PSA: Don’t Leave Painter’s Tape On Too Long

PSA: Don’t Leave Painter’s Tape On Too Long

Painter’s tape is a must if you want clean, straight lines while painting. Here’s a quick word of caution, though: don’t leave it on too long.

Photo by James Lee.

SheKnows.com runs down a handful of useful tips for proper painting, and here’s an important one:

I also didn’t realise that many brands recommend you leave the tape on for only around 15 minutes, and I definitely stretched those limits. The result of leaving it on too long? When I peeled it off, it took some of my freshly layered paint with it.

It only makes sense that the paint will stick to the tape just as well as it sticks to the wall. But as someone who’s made this mistake, it’s still a PSA worth announcing.

It likely depends on the tape, so if it comes with instructions, see if it offers a time limit. Removing it too soon can ruin your paint job, too. SFGate says the ideal time to remove the paint is right after it’s dry to the touch, which is about an hour. They add that you should peel it off at a 45-degree angle for best results. For more tips, head to the link below.

8 things you should never do when painting your home [SheKnows]


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