Washi tape can be removed and sometimes even reused, due to it’s “low-tack” adhesive. That can be a great feature, but it also raises the question: what will (or won’t) washi tape stick to?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from washi tape if I stuck it to wood, paper, glass, cork, etc. So, I decided to put washi tape to the test.
I gathered up a bunch of household items, and a couple of rolls of washi tape, and I tried attaching the washi tape to everything I had gathered.
In this blog post, you’ll find a photo and my answer to the question “will washi tape stick to _____” for each of the below items:
Table of Contents
1. Will Washi Tape Stick To Walls
Washi tape will definitely stick to walls. We’ve used washi tape to hang a few lightweight paper sketches to our walls, and they’ve been hanging for over a month.
If you live in a rental, or if you are afraid of leaving a mark, then you may want to think twice before using washi tape on your walls.
I know all the ads say that washi tape doesn’t leave any mark, but in my experience, it does leave behind a small mark from the adhesive if you leave it on the wall long enough (it may also depend on the brand you use).
Exactly how long is “too long” will vary, but under an hour doesn’t seem to leave a mark, and over a month does seem to leave a mark.
2. Will Washi Tape Stick To Plastic
Washi tape sticks to plastic very well. I tested this with a plastic bottle, and the smooth surface of the plastic makes it really easy to attach a piece of washi tape.
As of this moment, my test piece of washi tape has been on the bottle for over an hour and shows no signs of loosening.
This makes sense to me, intuitively, and it seems like washi tape does really well with flat non-porous surfaces. Now, let’s see if it will work with wood.
3. Will Washi Tape Stick To Wood
Washi tape does stick to finished wood surfaces. For instance, I tested this on my finished wooden cabinets, and the washi tape stuck really well. However, if you tried to stick washi tape to really rough (or unfinished) wood, then it may not stick as well.
Personally, I can’t think of any reason you would use washi tape on unfinished wood. So, if we’re just focusing on finished wood (like my cabinets in the photo above), then I think it’s safe to say that washi tape DOES stick to wood.
4. Will Washi Tape Stick To Glass
Washi tape will stick to glass. I tested this with a standard glass mason jar, and it seems to be working great. If you intend to do some decorating with washi tape, then it should work really well on glass.
Out of curiosity, I also tried sticking a piece of washi tape to our mirror, and it worked there as well. It did leave a few adhesive smudges when I removed it, but it seemed like it’d be easy to clean from the mirror.
So, if you’re looking to do something kind, then maybe leave an encouraging/funny message on your mirror for your roommate or spouse using washi tape. Why not? You could make their day.
5. Will Washi Tape Stick to Metal
Washi tape will stick to metal. I tested this on my toaster, which has metal siding. The metal is smooth, which made it easy for the washi tape to stick. It may be more difficult to stick washi tape to metal that is textured or rusted.
I’m not sure if there is a difference with different types of metal (e.g. steel vs. aluminum, etc.). However, I would expect the washi tape to perform similarly on any normal type of metal, as long as the surface finish is consistent.
6. Will Washi Tape Stick To Fabric / Clothes
Washi tape will stick to fabric or clothes, but it may not stay attached for a very long time. To test this, I attached a piece of washi tape to a button-up shirt made from a blend of cotton and polyester. The washi tape did stick to the shirt, but the ends of the tape quickly began to slightly detach.
After an hour, the tape is still attached to the fabric. However, I don’t have much confidence that it will stay there long-term, especially if the shirt is worn or the fabric is otherwise moved around to agitate the tape.
7. Will Washi Tape Stick To Whiteboards
Washi tape will stick to dry erase boards (e.g. whitboards). I tested this on the whiteboard in my office, and the washi tape stuck really firmly. It’s been attached for over an hour now, and I expect that it would stay attached for a very long time if I left it there.
I think this use for washi tape is really cool. I’ve even heard of teachers using washi tape on their classroom boards (I can’t remember if it was a whiteboard or chalkboard).
I’m not a teacher myself, but I could imagine using it to highlight important topics on the board, or to add some color to whiteboard artwork.
