Floor marking tape continues to be popular within the workplace thanks to its effective results yet low cost and minimally disruptive application. As much as it can transform a business by creating a flow of traffic through the site, creating organization in a warehouse, and alerting employees of hazards in the workplace, it can become a bit trickier to remove if not done correctly. Whether a business owner is changing the layout of their warehouse or an old, worn tape needs replacing, nobody wants sticky residue left over from their floor marking tape.
Quality tapes such as Smart Stripe Tape are designed to strongly adhere to the floor for a long-lasting solution, so once a business has effectively applied the tape using advice from Facility Floor Marking and followed industry requirements from OSHA to implement color standards, changes do not tend to be required for some time. When removing the tape, it is important to do so in the correct way to prevent it from becoming sticky and messy.
To remove floor markings effectively, here is how to avoid residue:
- Before trying to remove the tape, use a warm soapy water mix on the desired areas to soften the tape and weaken the adhesive. Once it has been given time to do its thing, the tape should come away from the surface easier and a regular cloth should be able to remove any adhesive that has been left behind on the floor.
- Although it may be an instinct to slowly peel away the tape, this can result in more separation and thus extra sticky residue. In many cases, it is better to quickly pull on the tape as this doesn’t allow for airflow and can create a cleaner finish. Before trying this, consider the type of flooring used and whether a quick removal could damage it, using discretion to choose the best approach.
- For stubborn tapes which are proving tricky to get off, try applying a heat source to loosen the adhesive, whether this be something like a hair dryer or heat gun. Once the surface feels warm to the touch, the tape should scrape off with limited pressure and the adhesive should come away from the flooring easily. Act quickly though, because the adhesive can quickly harden once the heat is removed.
- If there are small bits of stubborn adhesive left over after the removal of floor tape, sometimes scraping is the only option. Use a blunt butter knife or another flat-ended tool to gently nudge the edge of the adhesive, working slowly to make sure not to damage the flooring underneath.
- When applying a new floor tape, always clean and dry the surface before application. Any build-up of grease, dirt, or moisture on the floor can impact the adhesion and make the tape not apply very well, adding to a build-up of adhesion from the old tape which will create poor results.
Additional Resources
- Floor Marking for Factories– creativesafetysupply.com
- The Best Way to Apply Floor Tape in the Workplace– facilityfloortape.com
- Floor Marking: Paint or Tape?– floormarkingpro.com
- Floor Marking for Warehouse Traffic– forkliftsafety101.com
- Industrial Floor Tape vs. Industrial Floor Paint– infographicsdirectory.org
- How To Ensure Electrical Equipment Is Safe To Use In The Workplace– arcflashanswers.com
- Best Practices for Pipe Marking– pipemarking.net
- Why is Pipe Marking Important?– pipemarking.info
- The Common Mistakes to Avoid When Printing Safety Labels– safetylabelprinters.com