Remove Contact Paper From Countertops Using A Hairdryer Trick

Updating boring, ugly countertops is just one of many ways to use contact paper around the house, enhancing the kitchen with stone, wood, and other textures that almost pass for the real thing! The wrap strikes an ideal balance for fanciful DIYers who love to refresh their spaces — it adheres firmly to counter surfaces yet is easy enough to remove when you're ready for a change. Well, almost easy enough. While you can peel contact paper away with brute force, its surprising stickiness can put up a good fight. But with one common household tool, clearing your counters doesn't have to be a time- or labor-intensive undertaking. If you're ready for an update, grab a hair dryer and discover how much easier it can be to remove contact paper to restore your countertop.

By gradually applying hot air to contact paper with your hair dryer, you can soften the adhesive to make removal much easier. Reaching roughly 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, hair dryers deliver ample heat without burning or warping surfaces. You could also try a heat gun for faster results, but only some countertop materials, like concrete or stone, can withstand the higher heat. On average, these tools have ranges of 200 to 1,000+ degrees Fahrenheit. If you're updating laminate countertops or solid surface counters, that's a lot higher than the temperatures these materials can usually tolerate. Although powerful gear like heat guns can be efficient, a hair dryer is the safest bet if you're worried about damage.

Since most countertop materials can handle the heat, you can set your hair dryer to "high" to safely loosen contact paper adhesive. Plug it into an extension cord to reach every section of the countertop. Holding your hair dryer a few inches from the contact paper, blast a starting edge with hot air. Sweep the hair dryer slowly back and forth until the paper begins to lift. Peel the paper as it loosens, moving the hair dryer over the sections in front of it to keep softening the adhesive while you progress. Rather than annoyingly breaking off into chunks, as would happen without heating it, the paper should lift smoothly in one piece. To make the process easier, lift stubborn patches with a plastic scraper or card.

As you remove the paper, use your plastic scraper to lift any still-warm glue residue on the counter so you'll have less to clean later. Afterward, remove any lingering stickiness and clean the counter. Goo Gone and other commercial adhesive removers will work, though you should check to ensure they're safe for the countertop material. You can also use household materials like WD-40, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide to loosen stubborn adhesive and refresh your counter. Contact paper is an excellent solution for those who constantly change their space or tenants wanting to personalize their rented home. And with this hair dryer trick in mind, you can use it confidently knowing there's an easy way out when you're ready for an update.