A Blog For Mums
If you’ve ever said yes to the kids sticking something on the wall and then wished you hadn’t when it came time to remove it, you’re not alone. Blu Tack is brilliant… right up until it’s been there a while, the room’s a bit warm, and it leaves that stubborn bitty residue or greasy halo behind.
The good news: most walls can be rescued without repainting, as long as you go gently and in the right order. The big mistake is jumping straight to scrubbing, which is exactly how you end up with peeled paint or a shiny patch that won’t blend in.
Different wall finishes react differently, so take 20 seconds to work out what you’re dealing with:
If you’re unsure, start in the least visible corner first and do a patch test with any cleaner you plan to use. That patch-test advice matters especially for stronger products like citrus cleaners, sugar soap, chewing gum remover, or lighter fuel.
You won’t necessarily use all of this, but it helps to have it nearby:
Optional for stubborn residue: a citrus-based cleaner, sugar soap, or chewing gum remover (only after patch testing).
This feels ridiculous, but it’s often the safest first move.
Take a fresh piece and gently press it onto the stuck bits, then lift away. Repeat like you’re “dabbing” rather than rubbing. It works because Blu Tack tends to stick to itself, and you’re not dragging paint along the surface.
If the residue is crumbly, you can also roll the fresh piece into a little ball and lightly roll it over the area.
If you stop here and the wall looks fine, you’re done. No cleaning needed.
If the Blu Tack has gone hard or feels welded on, warm it up before you try again.
Use a hairdryer on low to medium heat, hold it a few inches away, and keep it moving side to side. You’re aiming for slightly softened, not “baked wall”. This is commonly recommended as a way to loosen adhesive without yanking at the surface.
Once it’s warmed, go back to the dab-and-lift method with fresh Blu Tack.
If there’s still a thin layer that won’t lift, use a plastic card at a shallow angle and gently nudge it off. Think “coax”, not “scrape”.
Avoid metal tools. They’re more likely to gouge plaster, catch wallpaper seams, or lift paint edges.
After you’ve lifted what you can, wipe the area very lightly with a dry cloth to remove loose crumbs.
This is the bit that makes people think the wall is ruined: the tack comes off, but you’re left with an oily stain.
Before you add any liquid, try absorption first. A cornstarch-based baby powder (or similar powder) can help soak up oily residue. Sprinkle a little on, leave it for 15–20 minutes, then gently brush or wipe away.
If the mark is older or darker, you can repeat this a couple of times.
This approach is particularly useful on matt paint, because it avoids the “polished patch” you get from rubbing.
If there’s still a shadow, move up to the mildest wet clean.
Mix a few drops of washing-up liquid into warm water. Lightly dampen a soft cloth (not dripping) and dab the area. Don’t soak the wall, especially if it’s wallpaper or the paint is delicate. Then pat dry with kitchen roll.
If the mark improves, stop there and let it fully dry before deciding whether it needs another round. Walls often look worse while damp.
If you’re still left with tack residue or staining, there are stronger options, but treat them like a “last resort” and always patch test first.
Bostik’s own guidance notes that chewing gum remover, a citrus-based cleaner, sugar soap, or lighter fuel can sometimes remove residue, and specifically advises patch testing in an inconspicuous area to avoid further marking.
A few practical rules if you go down this route:
If the wall is rented and you’re trying to avoid a patchy repaint, it’s usually better to do several gentle passes than one aggressive clean.
Sometimes Blu Tack reveals an issue that was already waiting to happen: old paint that wasn’t well bonded, cheap emulsion that marks if you breathe on it, or wallpaper that’s lifting anyway.
If the paint has lifted or the blu tack has taken a small circle out of your wall when it came away, you’re into “repair” rather than “removal”: a tiny bit of filler or smoother (only if needed), then a careful touch-up with the best colour match you can get usually works. You can get fine surface fillers for really small blemishes.
If you’re in your own home, keeping a small labelled pot of leftover paint for exactly this situation is one of those boring mum habits that pays off massively.
If you’ve got kids who love displaying absolutely everything, a few lower-stress options:
And of course, keep the blu tack somewhere out of reach from now on!
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