How to remove packing tape residue when unpacking after a move

If there’s one type of packing supplies that you’re going to need more than cardboard boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap when packing for a move, it’s packing tape. No matter what kinds of items you’re packing and what wrapping materials you’re using, you won’t be able to hold the protective coverings in place or seal the moving boxes without packing tape. It secures your packed belongings and ensures that they stay properly protected during the move.

Packing tape is made to stick – it provides strong adhesion that prevents boxes from opening and wrappings from slipping off your items during loading, transportation, and unloading. This boon, however, becomes a curse when the time comes to unpack your belongings after the move.

Removing packing tape and all traces of it is not an easy task – the adhesive seeps into the porous surfaces of your items, leaving a sticky residue after the tape is peeled off. That sticky residue is very difficult to remove without damaging the surface underneath. If you let it stay, however, the adhesive will attract dust and dirt and will ruin the look of the item (not to mention that it will eventually stick to other items, as well).

To avoid such problems and ensure that your belongings look their best after the move, you need to know how to remove packing tape residue in a safe and efficient manner. Read on to find out the right way to do the job.

How to remove packing tape from cardboard boxes

There is little doubt that the first several days – and even weeks – in your new home will be spent opening cardboard boxes, taking out their contents, and arranging your new living space. You’ll be probably just cutting through the packing tape when unpacking the cartons in order to save time and effort. Yet, when the boxes are emptied and you need to decide what to do with them, you’ll be faced with a packing tape problem:

• If you want to recycle the cardboard boxes, you need to remove the packing tape from them first (which is easy enough, as you can simply tear the tape off);
• If you want to reuse the boxes, you likewise need to remove the sticky material – but in such a way that the cartons remain intact.

If you rip the tape off, the adhesive will likely take some of the cardboard with it and render the box unfit for use. To remove the packing tape without damaging the carton, you need to be very careful when separating the adhesive from the cardboard. Try one of the following methods:

1. Cut through the packing tape with a box cutter. Pull up the sections that remove easily, then carefully slide a scissors blade or a sharp knife under the tape that sticks to the box and keep pushing it gently until the tape lifts from the cardboard. Peel it off with great care;
2. Use a cotton swap dipped in alcohol or nail polish remover to slightly wet the tape (make sure you use a very small amount of alcohol that will evaporate quickly without damaging the cardboard). The adhesive backing of the tape will loosen and you’ll be able to gently pull off the tape from the cardboard;
3. Use a hairdryer or a heating gun set on medium heat at about 12 inches above the tape. The heat will soften the tape enough to let you pull it off without tearing the cardboard.

Your cardboard boxes will be free of packing tape and good to use again.

See also: What to do with cardboard boxes after moving

How to remove packing tape residue from wood furniture

When packing furniture for moving, you should wrap the pieces in moving blankets and secure the protective coverings in place with packing tape, taking care not to use the tape directly on the delicate wood surface. If you have followed this expert packing advice, you won’t need to worry about removing packing tape from your wood furniture when unpacking after the move.

Yet, you (or your movers) may have used some packing tape to keep furniture doors and drawers closed during the move or you may have accidentally taped the furniture while securing the wrapping materials. In such cases, you need to find a way to remove the adhesive from your wood pieces without damaging the finish. This means that you cannot rip the tape off (as the paint or finish may also come off) or use strong solvents, such as lacquer thinner or acetone (as they can ruin the finish).

To safely remove packing tape residue from wood, you’re advised to:

• Use a hairdryer or heat gun to heat up the tape first (heat won’t cause any discoloration or damage to the wood surface and will loosen the adhesive, so can take off the tape without any risk for your furniture). Keep the hair dryer blowing on the tape, warming up the area you’re working on and the area in front of where you’re lifting up the tape. It’s very important to warm and peel the adhesive simultaneously – if the surface gets cold, the adhesive will harden and will become difficult to remove. You need to gently scrape off the tape while applying heat on the surface of your furniture (you can use either a putty knife or a flat-edged scraper to scrape off the tape, holding the blade nearly parallel to the surface so as not to gouge it);
• Apply a few drops of an oil-based product (either WD-40 or some household oil, such as olive, lemon, or mineral oil) to a rag with a bit of texture to it, like a terry cloth, and rub at the sticky residue. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes and then wipe the area with a dry rag. If the adhesive is not completely removed, reapply the oil, and let it sit for another ten minutes before wiping it off. Wash away any remaining oil with soapy water and dry the furniture piece.

Alternatively, you can soak a paper towel in white vinegar and put it on top of the packing tape. Let it sit for five minutes, remove the towel, and try to pull off the tape – it should be peeling away quite easily. Rub the wood surface with the same paper towel to remove any remaining residue. Finally, wash the area with soapy water and dry the furniture.

Good to know: If you need to remove packing tape residue from furniture upholstery, you should refrain from using oil-based products as they can stain the fabric:

• If the adhesive is gooey, make a paste with baking soda and water, spread it over the sticky area, and let it dry. Then, brush off the dried baking soda – the tape residue should come off with it;
• If the residue has already turned hard, dab it with rubbing alcohol and scrape with a putty knife or a paint scraper until the adhesive is completely removed.

How to remove packing tape residue from glass, ceramics, and other hard surfaces

Removing packing tape residue from glass, plastic, metal, and other non-porous materials is somewhat easier as the adhesive will not have seeped into the surface. Warm water can often effectively do the trick – it will soften the adhesive, so you can easily remove the tape:

• Wet the surface with a sponge or microfiber cloth, wait for a couple of minutes, and gently peel off the tape (use a putty knife or another appropriate scraping device – start at the corner of the tape, sliding the scraper gently under the edge and pulling the tape back at the same time);
• If the tape doesn’t come off, add several drops of hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid to the water (it will help further break down the bond) and repeat the process;
• To remove any remaining tape residue, cover the affected area with a sponge or rag soaked in warm, soapy water. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub at the adhesive with small, back-and-forth strokes. Wipe the surface dry.
• For stubborn goo, use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover (as described above) to completely clean the sticky residue. When ready, wipe the area with a damp cotton towel and let it air dry.

Bonus tips for removing packing tape residue

Here are a few more tricks you can use to get rid of packing tape residue when unpacking after a move:

• Use a commercial gunk remover – Solvents will easily remove packing tape residue from any surface as they contain petroleum distillates and/or other chemicals that dissolve or neutralize the adhesive. These chemicals, however, are dangerous to inhale and can damage more delicate surfaces;
• Use a homemade adhesive remover – If you don’t want to use solvents, you can remove stubborn goo with a homemade gunk remover – mix baking soda with some kind of household oil to make a paste, spread it over the affected area, scrub at the sticky residue until it is removed, and rinse with warm water. The oil will soften the adhesive, breaking down its bond, and the baking soda will act as a mild abrasive, so you’ll be able to easily remove the goo from any surface that won’t be damaged from oil or moisture;
• Remove tape residue with tape – If the tape residue is still dry and sticky, you can remove it with duct tape – all you need to do is wrap some duct tape around your hand (with the sticky side out) and press it onto the adhesive you want to remove. Roll your hand over the residue – it will stick to the duct tape and will be gone. This method, however, won’t work if you have already tried to remove the adhesive with oil or a solvent.

With your items unpacked and no sticky residue left on them, the only thing left to do will be to arrange your new place to your liking and make it feel like home. Happy new life in your new home!