How to get the "sticky" off
 

I have a friend who made her first quilt. She thought it would be easy to mark her quilt (made with squares of Grandma's heirloom floral sheets) with masking tape. When she removed the tape, she was left with strips of sticky residue. Any idea how to clean it off?

Thanks for any help!

How disappointing for your friend.
I am always so hesitant in dealing with any sorts of marks or stains ... so no help here.

She had the right idea ... just the wrong product.

You might want to tell your friend to use Painter's Tape the next time.
It is "safe" as it doesn't leave the residue behind that you get from masking tape.
I use it in oh so many ways in my sewing room.

GooGone? I would definitely do a patch test first, though, to make sure it does not stain or bleach the vintage sheets.

When I was a kid, my mom used a product called "Carbona". I don't know if they even make it anymore. Again, she would need to do a patch test.

I actually bought Carbona for grease stains on my kitchen chairs at the supermarket in the household cleaners section. They have many many different types for each kind of stain you have. I don't know if they have one for goo, but it's worth checking into.

I use GooGone with great regularity, but do test on a scrap to see that the chemical does not harm the fabric. LQS sometimes sells a spot remover called Grandma's Spot remover which I use with success also.

She can try rubbing alcohol. I've also hear rubbing corn starch onto the adhesive. I would tell her to get some scrap fabric & see if she can reproduce the sticky mess on that, then use the scrap fabric to test removal methods.

This is good idea. Most often I use GooGone but not on fabric. Another thing you might try is paper sack or paper towel. Place the paper sack or paper towel on the spot and press an iron to see it the adhesive sticks to the paper. but do a sample piece first. Good luck!!

This will sound strange but it's safe and worth a try. Peanut butter removes gum so it might remove tape residue. Also, ice will harden gum so that it can be scraped off so that is a safe try also.

What about washing it using some sort of specialty detergent??? Tell her that painter's tape is the better product to use but I don't leave that on for long either.

I have used lighter fluid on "sticky" stuff. Test a small section. It washes out very nicely.

In Australia we have "Sticky Stuff Remover" by Betterware Australia Pty Ltd "for removing sticky residue left by glue, adhesive tape, labels, tar, oil or chewing gum from glass, china, plastic, fabric or paintwork". Hope you can buy it in the US!

You're right. Peanut butter is one of the best ever gum removers. Would be a darned sight easier to clean out of fabric than orange oil.

Try Goof Off or Krud Cutter. Goof Off is made in several formula's. I spilled paint on a customers suede purse at work and used both to clean it off. All came off and did not damage the bag. I have used both on material many times with no issues. Still try it on a scrap piece first depending on your fabric.

NOT Goo Gone. No, no, no. Please don't use that on fabric! We used it on a carpet and it disintegrated the backing fabric. My recommendation is to read all these posts and try to figure out something less destructive.

GoofOff is what I use for everything sticky. It is easy on fabric. My son comes gets paint on his clothing often and I spray it, let it sit and wash it. I would test it on a scrap of fabric first be sure.

Start with the least harsh and do not put into dryer. My first thought was Dawn. Not sure how much I would use in a washer without mountains of suds. Even alcohol in the wash.

I had this happen to me when I first started quilting. I used lighter fluid and that worked for me.

I agree. I try to remove the tape as soon as I have completed the work around it. And I don't place it until I'm ready to stitch. Don't know if leaving it on for a long time would cause a problem.

***
*** I'm with DACO48
*** Lighter Fluid works wonders .
*** Rub it on the Spots and then Wash the regular way.
***

***
*** I'm with DACO48
*** Lighter Fluid works wonders .
*** Rub it on the Spots and then Wash the regular way.
***

Lighter fluid is nothing more than Naptha - the same thing your local dry cleaner uses to remove tough stuff. Test a spot. It washes out quickly using warm water and laundry detergent.

Definitely lighter fluid. I had a similar problem a couple of years ago and posted it to this board. I had MANY replies with various products which I tried with no results -- until I tried the lighter fluid as a last result. Voila! It worked wonders immediately. I then washed the squares I was working on with a mild liquid soap in lukewarm water and let them air dry. Not a speck of residue remained. I wish you luck with getting rid of all your residue!

I've had success with putting the fabric in the freezer for awhile and then "rolling" the sticky stuff off. I'm really hesitate to use chemicals on fabric. I wish you luck.

Just got my 4 oz. spray bottle of citrus stuff down. Mine came from a Sherwin Williams paint store in MI. It is called Quick' n Kleen and the label says it removes adhesives, tar and a lot of other stuff from carpets clothes. Of course test before using on your whole item.
Just used it on my hands to get some canned foam off, it does leave a slight shiny coating even though I washed with Dawn.
Have had the bottle for ages and still have 1/3 left, bought it at $2.49. Made by Liberty Technologies from Bay City MI, less than an hour from me. And it is Earth Friendly to boot, no more sticky foam on me*Ü*

I wouldn't try Peanut butter it's very oily and will probably leave a grease stain

I use the Carbona #1, for glue, gum and nail polish. It's worked great for all of the previous mentions and getting sticky labels off jars ect. I always keep 2 bottles in the house.
Jeri

Joysewer you sure brought back memories of removing gum from my daughters and Grand daughters hair lol, thanks for the memories!
Jeri