Duct-tape residue

To remove the residue from non-water-soluble adhesives left behind by masking tape, labels, duct tape, electrical tape, etc., I've used xylene or xylol with good results. You can find this fluid sold under the brand names "Goof Off," or "Oops!" in the paint sections of hardware stores. (It removed latex-based paint drips or "slop" from trim, baseboards, floors, etc.) Some hardware stores may sell plain xylene, too. Use outdoors, and try it on any material before going all out. It will dissolve some plastics such as polystyrene. As a fallback, you can use denatured ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol, a.k.a. isopropanol) as sold in pharmacies contains a lot of water and it doesn't do a good job. Jon Jon Titus 36 Sunset Drive Milford, MA 01757-1362 USA Phone: +1-508-478-8040 E-mail: jontitus(a)attbi.com Member, National Association of Science Writers