Removing duct tape residue from fiberglass siding

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Kathy O

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Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Posts
56
Location
central Oregon
Lesson #51... don't use silver duct tape on the outside of the rv.  :eek:  I just removed the polystyrene boards from underneath the sliders to get ready for my spring move.  I had used silver duct tape to attach them and there are pieces of duct tape and duct tape residue left behind. I tried using Goo Gone and a paper towel to remove it, but it's stubborn.  Does anyone know of another product that will remove it easily from fiberglass siding?  Or am I destined for some hard elbow grease? I don't want to damage the siding. 

Thanks,
Kathy
 
Did you try Goo Gone with a Magic Eraser? If that doesn't work then I know the next product I would consider would be "Goo Off" but be real careful wih that stuff cause it will/can take off others things as well. I am sure others will be along with more suggestions. Good luck and let us know what altimately works for you.
 
Added to grocery list -- Goof Off, Magic Eraser and WD40.  I've used Goof Off for other things in the past, and it seems to work better than Goo Gone. The tape wasn't stuck to the decorative stickers they put on rvs.

~Kathy
 
depending on how much residue you have, the magic eraser idea will most likely cost you a small fortune.  I would try a terry cloth towel with wd40 first.  Maybe even a plastic putty knife.

(I am obsessive about removing stickers and tape residue, and I often spend more time removing a sticker from a plastic box than i really should ...)
 
    Our old standby is Varsol, which is a type of paint remover/thinner.  I understand that it is a brand name here in the US, but the term is used generically in Canada.  We use it on stickers of all kinds.

Ed
 
Try Right Guard (original) spray deodorant.  Works on lots of things!  I use it to remove the rubber on the fenders of the race cars after doing burnouts!  Even when the rubber has set on there for a long time.  On sticky price tags, tape residue, black permanent marker, etc.  Spray it on, let it set a minute or two and wipe off.  Might have to do it a second time.  It doesn't hurt the finish...we have nice paint jobs on our cars and wouldn't want something that would damage them.  And your RV will smell so nice!    ;) 
 
And people voluntarily apply this stuff to their bodies ??  :eek:

Actually, anything with an oil base will remove most adhesives.  That's why WD-40, a very light oil, works so well.
 
kleenz ez is used by auto paint companies to remove any residue from auto bodies before painting. I've found it to work well but have not tried it on duct tape residue. I would expect it would do a decent job but the stuff is expensive. Auto supply stores should have it.
 
peanut butter and a rag. try a small area first to make sure it is not going the harm the surface. we use it to get price tags off stuff. works on glass without scratching but I don't think I have tried it on fiberglass. I have used it on aluminum siding without causing scratches. make sure to use smooth not crunchy ???
 
WD-40 works well. Just make sure it's cleaned off well if planning on waxing any time soon.  Works great on removing tar and bug guts off of the tow vehicle too without hurting the finish.

I will have to make a note about Right Guard.  That's a new one.  If it works, at least the Summers might be a bit more comfortable minus the humidity inside!  :eek:

Mayonnaise might make me think of BLTs.  Never a good thing for me when food gets involved.  Same with peanut butter.

Be careful with anything used at bodyshops for stripping decals or glue residue.  A lot of these solvents need special attention.  Due to the fact that they are sold taking into consideration that the buyer knows how to use it.  They can be quite a bit more aggresive and remove more than you may want (paint).
 
Thanks for all of the tips and advice.  Off to town to do some shopping, so I'll pick up a can of WD40 and Goof Off (both of which I got rid of when I downsized into an rv. Me thinketh I downsized a bit too much ;)  -- though, I do have mayonnaise in the frig right now; the peanut butter is extra crunchy. First, it needs to stop raining...  ::)

 
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