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How To Remove Bathtub Decals
Peeling off old bathtub decals reveals a sticky mess or dark dried up glue underneath. Here are a few different methods to remove the decals, get that gunk cleaned up and your bathtub back to a shine.
How To Remove Bathtub Decals
- If the decals don’t pull off easily, fill the tub with very hot water about 1″ deep with a cup of white vinegar poured in, soak for several minutes until the water has cooled enough to comfortably put your hands in (but still very warm). Then take a plastic scraper (or old credit card) and gently try prying an edge of the decal up and then pulling it off completely. Drain the water and dry the tub.
- You could also try heating each decal with a hair dryer and then removing it once the glue has melted underneath. *DO NOT DO THIS* if there is any water in the tub! Gah! I feel silly just typing that–but–you know.
How To Clean The Residue
Method #1
- Cover each gunk spot with a paper towel, then saturate the towel with vinegar. Press the towel firmly on each spot to make sure the gunk is soaking in the vinegar. Leave alone for a few hours (keep pouring on vinegar if the paper towel starts drying) then remove the towel and rub each spot gently with baking soda and a wet cloth. The gunk should wipe up easily.
Method #2
- Rub in petroleum jelly and leave it sit for an hour. Then take a hot, wet cloth and work the jelly in and then wipe up to remove.
Method #3
- Slather mayonnaise on each spot, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe away mayo and if some residue is still stubborn–rub gently with some baking soda to remove.
Method #4
- Make a thick paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide, slather it on decal residue. Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to sit for an hour. Then take a wet cloth and work in the paste until residue is removed.
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I have tried the above tip for removing dacals from a tub and it did not phase them. They are totally stuck. I have tried WD40, soaking with everything in hot water, etc. etc. etc. Please, please help. THese things have been on for 30 years ! They are STUCK !!!
Hmmm Jeanie that’s all I have for suggestions. Maybe check at a hardware store, they might just have a product you could try that will dissolve the glue.
I removed the older decals from my tub with a pan scraper I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond. It is plastic, small (maybe 2″ square) and very strong, so I got leverage to scrape the decals off without marring the surface of the tub. It did require some elbow grease. Good luck!