Glossary
Adhesive strip
A removable mounting strip with a pull tab that releases cleanly, used to hang items without nails or screws.
An adhesive strip is a foam-cored, double-sided mounting strip designed to hold a hook, frame or small shelf to a wall and then release cleanly when you pull the attached tab straight down. It replaces a nail or screw for lightweight items in situations where you cannot leave a hole.
The strip only performs as promised under fairly specific conditions: the wall paint needs to be fully cured, usually 30 days or more, and the surface has to be smooth, clean and free of texture, dust or grease. Fresh paint, textured plaster, wallpaper and unusually cold or hot rooms all reduce the bond, which is the main reason these strips fail and drop what they're holding.
Every strip is rated for a maximum weight, and that rating assumes a single, evenly loaded item, not stacked or swinging weight. The most common mistakes are exceeding the rated weight, pressing the strip on without holding firm pressure for the full cure time printed on the package, and trying to reuse a strip after removal instead of buying a fresh one.