Ranjit asked, “How do I remove a Selotape mark from porcelain tile?”
Table of Contents:
Whether you were purposely sticking tape on the floor while packing boxes or if the tape got transferred from the bottom of your shoe, tape adhesive can quickly create a sticky mess. Thankfully, tile is one of the easier surfaces to remove tape residue from. Use the steps below to remove the tape marks from your tile.
Removing the Adhesive
You Will Need:
- White vinegar
- A hair dryer
- A plastic scraper
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- Soap
- A cloth
- Baby oil
- Peanut butter
- Baking soda
- Acetone
Steps to Remove the Adhesive:
- If there is any tape left that needs to be removed before tackling the residue, warm white vinegar on the stove or in the microwave, soak a cloth with the warm vinegar, and lay the cloth on the tape for a couple minutes. Remove the cloth, then use a hair dryer on low heat briefly to warm the tape. Peel off the warm tape, then continue with the steps below to remove the residue.¹
- Soak a clean cloth in vinegar for several minutes. Lay the cloth over the tape residue and let it sit for a couple hours.² Use a plastic scraper or something similar, such as a credit card, to scrape off the residue. If the residue is not easily removed, continue on to the next step.³
- Wipe rubbing alcohol on the tape residue, then moisten a cloth with soapy water rub the tape residue away.⁴
- Warm baby oil in a pan or bowl. Wipe a small amount of the oil onto the tape residue and let it sit for several minutes. Use a plastic scraper or something similar, such as a credit card, to scrape off the residue.³ If you do not have baby oil, you can use olive oil instead.²
- Wipe a layer of creamy peanut butter onto the tape residue and let it sit for about half an hour. Clean off the peanut butter and residue with a soapy cloth. Repeat the process if needed.²
- Mix baking soda and a small amount of water to make a paste that is about the consistency of toothpaste. Wipe the paste on the tape residue and gently scrub the area with a damp cloth.⁵
- For older tape residue stains, try using acetone or acetone nail polish remover. Wipe the acetone onto the stain with a cotton ball or cloth, then scrub the area. If using colored nail polish remover, test it on a small, hidden area first, as the dyes can leave a stain on some surfaces.¹
Additional Tips and Advice
- Use caution to not let any of the cleaners seep into the grout, as this can cause stains or other problems.
- WD-40 can be an effective adhesive remover.⁴
- There are commercial products designed specifically to remove sticky messes, such as Un-Du.³
Sources
- Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
- Natural Green Home Cleaning For Beginners by R. Kishore
- The Queen of Clean’s Complete Cleaning Guide by Linda Cobb
- How To Clean Practically Anything by Consumer Reports
- Baking Soda by Vicki Lansky
Hello,
We recently had porcelain tile installed in a house, Adko Gypsum Matte – and duct tape was used to tape down plastic sheeting to protect the tile during final construction. Unfortunately, after the tape was removed, you can now see a line where the tile was taped. There is no residue; it’s like a discoloration in the tile itself now. Do you have any suggestions on what can be used to pull that discoloration up from the tile? Or who might know? It is quite upsetting, obviously, given the house is brand new!
Ellen,
It sounds like the adhesive soaked into the pores of the tile. There are two thing that might work.
1) Use a poultice. Mix isopropyl alcohol with some baking soda to make a thick paste that is about the consistency of peanut butter. Spread the poultice over the stain and leave it for several house. If the paste dries out too quickly, cover it with plastic wrap.
2) You can try spraying some break cleaner on the stains, then covering the stains with an absorbent powder like baking soda or kitty litter or sawdust. (The break cleaner helps to bring the material that has soaked in to the surface so it can be easily removed, such as by being absorbed by the powder. Watch out though, it is nasty stuff. If you have a spare piece of tile that you could use to test it on first, or just a hidden area of the tile, that would be best to ensure it is safe. Follow all safety instructions on the label of your selected product as well.) Let the powder sit on the area for several hours, then sweep it up. If needed, wash the area with dish liquid to remove any remaining residue from the break cleaner.
Source: How to Remove Motor Oil from Tile
Source: How to Remove Olive Oil from Concrete Floor and Wrought Iron
Hi Ellen,
I know long time have passed since, but did you tried the solution Melanie suggested?
I have exactly the same problem as you have and nothing has helped and I want to make sure before using abrasive stuff on my tiles.