How can I get duct tape residue off of my car?

Q - The hatch on my suv recently broke and to keep the galls window down untill I could get the part I had to use duct tape. Now I have the part and have had it replaced and there is duct tape stick stuff on the car. How can i get rid of it easily??

A - Tough question! Removing duct tape residue isn't usually that difficult, but the kicker here is that it's on a car—which means no caustic products that might damage the finish. I'm going to make a few suggestions, but you'll have to write back to let us know if you have success! If not, we'll take it up a notch and try something a little stronger. (The following products should be safe, but you might want to give a call to your local service department just to make sure they're okay for your car.)

I have three suggestions:

1. Saturate it with linseed oil, which is what the professionals use to get tar off of cars. Let the oil sit for a minute, then dampen a soft rag with more of the oil, and rub the area until the sticky stuff comes off. You can also try vegetable oil, though it may not work as well.

2. Put a dab of peanut butter on a soft rag and rub it around and around the area until the sticky stuff begins to roll off. (When removing tape residue, sometimes peanut butter works like a charm; sometimes it doesn't work at all.)

3. You might try the method recommended for removing bumper stickers: Use a blow drier to heat the sticky stuff, then use a credit card or something else with a flat edge to gently scrape it off. Just be careful of that finish!

So there you have it. Let us know how it turns out. And thanks for a great question!