patch it. You did save some wallpaper remnants, didn’t you?
If it’s the wallpaper paste kind, use a wet sponge to remove a small circle and then patch it.
Sometimes you can remove chunks of wallpaper from behind a framed picture or in the closet, to use for patching. Soak it, then use a razor blade or X-acto knife.
Dab the liquid wall paper remover along the top edge of the putty. Let it sit a few minutes. This will help separate the putty from the wall. Then scrape off the top edge of the putty with the scraper. Continue until finished, but be very careful to not scrape off the finish on the wall.
I’m reading the back of a (white) sticky tack package at the moment, and it says that a small amount of lighter fluid should get leftover sticky tack off of your walls. I don’t know if this actually works, but it might be wise to try it out on a part of the wall that no one can see first.
Duck Duck Goose, I don’t have wallpaper - it’s paint. And the horrible thing is that over the years, I’ve stuck lots of little things up on my walls with blu-tack (or “tack”, as you guys call it :D) so now it looks like my room has blue acne.
Things to try this weekend:
Liquid wallpaper remover, a putty knife, and patience. :)(Courtesy of Muffin)
(From DDG)