In clinical practice, a wide range of adhesive products are used for patient care, from medical tapes to under wrap sprays.
These products are designed to adhere strongly, but their removal can present significant challenges not only on skin, but also on treatment surfaces such as bed and pillow covers. Adhesive build-up can compromise hygiene standards and shorten the lifespan of protective barriers.
Preventing the excessive use of tapes and sprays is key to maintaining cover integrity and durability. Removal is not straightforward, as adhesives are formulated with complex chemical compounds to maximise grip.
For example:
Adhesive sprays may contain ingredients such as isobutane, methylal, ethanol, propane, glyceryl rosinate, and paraffin liquid.
Sports and under-wrap tape adhesives often contain rubber zinc oxide.
These formulations are resistant to standard detergent based cleaners, making removal difficult. While adhesive removers may be effective, many are not compatible with barrier textiles and can void product warranties.
For best outcomes, we recommend preventative practices and careful product selection to protect your investment in reusable clinical covers.
The image demonstrates the removal process of three commonly encounteredstains in clinical settings:
tape adhesive,under-wrap spray residue, and massage cream.
Each stain type was tested against the followingcleaning methods:
Smith & NephewAdhesive Remover Wipes
WD-40 (establishedadhesive remover)
Eucalyptus Oil
Detergent-basedCleaner
General Purpose Spray
Standard Machine Wash
Residue Tape glue Under tape Spray Massage Cream Adhesive remover wipes YES YES YES WD40 YES YES YES Eucalyptus Oil YES YES YES Detergent cleaning agent NO NO YES General- purpose cleaner NO NO YES Washing machine NO PARTIAL YES
The best adessive removers were the adhesive wipes, WD 40 and Eucalyptus oil.
The adhesive remover wipe was the most aggressive on the covers with some obvious colour appearing on the wipes.
WD40 had less colour on the rag but WD40 does leave an oily residue and an the unique "WD40" smell. This must be removed immediately with a soapy wipe down.
Eucalyptus oil did not remove any surface colour, but again does have a strong smell. Again, removal with a soapy wipe down is required.
Detergent based cleaning was effective on massage cream removal but did not remove the adhesive tape or spray.
Machine wash removed the massage cream but did not remove the adhesive stains.
| PRE WASH | POST WASH |
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Summary
The most effective strategy for maximising the lifespan of clinical covers is prevention of stains.
While adhesive residues can be removed, they require specialised cleaning agents capable of breaking down adhesive compounds.
Standard detergent based cleaners and many COVID era disinfectants are ineffective against adhesives. Conversely, aggressive chemical removers may strip the surface colour and significantly reduce product longevity. Strong adhesive wipes should be reserved strictly for spot cleaning, as regular use will void warranty coverage.
Among the options tested, eucalyptus oil proved to be the most effective remover, achieving residue breakdown with minimal impact on surface colour.
When adhesive removers are used, it is essential to wipe down surfaces immediately. This step prevents further material degradation and reduces the risk of residual chemical exposure for future patients.