Things You'll Need
1 tbsp. Mineral spirits
2 Dry cloths
Damp sponge
Tip
If you don't have any mineral spirits, apply a petroleum-based solvent to the tape residue with a clean cloth. Rinse with water and dry.
Warning
Test a small, inconspicuous area of the plastic first to make sure the mineral spirits won't damage the finish.
Once adhesive tape is attached to a plastic surface, it seems it is there to stay. When you finally succeed in removing the tape, you are often left with another issue: tape residue. Unfortunately, water and a sponge won't do the trick of removing the sticky offending substance. Instead, you need something that will dissolve the residue and leave the plastic surface like new.
Step 1
Pour 1 tbsp. of mineral spirits into a small container.
Step 2
Dip a section of a clean dry cloth into the mineral spirits and rub the mineral spirits into the tape residue with the cloth.
Step 3
Rub the area firmly in order to effectively remove the leftover tape adhesive. Apply more mineral spirits to the cloth if needed.
Step 4
Wipe the area with a section of a clean water-dampened sponge after all of the residue has been removed. Dry with a clean cloth.
Cynthia Measom
Based in Texas, Cynthia Measom has been writing various parenting, business and finance and education articles since 2011. Her articles have appeared on websites such as The Bump and Motley Fool. Measom received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin.