Avoiding Charges for Blu Tack Use
Blu Tack stains are notoriously difficult to remove, which is why in all of our occupation contracts we’ve emphasised the need to completely steer clear of using it. It’s extremely costly to rectify the oily marks and spots where paint has come off. It’s the same with white tack, and sticky strips – the stains they cause will all need to be professionally removed and, in most cases, will call for re-decorating. Due to this, they are a leading cause of deposit deductions and claims made against contract-holders in a zero-deposit tenancy.
If you have badly marked your walls (through Blu Tack use, stickers, strip lights or otherwise) then you may be liable for some or all of the bill. Our average decorating costs come in at £120 per wall, or £300 per room. We're here to help you avoid these issues and extra costs.
You may have Blu Tack stuck on the walls, and aren't sure where to start when removing it - here's what you should do:
- Roll it slowly from the edges: Start at the top and roll the Blu Tack down slowly from the edges into a cylinder-like shape. This method avoids pulling off paint or wallpaper and leaves no sticky residue behind.
- Blot it with Blu Tack: If there's still residue left behind, use the piece of Blu Tack you removed. Roll it into a small ball and place it in the freezer for a few minutes until it hardens. Then, blot the residue away using the hardened Blu Tack. Remember to be firm, not fast, to avoid damaging the wall paint or wallpaper.
There’s a good chance the oil from the Blu Tack might leave a stain on your wall, in which case, give this a try:
You will need one of these:
- A citrus based cleaner
- Chewing gum remover
- Lighter fuel
- Sugar soap
Plus either:
- A clean, dry cloth
- Kitchen paper
Directions:
- Simply roll away the old Blu Tack remnants, apply a small amount of your chosen cleaning product to a section of the cloth or kitchen paper and dab (don't rub!) the affected area. Do a patch test on an inconspicuous area first, to ensure that your chosen product will not mark the wall.
- Finally, with a clean and dry piece of cloth or kitchen roll, dab over the same area - the oily mark is dissolved and your stain has been lifted!
Links:
- Please don't attempt to touch up the paint! Unless you’ve got the exact colour match, it will likely make things worse.
- Most of the Blu Tack marks we come across are from photo/poster collages. We know plain walls are boring…but you can make a house a home without Blu Tack. Try attaching string to doors and shelving, then clipping photos and posters to this to achieve the same decorative look.
We do need to make it clear that if you’ve got a large number of Blu Tack marks on a wall then professional re-decoration will be required and your landlord is likely to pursue you for some, if not all, of the costs involved, even if you do not have a deposit.
If you follow the steps above, we’ll let you know on our next inspection if we think the results are ok. For peace of mind, you can send us a photo if you’re worried and would like some clarification.