Blu Tack is a staple in the home when you need a quick, no-fuss way to hang items. There’s no need to start drilling holes or drive nails into a wall; simply break off a blob of Blu Tack and stick it to the wall. However, it's not perfect; it can leave unsightly marks when removed.
Fortunately, this guide offers plenty of tips and tricks to help you remove marks and achieve a clean, blemish-free surface. Alternatively, you may try painting a ceiling or wall to conceal the mark. However, this approach won’t always be effective if the preparation is poor and you select the wrong paint. Once again, you’ll find the answers here to prevent that from happening.
Sarah Dempsey has worked in the cleaning industry for over twenty-five years and specialises in domestic cleaning and laundry. She also works closely with MyJobQuote to provide expert cleaning knowledge to homeowners, tradespeople and news outlets.
Why does Blu Tack mark walls?
The makeup of Blu Tack is what leaves a mark on the wall, as Sarah Dempsey, Cleaning expert for MyJobQuote, explains, “Blu Tack is made from synthetic rubber and mineral oil. The mineral oil is essential for keeping the rubber pliable and sticky, but this does leach out over time.”
She adds, “Unfortunately, this oil can soak into absorbent surfaces, such as plaster walls covered with paint or wallpaper, creating a noticeable stain or greasy mark.”
Alice O’Regan, Category Manager at Bostik UK (the makers of Blu Tack) points out where Blu Tack is best used, “It’s important to remember that Blu Tack works best on non-porous surfaces like vinyl-coated wallpaper, painted surfaces, glass and metal.”
She adds, “It’s best to avoid using Blu Tack on porous brickwork and absorbent or recently decorated surfaces such as silk-screen printed or hand-stencilled wallpapers.” It’s worth noting that Blu Tack will work on these surfaces, but its composition means it may leave marks. So be aware.
Alice O’Regan is Category Manager for stationery and repair at Bostik UK, the manufacturer of Blu Tack. Here, Alice reveals the best methods for removing Blu Tack from surfaces.
Try these tools to help remove Blu Tack marks
This set contains all you need to clean walls ready for paint. Includes a Bartoline ready-to-use sugar soap spray, gloves, scrubbing sponge and a crevice brush for hard-to-reach areas.
No one wants marks and stains seeping through paint. This popular stain blocker paint from Zinsser dries quickly and has great hiding power, making sure your top coat stays stain-free.
This 10-pack of all-purpose cleaning sponges will remove stubborn stains and marks from nearly all surfaces. Simply wet the sponge and start using straight away.
Best ways to remove Blu Tack
If you’ve got Blu Tack left on your wall after taking down posters, pictures and anything else, the Blu Tack often remains on the wall. Here, Alice O’Regan, Category Manager at Bostik UK (the makers of Blu Tack), reveals a few recommended ways to get rid of Blu Tack.
Remove Blu Tack with Blu Tack
O’Regan says, “The quickest and most effective way to remove Blu Tack from a wall is by using another blob of Blu Tack.” She continues, “For Blu Tack that has been there for a long period of time, we’d recommend not pulling at it. Instead, grab a fresh piece of Blu Tack, shape it into a ball and carefully roll it on the surface.” If this leaves remaining bits of Blu Tack on the surface, she recommends, “Gently rolling or dabbing at these with a fresh piece of Blu Tack.”
Use a cleaner or lighter fuel
“If Blu Tack has been used on surfaces that are old, delicate or porous, you may notice marks are left behind,” shares O’Regan. “To remove these, our experts would recommend testing out chewing gum remover, a citrus-based cleaner, sugar soap or lighter fuel on the area.” Start with whatever you have to hand, probably a citrus-based cleaner, or if a keen DIYer, sugar soap.
But before you start, O’Regan says, “We would recommend testing on an inconspicuous area first.” She adds how to use your chosen product: “Apply a small amount of your chosen cleaning product to a piece of kitchen paper or a clean cloth and dab, not rub, at the affected area.”
She continues, “Then, with a dry piece of cloth or kitchen paper, dab gently at the area – this dissolves the oil in the Blu Tack and lifts the stain.”
Warm it up
When Blu Tack has been on a surface for a long time, Sarah Dempsey points out, “It’s likely to have hardened, making it tougher to remove without damaging paint or wallpaper.”
If this is the case, Dempsey adds, “You need to make it pliable again. You can do this by gently warming it with a hairdryer and carefully peeling it away. You may find a plastic scraper or a credit card helpful for this.”
Shake on baby powder
For large, greasy marks left by Blu Tack, Deampesy says, “It can be helpful to use a cornstarch-based baby powder to begin with, to soak up as much of the oily residue as possible.” She adds, “To save any mess, hold a piece of paper underneath the stain and then sprinkle on a little of the baby powder. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the absorption of the oil, and use a soft brush or cloth to wipe it away.”
To finish the job, Dempsey says, “To remove any staining that remains, dab on a little washing-up liquid with a cloth or paper towel and dab it off with a second cloth or paper towel.”
Rub with a magic eraser
“A magic eraser is another effective tool for removing Blu Tack stains,” shares Dempsey, “It’s best to dampen it first and use a gentle, circular motion to avoid damaging your walls.”
But, while it is effective, Dempsey adds a word of caution when using, “Magic erasers are slightly abrasive, so they’re not the best solution for wallpaper marks.”
How to paint over blue tack stains
If you’re looking to paint over stains left by Blu Tack, you need to get your preparation right and choose a good stain-blocking paint to finish.
Remove residue and stain
Dempsey says, “First, make sure all of the Blu Tack has been removed from the wall. Next, you need to remove as much of the Blu Tack residue and stain as possible.”
She adds, “To do this, dab on sugar soap or degreaser using a clean, dry paper towel. Then take a second piece of paper towel and keep dabbing until the degreaser and Blu Tack residue have been removed.”
Prep surface
Ensure the cleaned area is dry before you prep the wall for painting. Dempsey says, “Don’t worry if there’s still a small amount of staining, as this should disappear once you’ve rubbed the area down with sandpaper.”
She continues, “Use a medium sandpaper grade – 120 grit will do the job – and lightly rub the area you’re planning to paint, including where the Blu Tack stain is. Then, wipe down the wall with a clean, dry cloth or run your vacuum over the surface to remove the dust.”
Paint the stain
With a dry, clean, prepped surface ready to go, it's time to paint. Dempsey says, “Now apply your stain-blocking paint. This should prevent any oily residues from seeping through; however, porous surfaces may need two coats. Once this is dry, you can paint your wall as normal.” Make sure to read the manufacturer's instructions to see how long paint takes to dry.
Once you have cleaned off any Blu-Tack marks, it's time to start painting a wall, ceiling, or any other surface to achieve a new stain-free finish. Check out our loft bedroom decorating ideas and wall panelling ideas for more decorating inspiration and insight.
