3m adhesive sprays are one of the strongest adhesives available out there. These spray adhesives are mostly used for crafting, repairing, or mending stuff more efficiently. But the sticky residue they leave behind is rather nasty I must say.
In this article, we’ll find out how to remove 3m adhesive spray residue from any surface. The most commonly practiced method is to apply chemical adhesive remover. But among household objects, peanut butter works great on curing the affected surface. It might sound a bit odd but it is very effective. Other than this, applying petroleum jelly or baby oil works well too.
Simply scrape the glue residue, apply a layer of baby oil, leave it for a while, and then rinse with hot water. You can also try applying perfume, hand sanitizer, or any other alcohol-based thinner to achieve the desired result.
Now, let’s dive deep into the topic and find out in detail how to deal with stubborn 3m adhesive spray residue. Go through the whole article to get all the answers that you are looking for.
Important
The best thing about using 3m adhesive spray is that it can be used on any kind of surface. You can apply it on glass, wood, wall, metal, and whatnot. But removing the sticky residue it leaves behind can be painful.
How easily and effectively you can remove 3m adhesive spray depends on the methods and from which surface you are trying to remove it. Porous surfaces like wood or concrete walls create a stronger bond with the adhesive than non-porous surfaces like metal or glass.
However, applying a little heat over the residue helps to melt it and break it down. It can be removed easily by scraping after that. Apart from this, applying hand sanitizer, perfume, baby oil, peanut butter, and other alcohol-based or oil-based products are also great for removing this sticky residue.
How to Remove 3M Adhesive Spray from Different Surfaces
Now, let’s discuss how you can get rid of stubborn 3m adhesive spray residue with household items in a few simple steps. Each of these methods works well on different surfaces. Read them carefully to know which will be best for which surface.
Method1: Peanut Butter
Using peanut butter to remove sticky residue is a frequently practiced household trick. It works like a wonder in case of removing 3m adhesive’s sticky leftover from wood, plastic, and fiberglass surface.
All you need to do is spread a layer of peanut butter all over the sticky area and leave it for about an hour. The oil present in peanut butter helps turn the residue stiffer and less sticky thus making it really simple to remove by gently wiping.
Method 2: Petroleum Jelly
As clumsy as I am, I often stain my clothing with gum, glue, or sticky stuff. But I found a way to remove these effortlessly while not harming the fabric at all. The trick is to use petroleum jelly.
First, scrape the surface of the residue gently and apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly and leave it for a while. Then, to get rid of the applied petroleum jelly, add a few drops of soap and rinse it with hot water.
Don’t forget to check the temperature of the water first to make sure it will not be harming the fabric. Petroleum jelly is also very effective for removing residue from wooden surfaces.
Method 3: Baby Oil
Using baby oil is another simple yet effective way to get rid of any gum residue. You can substitute it with coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemon oil if you want. This works well on wood or metal surfaces.
Just pour a few drops on the surface and then rub or scratch it with a scraper. You can also take some baby oil on a cotton ball and smear it all over the area. Once the sticky residue softens, wipe it away with a clean piece of fabric.
In the case of metal, wash the surface with soap and water to remove any oiliness.
Method 4: Using Acetone
Most adhesive residue on glass can be very easily removed by using acetone. If you don’t have pure acetone nearby, use nail polish remover instead. This will work the same.
Pour the acetone over the area that is affected by gum residue. Apply a little pressure and create friction. This should be enough to get rid of the sticky residue. You can also use denatured alcohol for this case. It will work just the same.
Rubbing alcohol is most effective for removing residue from a metal surface. Apply it with a piece of cotton ball and let it soak. The components of the adhesive will start to break down as soon as it comes in contact with rubbing alcohol.
This way it gets much easier to remove the stickiness without scratching or damaging the metal surface.
Method 5: Spray Perfume
Spraying a bit of perfume over any sticky gum residue works just like a charm. It helps you to remove the residue super easily as well as make the whole area smell good.
All you need to do is spray a little amount of it over the spot and then rub the surface with a clean towel. This should be enough to give you a clean and smooth surface.
