I'm looking for help with a sticky situation! The previous owners of my house put up peel and stick tiles in the kitchen, and I want to replace them with new ones until I can do a full renovation down the line. After peeling off the old tiles, I'm left with a lot of stubborn adhesive residue on the wall. I've tried several solutions like soap and water, Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol, Krud Kutter, nail polish remover, steam, and even heat – but nothing seems to work. I know I can't just put the new peel and stick tiles over the old residue, as they probably won't stick well. I'm also wondering if I'll have to resort to joint compound, sanding, and priming the wall before adding the new tiles. I'd really prefer not to replace the drywall. Any ideas or suggestions would be super helpful!
3 Answers
Maybe you could try putting the new tiles right over the residue. I know it might sound risky, but sometimes it works if the bumps don’t disrupt the new tiles' adhesion too much. Just be careful when scraping off the old adhesive, as you might damage the wall more than you’d like!
Acetone can be really effective on stubborn adhesives, but just be careful as it can damage some surfaces. If you use it, make sure your countertops are safe for it. Also, running a test with one tile could help you see if that method holds up before committing to a full installation!
Have you considered sanding it down? If the residue is on a painted wall, a bit of sanding could take care of it. I’d recommend trying that next if you haven’t already!
I haven’t tried sanding yet, but I’ll definitely give it a go next. Thanks!
That’s what I was thinking too! If it’s not too thick, it might be worth a shot.