If you own a car, then it’s likely that one tool you won’t miss having in your toolbox is a roll of duct tape. Now, why duct tape? Well, duct tape is a versatile, accessible, and highly useful tool that lets you attach various parts of your car together before scheduling for maintenance. Duct tape contains a special adhesive that’s formulated with natural rubber compounds to offer a solid adhesion. But, regardless of its success, there are times when its blessing can turn into a curse. For that reason, you need to learn how to remove duct tape residue from car.
You see, duct tape is designed to offer a temporary repair to your car. However, once you remove the tape from your car, what remains is a gummy residue that attracts dust and other dirt particles. So, to keep your car clean, you need to remove the tape and the sticky adhesive that’s left behind.
Now, various methods can be used to remove the gummy residue from your car’s body. You can use a sharp razor blade, a utility knife, or a plastic scraper. But, despite offering the desired results, these methods can lead to unsightly scratches to your car’s paint finish. For that reason, this guide has detailed five sure-fire methods you can consider to remove duct tape residue from your car.
Is Duct Tape Important For Car Repair?
The simple answer is Yes! Just like any other repair tool in your car’s toolbox, duct tape offers a wide range of repair solutions in a plethora of tasks. One of the factors that make it so essential is the combination of its adhesive strength and extraordinary versatility. Its fabric backing offers a combination of strength and flexibility that allows it to stick on a diverse range of surfaces.
Regarded as a multi-purpose car repair kit, duct tape can be used to overcome a variety of common car problems before you can schedule car maintenance. So, with that said, here are several repair problems that can be fixed using duct tape.
Smashed or Shattered Glass:
In case your headlight, taillight, or window is cracked, smashed or broken accidentally while driving, duct tape can offer a quick solution before driving to the nearest auto repair shop. In the case of the window, all you need is to crisscross the duct tape on the damaged area from the inside of the car. This will prevent tiny pieces of glass from falling inside the car.
In the case of the headlights or the taillights, you can use either red duct tape, yellow duct tape, or clear duct tape to fix the signal, indicator, or headlight itself.
Damaged Bumper:
Imagine you’re driving with a damaged bumper that’s nearly falling off to the road each time you accelerate. Well, one temporary repair solution you can consider is using duct tape to stick the bumper back to where it belongs. The best thing about duct tapes is that they’re available in a plethora of colors that match your car’s paint finish.
Dangling Mirror:
If you’re driving and you suddenly smash your side mirror on a post or an oncoming car, you don’t have to panic. The entire mirror assembly can be assembled temporarily by binding it using duct tape. At least this way, you’ll be able to use the mirror while you drive to the nearest auto repair shop.
Leaking Hose:
If you’re driving and you suddenly realize you have a ruptured radiator hose, your car will most likely overheat. So, to avoid damaging crucial parts, duct tape can be used to seal the leaking spots. In case the hose is too hot and steaming, you can pour a mixture of water and antifreeze to regulate the temperatures. Remember, this is just a temporary solution meaning you’ll need to visit a repair garage to have the radiator hose fixed permanently.
Ways to Remove Duct Tape from Car
Now that you’ve used duct tape to accomplish any of the above repair functions, the last thing you’ll do once you get to an auto repair shop is to remove the duct tape to have the area inspected and fixed permanently.
But, once the duct tape is removed, some gummy residue might remain behind, which can attract a lot of dust and dirt. Removing this adhesive demands some patience and perseverance as doing it aggressively can hurt or rather ruin the car’s paint finish. So, with that said, here are five surefire ways you can remove duct tape from a car.
Things You’ll Need:
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Clean cloth
- Vegetable oil
- WD-40
- Baking soda
- Goo Gone
- Warm water
- Hairdryer
Method One: Using Warm Water
The first method you can consider when removing duct tape from a car is using warm water. The reason why warm water is essential here is due to its viscosity and the presence of heat, which aids in softening the structure of the sticky adhesive. So, to apply this method, here are two steps you can follow.
- Step One: So, start by preparing a bucket of warm water and a clean sponge/rag. Wet the rag and place it over the sticky part for several minutes. This will allow the warm water to soften the structure of the adhesive to make it easier to get rid of.
