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Poster putty is a savior when you’re trying to decorate your walls without drilling any holes. But, removing the putty can be a cumbersome affair.
Any adhesive, like poster putty, is extremely easy to use and can last for a long time. You can easily hang various furnishings and DIY art projects on the blank walls using poster putty. And they don’t cause permanent damage like tacks and nails. But, the real trouble begins when you need to remove the poster putty while remodeling walls.
If you are not careful while removing the poster putty, you risk harming the integrity of the walls. Thus, it is essential to know some effective cleaning tricks while removing these temporary mounting products.
And that’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll be discussing the best methods for cleaning poster putty off your walls.
So, without wasting any more time, let us get on with it!
What Is Poster Putty?
If you are planning to hang your favorite posters or picture frames on a painted wall without making holes, poster putty is the best choice. Poster putty is an adhesive material that you can cut into different shapes and sizes for mounting things on the wall.
Simply put, it acts as a sticker or glue. So, this adhesive component in the putty helps you stick the poster or picture securely without using a hammer and nail.
However, the adhesive nature of the poster putty can act both as a blessing and a curse. That said, the adhesive component makes it very difficult to remove the putty during remodeling and renovation. And the longer an item stays on the wall, the harder it becomes to remove poster putty stains.
Moreover, if you are not careful while getting rid of the putty, you might leave an eyesore on the walls. So, it is best to have some easy cleaning hacks and tricks up your sleeve if you’re planning to change the wall décor.
How To Remove Poster Putty From Walls
We often get bored with the current bedroom wall décor and begin planning to remodel the walls by changing the old posters and photos. But, removing the existing adhesives can be a backbreaking ordeal if you don’t know the right methods and cleaning tricks.
As we mentioned earlier, the adhesive component of the putty poses the most trouble while removing the putty. It can also cause damage to the walls when kept on for a long time.
However, if you are aware of the most effective cleaning agents, removing even the most stubborn poster putty stains from the walls can become a pretty straightforward task. So, we’ll be highlighting some of the best methods for cleaning off poster putty without much hassle.
1. Using More Poster Putty
It may sound ironic, but you can remove poster putty from walls by using more poster putty.
First, use a poster putty knife to get rid of most of the poster putty. Then prepare a small poster putty ball using fresh putty and rub it gently in circular motions on the remaining stains.
You can take the small ball of new poster putty to clean old poster putty residues off the walls. Furthermore, you can dip a cotton ball in a citrus-based stain remover and apply it to get off the remaining putty after using the poster putty ball. Using fingernails or a poster putty knife can also do the trick of removing any residual stains from the walls.
2. Applying Rubbing Alcohol Or Vinegar
When we talk about cleaning stains, alcohol, and vinegar remain two of the best cleaning agents out there for deep cleaning. So, using a rubbing alcohol solution or white vinegar for removing poster putty is not a very far-fetched idea.
Simply soak a small cotton ball in rubbing alcohol solution or vinegar, and press the cotton ball against the poster putty stuck on the wall. Hold the cotton over the adhesive putty stain for a few seconds before using a poster putty knife to scrape off the putty gently.
After scraping off the majority of the putty, use a clean water-soaked cotton ball to wipe any alcohol or vinegar residues off the wall surface.
3. Using Trisodium Phosphate
Trisodium phosphate is a very common inorganic cleaning solution that is found in various cleaning agents. So, you can use it quite efficiently to remove poster putty.
The first step is to prepare a cleaning solution by mixing some trisodium phosphate with water. Then, use a cotton ball or sponge to soak up the solution gently and rub it on the stain. After you rub the solution, rinse off the stained area thoroughly and leave it to dry.
However, trisodium phosphate can cause skin irritations. So, it is best to wear protective latex gloves before using this inorganic chemical cleaning solution.
4. Applying Steam
Heat and steam can work wonders while removing adhesive putty from walls. That said, you can use your steamer or iron and apply it to the putty stuck on the wall. The steam will penetrate the adhesive and loosen it. Sometimes, applying steam can help remove all of the poster putties without leaving behind any sticky residue.
After applying the steam for a while, use a clean paper towel or a bristled scrubbing brush to scrub off the stained area in a circular motion thoroughly. You can pour a few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water on the paper towel while scrubbing off the putty stain.
5. Using Goo Gone Adhesive Remover
The Goo Gone Adhesive Remover is a commercial citrus cleaner that can remove any difficult stains, including poster putty, crayon stains, glue stains, oily stains, and so on. It comes with a surface-safe, non-toxic formula. So, it won’t be causing any damage to your walls while cleaning off the poster putty.
You can directly spray this citrus-based adhesive remover on the putty stain and let it soak the stained areas for a few minutes. Then, wipe it off using a clean cloth or a paper towel. After wiping off the stained area, wash the wall surface with hot and soapy water using a cleaning brush to get the best results without ruining the wall paint.
6. Using 3M Adhesive Remover
A 3M adhesive remover comes with a simple wipe-on and wipe-off formula and is super-easy to use. It is non-toxic and safe to use on most surfaces. The non-abrasive solvents present in the 3M adhesive remover readily dissolve the adhesive component of the poster putty without leaving behind any sticky residue.
You can directly spray some of it on the stained area and let the poster putty soak in the non-abrasive solvents. Then, use some warm soapy water and a clean cloth to wash off the area and let it dry.
7. Applying Dish Detergent
Rubbing dish soap directly on the poster putty can also be a good trick for getting rid of the putty. Pour a pea-sized amount of dishwashing detergent on a bristled scrubbing brush or any old toothbrush for scrubbing the stained area with dish soap.
Scrub the poster putty stain using firm circular motions for getting the best results. In this case, using a citrus-based dish detergent will be the most effective in removing any stubborn poster putty stains. So, you can simply raid your kitchen and grab some dishwashing liquid to clean off that sticky putty residue from the walls.
8. Using Rubber Eraser Wheel
If you’re looking for a non-chemical cleaning solution for removing the adhesive poster putty, a rubber eraser wheel is your answer. It is a drill attachment that rotates at a maximum rpm of 4000 and is absolutely safe to use on your walls. It is suitable for removing vinyl, mounting tape, poster putty, and any such adhesive components.
You can also use a mild solvent with this tool to remove any left-over sticky putty residues without much hassle. So, it can be a safer alternative for cleaning poster putty off your walls without using any chemical cleaning agents.
Final Words
Remodeling your bedroom walls by removing old posters and decorative items can be a hectic task if mounted on poster putty. But, we hope our article has helped you to know a little bit more about the tips and tricks for getting rid of those stubborn adhesive materials.
If you are worried about damaging the wall, you can go for mild citrus-based adhesive removers, like 3M adhesive remover or Goo Gone which come with a surface-safe formula. However, it's important to consider not just the visual appeal, but also the acoustics of your room. For instance, if you're dealing with unwanted noise in your home, you may consider incorporating soundproofing elements into your wall decor. You can even use poster putty to fix soundproofing panels or acoustic foam, providing a practical solution for minimizing noise. For a comprehensive guide on this subject, feel free to check out this resource on how to soundproof your walls.
But if you decide to use chemical cleaning solutions like trisodium phosphate, it is best to take all the necessary precautions to avoid any health hazards.
Anyway, these are just a few methods that we could think of. You can always pull up your socks and do some more digging to discover new cleaning hacks. And don't forget that the tranquility of your space matters just as much as its cleanliness and aesthetic appeal.
And on that note, we’ll be signing off. Take care and happy cleaning!
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