Method 6: Hand Sanitizer
Removing sticky 3m adhesive residue from any fabric or clothes requires a gentle cleanser. Any harsh chemical can damage the quality and material of the fabric. So, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the best suitable in this case.
Hand sanitizers are a household staple nowadays. So, you can easily find them at reach. Just take a small amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and soak the area of the fabric completely with it. Let it sit for a while and then wash gently.
If there is still any gunk left, wash it with ammonia-diluted hot water. But, whatever you do, be sure to do a patch test first to ensure that the method is suitable for the type of fabric.
Method 7: Apply heat
Applying direct heat over the sticky spot is one of the easiest and most efficient methods. The heat melts down the components of 3m adhesive residue and helps you to clean it instantly just by scraping and wiping it with a clean cloth.
You can use a hairdryer as the heat source. It will save you a great deal of time. but, if you don’t have one applying hot water all over the spot will also do the work.
Method 8: Goo Gone Spray
Goo gone works just like a miracle for any stubborn stain or sticky mess. Just one or two pumps of spray are enough to get rid of any stubborn mess. It clings to the sticky messes while protecting the surface underneath.
It can remove any adhesive residue without causing harm to the surface material. All you need to do afterward is to clean the surface thoroughly with warm water and mild dish soap to make sure that all of the chemical product is gone.
Goo gone spray is mostly used on car or bike paint. It is also suitable for use on fiberglass or wall surfaces. However, beware of using it on silk, leather, rubber, unfinished wood surfaces, faux stainless steel, unsealed stone, or drywall as it can cause severe damage to the mentioned surfaces.
Method 9: 3m Adhesive Remover
Among all the methods I have applied so far, this one surely takes the crown. Although all the home remedies work great and are easy to apply, this is just on another level.
One small can of adhesive remover can save you hours of hard work. Spray a bit of it over the sticky mess and start scraping it. In case of stubborn residues, spray it over the remaining glue every 10-15 seconds and then scrape it again.
Once all of the stickiness is gone, wipe the surface clean with a damp piece of cloth, and you are done. Another great advantage is that it doesn’t even produce as much fume as you would think.
As you can tell, using a 3m adhesive remover can really be a game changer for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What Dissolves 3M spray adhesive?
There are many effective ways to get rid of stubborn adhesive residue. But, using hand sanitizer is surely one of the most effective ones. It can dissolve the residues of 3m adhesive within a very short time and saves you from so much hassle.
The alcohol-based versions typically contain ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These chemical components are capable of completely breaking down the elements of 3m spray residue and resulting in dissolving them. [source]
Q: How do You Remove 3M Double-sided Tape?
Any double-sided tape can be removed almost instantly by applying only a few drops of rubbing alcohol or acetone. All you have to do is first apply heat over the sticky spot to melt it down a bit.
After the glue has turned soft, apply the rubbing alcohol in there with some cotton balls. Once applied, rubbing alcohol or acetone makes the adhesive residue lose its adhesion and makes it fall apart.
All there is left to do now is to scrape and wipe the gunk away and you are done. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol at home, replace it with a nail polish remover and it will work the same.
Read Also: How to Remove Correction Tape
Q: How Do You Get 3M Adhesive Spray off Walls?
There are surely a lot of ways to remove sticky adhesives from your wall. But surely the simplest way to do it is to rub it off. Just take a dry rag or any other piece of fabric. Make sure there is no moisture in it.
Now gently apply pressure and rub the wall surface. If you use a wet fabric or apply too much pressure, you might risk stripping the paint on the wall. Once you are done rubbing all the adhesive away, add a little touchup paint and it’s done.
Wrap-Up
As you have gone through the whole article, I’m pretty sure you now know all the different methods by which you can get rid of any sticky mess. Be it on your desk, clothes, wall, window, or any metal surface, there are different techniques for each of them.
How easily and effectively you can remove 3m adhesive spray depends on which surface you are trying to remove it from. So, observe the mess first and then find the method that works best for you.
But always remember to take proper safety measures. While working with any kind of chemical component, don’t forget to wear gloves, goggles, and skin protectors.