8. Will Washi Tape Stick To Cork Boards
Washi tape will stick to cork or cork boards. This may seem surprising because cork is so porous and bumpy. But, after hanging a piece of washi tape on my office corkboard, it seems to be working quite well.
I’m not sure what you use your corkboard for, but I think washi tape could be a phenomenal organizational tool for a cork board. Unlike whiteboards, you can’t just draw lines and boxes on a corkboard.
So, it could be somewhat tricky to organize different things on a single corkboard. But, with some washi tape, you could easily create sections, boxes and lines.
9. Will Washi Tape Stick To Felt
Washi tape does stick to felt, but it doesn’t stick particularly well. I tested this by attaching a piece of washi tape to a felt hat. It did stick to the felt hat, and after an hour, it is still attached. However, the ends have already started to detach a little, so the tape may not stay attached long-term.
If you’re wondering about the photo, yes, that is a santa hat with bells on it. Don’t judge me.
10. Will Washi Tape Stick To Itself
Washi tape will stick to itself (e.g. other washi tape) quite well. I tested this by attaching a narrow strip of washi tape, to a wide strip of washi tape, and it worked great. By using some complementary colors/designs, you could create something really cool by combining different types of washi tape.
When you look at the photo above, be merciful. I just wanted to test the adhesive, so I didn’t take the time to find two types of washi tape that would look good together.
11. Will Washi Tape Stick To Leather
Washi tape does stick to leather. I tested this with a brown leather bag. If you use leather that has an unusual finish, you might run into some trouble, but for standard leather surfaces, washi tape should stick great.
There could be several potential applications of this, but here are a couple that came to mind for me. First, if you like to do leather crafts, maybe you could use washi tape to decorate the inside of a leather wallet or purse?
Another idea, was decorating sneakers. Although I’m not sure that counts, because I think most sneakers are made of non-leather materials these days. This one would be interesting, but I’m also not sure how long it would last, especially if you get your shoes wet.
12. Will Washi Tape Stick To Brick
Washi tape will stick to brick, even if it is rough or exposed. I tested this on an outdoor wall, and it has been sticking firmly for over an hour. However, you probably will not want to use washi tape on outdoor surfaces, because it is made of paper and will probably not survive the elements.
This one surprised me. Because brick is very rough, and often dusty, I thought it might not stick on brick. I even used rough outdoor brick, and it still stuck really well.
13. Will Washi Tape Stick To Paper
Washi tape sticks great to paper. If you’re doing crafts, scrapbooking, or even if you just want to spruce-up a letter, then washi tape will do the job well.
Of all the surfaces I tested, I think paper is one of (if not THE) easiest for washi tape to stick to.
14. Will Washi Tape Stick To Skin
Washi tape will stick to skin for awhile, but it doesn’t stick very well. I tested this on the inside of my arm, and the washi tape did stick. However, the ends started to curl shortly after I attached the washi tape.
I have had the tape on my arm for about two hours now, but I’ve been frequently pressing the ends of the tape back down. In fact, I’m going to stop typing for a second to take it off, I don’t like the feeling.
15. Will Washi Tape Stick To Styrofoam
Washi tape will stick to styrofoam well. I would expect washi tape to be able to stay attached to styrofoam for a very long time, unless it is frequently rubbed, brushed, etc.
I tested this with a styrofoam egg carton, and it worked great. I could see an argument being made, for washi tape to not stick as well to something like a styrofoam cup or cooler, because the surface is slightly rougher.
But, given all the tests I’ve done today, I suspect that the washi tape would still stick well to those styrofoam surfaces.
Related Questions
Will washi tape damage walls?
Washi tape usually does not damage walls by chipping the paint. But, washi tape may leave small lines of adhesive residue, depending on the brand that you use, and how long it is attached. Washi tape may also create lines under the tape on walls that receive direct sunlight.
Should you line your kitchen cabinets?
You should use shelf liner in your kitchen cabinets and cupboards. Shelf liner can prevent your pots and pans from scratching up the inside of cabinets. More importantly, it’s also easy to install and clean, which can help you have a more hygienic kitchen.