# What's the best way to clean tape residue off metal (aluminum, I think)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578 "2023-07-04T20:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/1 "2023-07-04T20:01:05Z")
We have an old cat door that we can’t use, because the slider opening in our house is about one inch too short for it to fit. We last used it in our old apartment, where the building had settled a bit and the slider opening wasn’t exactly rectangular, so we had to jury rig some weatherstripping for insulation. This involved taping a line of crumpled paper towels to the edge of the cat door. There is, or should be, a type of weatherstripping that would be ideal for that situation, but if there is I could never find it. So I would like to sell this cat door.\* It’s still perfectly functional, but it has a fair amount of tape residue on the metal frame. I’ve managed to get some of it cleaned off, but the rest is very stubborn. Can anyone suggest a way to get the rest of it off? I’m willing to consider anything up to and including small flames, if it will help. \*I don’t intend to offer it here in the Marketplace forum, as it has to be strictly local. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/2 "2023-07-04T20:04:40Z")
Have you tried acetone (nail polish remover)? It’s a universal solvent, and really works on getting stickum of glass. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/3 "2023-07-04T20:09:37Z")
95-99% alcohol works well on glues/tape residue. It is pretty safe and pretty cheap when I buy it through Amazon. I use it for a lot of things including cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/4 "2023-07-04T20:16:03Z")
Alcohol \> naphtha (Goo Gone, but VSOP Naphtha from the hardware store is cheap) \> acetone ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/5 "2023-07-04T20:22:07Z")
I use Goo Gone a lot. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/6 "2023-07-04T20:23:49Z")
Yep, that’s what I would have suggested ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/7 "2023-07-04T20:44:01Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I use Goo Gone a lot. Or [Goof Off.](https://www.amazon.com/Goof-Off-FG653-Professional-Strength/dp/B002MPPYYS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2RMP7S0E6A78X&keywords=goof+off&qid=1688503411&sprefix=goof+off%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-5) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/8 "2023-07-04T20:59:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > 95-99% alcohol works well on glues/tape residue. It is pretty safe and pretty cheap when I buy it through Amazon. I use it for a lot of things including cleaning. I have a bottle of 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol; that’s available almost everywhere for a dollar or two. I’d start with that, as it’s already in the house. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/9 "2023-07-04T21:10:59Z")
Another vote for goof off ! Or goo gone. Rubbing alcohol works too but my experience with the above is better. You might want to test on a hidden part of the aluminum to be sure it won’t discolor the finish. Goof off or goo gone are both handy things to have under the kitchen sink or in the workshop. You’ll get your money’s worth out of them over time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/10 "2023-07-04T22:07:41Z")
WD40 also works as a solvent for things like this. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/11 "2023-07-04T23:16:53Z")
WD40 has kerosene in it, which is a good solvent. If it was duct tape and nothing else works, you can try gasoline **BUT** do it outside and be extremely careful there are no ignition sources nearby. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/12 "2023-07-04T23:19:05Z")
Looking at them both Goof Off and Goo Gone are pretty heavy on the kerosene too. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/13 "2023-07-04T23:20:55Z")
I thought Goo Gone was a citrus solvent/cleaner? I’ll have to look it up. Not sure what’s in Goof Off, but my wife was using it once on some spilled paint and it gave me a tremendous headache. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/14 "2023-07-04T23:21:25Z")
Aha, the one thing I’ve read so far that I have. Using WD40, do I nead to scrub or will it just wipe off? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/15 "2023-07-04T23:31:10Z")
Goo Gone Ingredients Petroleum distillates Aliphatic ether alcohol d-Limonene Polymer Orange sweet extract Solvent orange 60 Solvent red 18 Goof Off Ingredients Ethylbenzene Butoxydiglycol Kerosene Acetone Xylene ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/16 "2023-07-04T23:42:46Z")
What kind of tape residue? Sticky residues and skunge are easily removed with most any solvents. “Lighter fluid” is tough to beat and won’t damage paint or finishes. Dried tape residue - masking tape in particular, is stubborn stuff. WD40 or similar works well, or commercial products with kerosene and oils because they don’t evaporate right away. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/17 "2023-07-04T23:58:44Z")
I’ve had luck getting tape residue off more delicate surfaces with just plain vegetable oil. You let the oil soak into the goo, then wipe it with a paper towel. If there’s any left, or if iwant to get the oil off, that’s when I break out the isopropol alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/18 "2023-07-05T00:18:17Z")
I have actually gotten tape residue off bare aluminium using isopropyl alcohol; it was 99.9%, though, not 70%. Worked great, though I suppose it depends exactly what kind of residue you are dealing with 🙂 Does not leave an oily film (exposed aluminum should form a layer of alumina on it, anyway) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/19 "2023-07-05T01:17:10Z")
I’m trying the WD-40 and it’s working on most of it. If I need something more effective I’ll go buy some goo-gone. ---
**Author:** ![Yosh99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578/20 "2023-07-05T01:24:08Z")
It’s likely either a cross-linked acrylic adhesive or hot melt adhesive. If hot melt, you can clean with toluene or mineral spirits (or WD40). If x-linked it won’t be soluble in much of anything, but acetone might be your best bet. None of these adhesives are very soluble in polar solvents like alcohol. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-tape-residue-off-metal-aluminum-i-think/986578.md?page=2)