# Removing Old Masking Tape **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771 "2006-11-01T19:28:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/1 "2006-11-01T19:28:45Z")
Just how do I remove old masking tape from an aluminium surface? Someone once suggested kereosene - any thoughts? Thanks Michael ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/2 "2006-11-01T19:57:12Z")
I would try a blow dryer first. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/3 "2006-11-01T19:59:47Z")
I have two words for you: Goo Gone Pick up a bottle at the grocery store and you’ll find yourself going around the house with the stuff, cleaning up all of the gummy remnants of price tags, stickers and tape. Unlike kerosene, it’s got a pleasant citrus scent and isn’t inflammable. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/4 "2006-11-01T21:37:21Z")
Yup, Goo Gone is the way to go. Failing that, you could try the much stronger Goof Off. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/5 "2006-11-01T22:17:57Z")
Before they came out w/ those cleaner, like Goof Off, I used to use WD40 to remove decals from the painted surface of my big truck. I had to do this annually as new licensing decals came out. I don’t think a blow drier will work on masking tape. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/6 "2006-11-01T23:21:33Z")
depends on how attached you are to the surface, and how careful you can be. Masking tape, especially old tape, can be easily removed with a razor blade, but I’ve only done that on lab glass. I’m not sure if it would scratch metal or not. Acetone was our second line of defense, and always a favorite. But it’s expensive and can be used up a lot quicker than a blade. So we scraped off most tape. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![cedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/7 "2006-11-02T11:35:52Z")
If you don’t like using chemicals or you’re a cheap b\*\*\*\*\*d, like me, use peanut butter. The peanut oil will dissolve most adhesives. It IS slow but it is environmentaly friendly… that is, unless you’re allergic to peanut oil in which case it isn’t. CedricR. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/8 "2006-11-02T17:09:48Z")
Wildcat TR-60 is what I use to remove stickers from just about any surface. Place a paper towel on what you want removed, soak the towel with TR-60, wait 10 to 20 minutes and the sticker and all adhesive will wipe away. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/9 "2006-11-02T17:41:42Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] …Unlike kerosene, it’s got a pleasant citrus scent and isn’t inflammable. [/QUOTE] I was surprised to find out that [Goo Gone](http://www.magicamerican.com/googone.shtml) is, according to their [FAQs](http://www.magicamerican.com/faq.shtml), indeed not flammable, but it is “combustible.” From the linked FAQ: > [@](#): > > 1. How safe is this product? It says “combustible.” > > Combustible means you’d actually have to heat the Goo Gone to a temperature of 133°F and use a match to ignite it. Flammable means it would burn if you put a match to it at room temperature, and Goo Gone is not flammable. It’s safe to clean your dryer drum and your oven… just wash with soap and water when you’re through. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/10 "2006-11-02T19:08:16Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] Unlike kerosene, it’s got a pleasant citrus scent and isn’t inflammable. [/QUOTE] Wait… “isn’t inflammable” means “is flammable” 😕 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/11 "2006-11-02T20:43:52Z")
Certainly not! Would vegetable oil work? A friend of mine seems to use it for things that I would reach for the nail polish remover for. ---
**Author:** ![figure9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@figure9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/figure9)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/12 "2006-11-02T22:54:12Z")
If the surface finish isn’t critical you could use an abrasive, i.e sandpaper, rubbing compound. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/13 "2006-11-03T03:54:01Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Certainly not! Would vegetable oil work? A friend of mine seems to use it for things that I would reach for the nail polish remover for. [/QUOTE] I’ve used cooking oil to remove adhesive residue many times. Just thoroughly saturate the area with oil and let it sit for a few hours. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-old-masking-tape/378771/14 "2006-11-03T08:24:42Z")
[QUOTE=percypercy] Acetone was our second line of defense, and always a favorite. But it’s expensive and can be used up a lot quicker than a blade. -Lil [/QUOTE] Wait wait. . . maybe I’m wrong here- ok, I probably am. That said: I have a big, honkin’ bottle right next to me that says, “PURE ACETONE” I mean, this is a big bottle and I bought the whole thing for $2.50. Is this different than that which you speak? ?