BLU TACK®

Bostik Blu Tack® is the original reusable adhesive for everyday fixing around the home, office and school. Clean, safe and easy to use, it is a simple alternative to drawing pins or sticky tape. Use it to hold up posters, paper, card, decorations and photos, or to secure small objects on desks and shelves. Supplied as a pale blue rectangular slab, Bostik Blu Tack can be rolled off carefully and reused again and again.

Colours

Blue

Sizes
Handy (45g)
Economy (90g)

Product overview

Blu Tack® is clean, safe and easy-to-use. It’s available in original blue in two sizes: Handy (45g) and Economy (90g), which is perfect for those who require a larger pack of adhesive tack.

It provides an ideal alternative to drawing pins or sticky tape, with over a thousand uses around the home, office or school.

Blu Tack®'s multitude of uses, or ‘hacks’, make everyday life that little bit easier. Whether you’re removing fluff from clothing, levelling a picture frame or fixing a wobbly table, there’s a #BluHack for that!

But what do you do with your Blu Tack®? Share your #BluHacks on social media, or be inspired by the endless possibilities

Surface Compatibility

Bostik Blu Tack® is recommended for use on non-porous surfaces. Before application, surfaces should be clean, dry and free from dust, grease and loose material to support good adhesion.

Features & benefits

  • An ideal alternative to sticky tape and drawing pins

  • Over a thousand uses, or #BluHacks

  • Clean, safe and easy-to-use

  • Instant, repositionable bond

  • Non-toxic & solvent-free

  • Packaging made from recycled card

  • Tried and tested formulation - made in Britain for over 50 years

  • Also available in white, pink and grey

Technical information

Bostik United Kingdom Create - Blu Tack handy Technical Data Sheet (425.75 KB)

This file is stored on an external website, please follow the link

How to use

Bostik Blu Tack® can be used to hold up posters, paper and card. It is also suitable for fixing party decorations, placing photos in albums and sticking small objects to desks or shelves. For everyday DIY, craft and stationery tasks, it can even be used to help hold screws to screwdrivers.

  1. Pull off a piece of Blu Tack® and activate it by pulling and stretching
  2. Roll into a ball, place between the two surfaces and press firmly

How to remove Blu Tack®

When you're ready to remove your adhesive tack, you may be wondering how best to do so without damaging the paint underneath. With the following two steps, learn how to easily remove Blu Tack® Handy and Blu Tack® Economy, wherever you've applied it:

  1. Remove Blu Tack® by rolling it carefully off the surface. It can then be used again and again.
  2. Any remaining shreds can be removed by gently rolling the adhesive tack on the wall or dabbing a new blob of Blu Tack® over the surfaces.

The adhesive properties of Bostik Blu Tack® increase over time, so take extra care when removing it after a period of months.

Limitations

Bostik Blu Tack® should not be used on absorbent wallpaper, silk-screen printed wallpaper, hand-stencilled wallpaper or porous brickwork. Its adhesive properties can increase over time, so extra care should be taken when removing it after several months. On some surfaces, it may leave an oily mark.

Who invented Blu Tack®?

Did you know, despite numerous appeals from Bostik for the inventor to step forward, the mastermind behind the product has remained a mystery for over 50 years?

The sticky substance was actually a by-product of an experiment by a Bostik worker to make a new sealant. Although the initial experiment was a failure, the worker's colleagues started using the resulting 'goo'; to stick messages to each other's desks. Once Bostik realised what they had, they tested manufacturing the formulation on a bigger scale.

Fast forward over 50 years and hundreds of millions of packs of Blu Tack® have been sold throughout the UK and beyond - making it the nation's favourite reusable adhesive.

Today, Bostik's factory in Leicester continues to produce tonnes of Blu Tack® every week - for decades, the recipe has been kept a closely guarded secret.

FAQs

Where can I buy Blu Tack®?

You can buy Bostik Blu Tack® online through the Amazon brand store or from major retailers.

You can also use the Bostik stockist finder to locate a retailer near you. Availability may vary depending on your location and the products stocked by individual retailers.

Why is Blu Tack® blue?

Blu Tack® was originally white but consumer research at the time showed concerns that children may mistake it for chewing gum, so blue colouring was added, giving it its household name.

What colours does Blu Tack® come in?

Bostik Blu Tack® is available in several colours, including blue, white, grey and pink. Each product provides the same reusable fixing benefits while offering different colour options to suit individual preferences and applications.

For example, Bostik Blu Tack® Grey is designed to be more discreet on darker surfaces, making it suitable for applications involving appliances, electrical devices, cables and dashboards.

All Blu Tack® variants are reusable adhesives designed for temporary fixing and mounting applications around the home, office and school.

How much weight can Blu Tack hold?

About 0.5 grams of Blu Tack can support approximately 105 grams in weight. However, Blu Tack is designed for lightweight items and should not be used to support heavy objects.

The amount of weight Blu Tack can hold may vary depending on the surface, the object being mounted and how the adhesive is applied.

What surfaces can I use Blu Tack® on?

Bostik Blu Tack® is recommended for use on non-porous surfaces and can be used for temporary fixing applications such as displaying posters, paper, card and decorations.

Avoid using Bostik Blu Tack® on absorbent surfaces, porous brickwork, silk-screen printed wallpaper or hand-stencilled wallpaper.

For the best results, test on a small, inconspicuous area before use. Bostik Blu Tack® may leave an oily mark on some surfaces.

How do you remove Blu Tack® from carpet?