- Step Two: Once the warm rag/sponge gets cold, wipe the affected area using back-and-forth strokes until all the sticky residue comes out. Now, there are times when the adhesive of the duct tape can prove too stubborn to come off.
In such a case, you can consider adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the warm water to further break down the adhesive bond. So, cover the affected area with a warm wet soapy rag/sponge and hold for about 10 minutes. Wipe the area thoroughly by applying more pressure to ensure much of the duct tape residue is removed.
Method Two: Using Rubbing Alcohol
Another method you can consider when removing duct tape from a car is using isopropyl-rubbing alcohol. The best thing about rubbing alcohol is that it’s a versatile household item that’s quite easy to acquire. So, if this is the route you’ve picked, then here’s a simple procedure you can follow.
- Step One: Pick a soft clean cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. This type of alcohol can be bought over the counter in any drug store. Once you’ve soaked the cloth with the rubbing alcohol, gently rub the affected area using back and forth strokes. During the process, the combination of the friction and the effects of the rubbing alcohol will work together to remove the gummy residue.
Note: Just before you commence, make sure that you spot test the rubbing alcohol first to ensure it doesn’t ruin your car’s paint job.
- Step Two: Once you’ve removed all the gummy residue from your car, wipe off the surface with a clean dry cloth or paper towel. Touch the surface using your fingers to confirm the surface no longer feels rough, sticky, or gummy.
Method Three: Using Baking Soda and Essential Cooking Oil
The third method you can consider is mixing any cooking oil of your choice with baking soda. Although this method works, the only slight drawback is that it takes quite some time before you achieve the desired results.
- Step One: So, start by mixing equal amounts of baking soda and cooking oil. This can be coconut oil, essential oil, or any other type of cooking oil that’s available. Mix them thoroughly until you form a paste.
- Step Two: Pick a clean cloth or an old toothbrush and dip it inside the paste. Transfer the paste to the affected area of your car and spread it across the entire region. Leave it for 30 to 60 minutes to allow the paste to soak inside the gummy adhesive.
- Step Three: Get another cloth and start rubbing the affected area with warm water. During the process, you’ll wash off the baking soda + cooking oil paste to remain with a clean surface. Rinse the cloth gently and continue rubbing against the affected part until all the duct tape adhesive comes off. Rinse the area one last time and wipe it dry using another clean cloth.
Method Four: Using a Solvent
Another way you can remove duct tape residue on your car’s body is by using solvents. Solvents are primarily intended for auto body spot cleaning purposes and are hence the best in such situations. So, how do you use solvents to remove duct tape residue from the car?
- Step One: Start by buying the solvent in any gas station or auto repair store. Next, pick a soft cloth and dampen it with the solvent. Spot test the solvent by rubbing it against a tiny spot on your car’s body to see whether it affects the car’s paint job.
- Step Two: In case it doesn’t, proceed to scrub the solvent against the gummy area to break the bond between the adhesive and the car’s metal surface.
- Step Three: Once the entire adhesive has been removed, wipe the metal surface with a clean damp cloth to remove any residue left by the solvent. Another effective solvent you can use in this step is WD-40 or Goo Gone.
Just like any other automotive solvent, apply WD-40 on a cloth and use it to wipe the affected area. Rub the WD-40 solvent using back and forth strokes until all the adhesive has been removed. Pick a dry cloth and wipe off any WD-40 or Goo Gone leftover from the car’s body to avoid damaging the paint job.
Method Five: Using a Hair Dryer
If your car’s paint job doesn’t allow you to use cooking oil, solvents such as WD-40, warm water, or alcohol, then you can use hot air instead. Although this process is time-consuming, it’s one of the safest options as it doesn’t include any liquids that can penetrate to delicate parts of your car.
- Step One: So, to use this method, simply set your hairdryer to the highest setting and hold close to the duct tape adhesive. Hold it for about 45 seconds then try to scrap the gummy residue using an old credit card or a damp plastic. Since the adhesive will be less sticky, it will come off easily.
- Step Two: With the gummy residue out of the way, use a damp cloth to wipe off any remaining adhesive in that area. If you notice some gummy residue, heat the area once more and try scraping it off.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. As you can see, there are many ways you can remove duct tape residue from a car. While some methods can be applied independently, some will need to be combined to get rid of stubborn stains. So, with that said, which method do you feel is the best? Please share your thoughts.
