Best Ways to Get 3M Adhesive Off Tiles, Walls, Cabinets & More

3M adhesive is a strong tape that comes on a roll or as thicker double-sided foam strips. It's typically used in the home to hang pictures, display objects, shower caddies, hooks, and baby locks. It's also used by car owners to mount accessories like dash cams to their vehicles. While it bonds extremely well to just about any surface, that same sticky quality makes it tricky to remove. This article will teach you how to remove 3M adhesive from any surface.

Easiest Ways to Remove 3M Adhesive

Tiles: Scrape the adhesive off the tile with a razor blade or a sharp scraping tool.
Cabinets: Use a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive and slowly peel or scrape it off the wood.
Painted Walls: Heat up the adhesive with a hair dryer or steamer and slowly peel it off.

Section 1 of 11:

Heat

Download Article

Works best for: drywall, wood, and mirrors Point a hair dryer at the adhesive and strobe it back and forth for 45 seconds minutes. Then turn off the appliance and use your fingers, a plastic scraper, or a butter knife to peel the adhesive from the surface. Work slowly so as not to remove any paint. Turn your hair dryer back on as needed to heat up the adhesive and weaken its bond to the surface, so you can peel or scrape it off.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- This method is safe for getting rid of the adhesive you used to hang pictures, shelving, hooks, or display objects on your painted wall. It's also safe to use on kitchen cabinets where you might attach baby locks with double-sided foam tape.

Section 2 of 11:

Steam

Download Article

Works best for: drywall or plastic Lift a corner of the adhesive with a pair of pliers and point your steamer directly at the adhesive. Move the steamer back and forth to distribute the heat evenly while slowly lifting up the adhesive with the pliers. Continue this process until the adhesive is completely removed.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Follow the instructions for using your steamer carefully to avoid burning yourself.

Section 3 of 11:

Isopropyl Alcohol

Download Article

Works best for: glass, wood, walls, and metal After you peel or scrape up most of the adhesive using your fingers or a razor blade, wet a section of your microfiber towel with isopropyl alcohol (or use an alcohol pad) and rub it gently into the residue. Go slowly so you don't lift any paint or splinters.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Isopropyl alcohol is food-safe and ideal for cleaning 3M adhesive from a cutting board, the surface or interior of an appliance, or your kitchen utensils.
- It's also perfect for removing 3M adhesive residue from glass, like after you take a detachable dash cam off your windshield.

Section 4 of 11:

Razor Blade

Download Article

Works best for: kitchen or bathroom tiles First, work dental floss between the adhesive and the item attached to it (i.e., a shower caddy or a hook) to remove the item. Then, while working the razor blade in one direction and wiggling it back and forth, gently scrape the adhesive from the tile. The sharp blade won't harm regular, unpainted tile.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Don't use a razor blade on walls, wood, cars, or other types of metals. You're far more likely to scratch these surfaces than you are ceramic tile.

Section 5 of 11:

Nail Polish Remover

Download Article

Works best for: unpainted glass, untreated wood, and metal Soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and then wipe it on the adhesive. As the acetone soaks in, begin peeling the adhesive with your fingers or a small plastic scraper. Continue soaking cotton balls in nail polish remover and rubbing them on the adhesive until the bond is softened enough to remove it.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Avoid using nail polish remover on a painted or finished surface. Acetone is a strong solvent that will lift paint from walls, cars, and furniture. It's also not food-safe, so keep it away from anything you use to cook.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}

Section 6 of 11:

WD-40

Download Article

Works best for: the surface of cars Spray a small amount of WD-40 on the area where you see adhesive and then gently scrub it with a paper towel. Add more WD-40 as needed and keep rubbing the area with a paper towel until all the adhesive is gone.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- WD-40 is not a food-safe substance, so avoid using it to clean adhesive from any surface in the kitchen or bathroom.

Section 7 of 11:

Petroleum Jelly

Download Article

Apply a dab of petroleum jelly to the adhesive, let it sit for a few minutes, and then gently scrape the adhesive away with a plastic scraper.^{[8]
X
Research source}

Section 8 of 11:

Cooking Oil

Download Article

Works best for: any surface Pour a small amount of your chosen oil (i.e., vegetable, olive, avocado, canola, or even coconut oil) onto a paper towel and then rub it into the adhesive residue. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then scrape up the residue with a plastic scraper. Finish up by cleaning the surface with soap and water.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Due to its oil content, peanut butter can also effectively remove 3M adhesive. Use the same method as above to apply it to the adhesive.

Section 9 of 11:

Goo Gone

Download Article

Works best for: metal and finished wood Spray a small amount of Goo Gone onto the adhesive and leave it to soak in for a couple of minutes. Then rub a dry microfiber cloth into the Goo Gone to lift the sticky residue. This is a strong cleaner, so wear gloves when using it and avoid cleaning items you use to cook or serve food.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- You should also avoid applying Goo Gone to drywall or unfinished wood, as it could ruin these surfaces.

Section 10 of 11:

3M Adhesive Remover

Download Article

Works best for: cars and mirrors Pour a small amount onto a soft dry towel (or spray it directly on the sticky area) and then use it to rub the adhesive away. Wear gloves to keep it from getting on your skin. Avoid using it in the house since it's rated as an industrial cleaner.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You may also consider wearing a mask and goggles, as the smell of 3M Adhesive Remover is incredibly potent.

Section 11 of 11:

Removing 3M Adhesive FAQs

Download Article

3M Adhesive Remover works faster than Goo Gone, but it is much stronger and is only safe for industrial purposes, like cleaning adhesive off a vehicle or metal parts. Goo Gone is safer for household applications. Neither cleaner should be used around food.
Use isopropyl alcohol or cooking oil to lift residue from Command Strips. You can also use nail polish remover with acetone, providing the surface isn't painted and isn't going to be used for storing, preparing, or serving food.
Use heat from a hair dryer or a steamer, isopropyl alcohol, or cooking oil to break down the bond in 3M adhesive without stripping the paint underneath. Then slowly and carefully peel or rub the adhesive off.