To remove Bostik Blu Tack® from carpet, first remove as much of the adhesive as possible. Blu Tack® can often be lifted away by rolling it off the surface, and any remaining pieces can be removed using more Blu Tack®.

For detailed step-by-step guidance, see our guide: How to remove Blu Tack® from carpet. This provides further advice on removing Blu Tack® residue from carpet fibres safely and effectively.

Will Blu Tack® leave a stain?

Bostik Blu Tack® may leave an oily mark on some surfaces. Before use, test on a small, inconspicuous area, especially on decorative, delicate or valuable surfaces.

For removal, gently roll Bostik Blu Tack® off the surface. Any remaining pieces can be removed by dabbing them with another piece of Blu Tack®.

What is the difference between Blu Tack® White and Blu Tack®?

Bostik Blu Tack® White and Bostik Blu Tack® are both reusable adhesives designed for temporary fixing and mounting applications. The main difference is the colour, with one supplied in white and the other in blue.

Both products can be used for holding up posters, paper, card and decorations, and both can be removed and reused multiple times.

The choice is generally based on which colour is preferred for the intended application.

Is swallowing Blu Tack® dangerous?

Swallowing Bostik Blu Tack® is not classified as hazardous based on the available safety data. If Blu Tack® is swallowed, clean the mouth with water, drink one or two glasses of water and do not induce vomiting.

If medical advice is needed, have the product packaging or label available. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

Can you use Blu Tack® on wood?

Whether Bostik Blu Tack® can be used on wood depends on the surface. Bostik Blu Tack® is recommended for non-porous surfaces and is not suitable for absorbent surfaces.

Because wooden surfaces can vary in how porous they are, performance may differ depending on the type and finish of the wood. For best results, use Bostik Blu Tack® on suitable non-porous surfaces and always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.

Bostik Blu Tack® may also leave an oily mark on some surfaces, so care should be taken when applying it to finished or decorative materials.

How to make Blu Tack really sticky?

To get the best stick for Blu Tack, make sure your surface is clean, dry and free from dust or grease. Tear off the amount you need, then pull and stretch the Blu Tack until it’s soft and supple. The more you handle the product, the stickier and more pliable it becomes. Then, roll it into a ball, place it between the surfaces and press firmly.

Is adhesive putty the same as Blu Tack®?

Bostik Blu Tack® is the original reusable adhesive and is commonly used for many of the same applications as adhesive putty, including holding up posters, paper, card and decorations. It can also be used as an alternative to drawing pins and sticky tape.

Blu Tack® can be removed and reused again and again, making it a practical solution for temporary fixing and mounting around the home, office and school.

Is Blu Tack® suitable for kids?

Yes - Bostik Blu Tack is suitable for children as it is non-toxic, solvent-free and easy-to-use. However, it is important to keep out of reach of very small children as it can be a choking hazard.

Bostik Blu Tack® is designed for use around the home, office and school. As the original reusable adhesive, it can be used for temporary fixing applications such as displaying posters, paper, card and decorations. 

Bostik Blu Tack® is clean, easy to use and can be removed and reused again and again, making it a practical alternative to drawing pins and sticky tape.

What can you use Blu Tack® for?

Bostik Blu Tack® can be used for a wide range of temporary fixing and mounting tasks around the home, office and school. As the original reusable adhesive, it provides an alternative to drawing pins and sticky tape.

Common uses for Bostik Blu Tack® include:

  • Holding up posters, paper and card 
  • Displaying party decorations 
  • Holding photos in albums 
  • Securing lightweight objects to desks and shelves 
  • Holding screws in place on screwdrivers during DIY tasks Bostik 

Blu Tack® can be removed and reused again and again, making it a practical solution for temporary fixing applications.

What surfaces does Blu Tack® work best on?

Bostik Blu Tack® works best on non-porous surfaces. As the original reusable adhesive, it is designed for temporary fixing and mounting applications such as displaying posters, paper, card and decorations.

Bostik Blu Tack® is not suitable for absorbent surfaces, porous brickwork, silk-screen printed wallpaper or hand-stencilled wallpaper.

For the best results, use Bostik Blu Tack® on suitable non-porous surfaces and test on a small, inconspicuous area before application. Bostik Blu Tack® may leave an oily mark on some surfaces.

How do you get Blu Tack® out of clothes?

If Bostik Blu Tack® gets onto clothing, carefully remove as much of the adhesive as possible. Blu Tack® can often be lifted away by gently rolling it off, while any remaining pieces can be removed using another piece of Blu Tack®.

If adhesive residue remains on the fabric, follow the garment care instructions and use an appropriate cleaning method for the material.

How do you remove Blu Tack® from a wall?

To remove Bostik Blu Tack® from a wall, gently roll the adhesive away from the surface. Any remaining pieces can often be removed by dabbing them with another piece of Blu Tack®.

Because wall surfaces and finishes can vary, the best removal method for any remaining marks or stains will depend on the wall type. For detailed step-by-step guidance, see our guide How to remove Blu Tack® stains from a wall, which explains how to deal with Blu Tack® marks on walls safely and effectively.

Can you reuse Blu Tack®?

Yes, Bostik Blu Tack® can be reused. As the original reusable adhesive, it can be removed and used again and again for a wide range of temporary fixing and mounting applications.

After removal, simply remould the adhesive and reuse it where needed. Bostik Blu Tack® is commonly used for holding up posters, paper, card and decorations, as well as securing lightweight items around the home, office and school.

Its adhesive properties also increase over time, helping it remain an effective reusable fixing solution.

Find new, smarter ways of doing things.

Gary

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