How to Mount a Map or Poster Without Damaging It

If you want to use and reuse maps and posters without damaging them, you can use clear box tape and make it removable.

Steps

  1. Image titled Put a couple of pieces of clear box tape Step 1
    1
    On each corner in the back, and in the center of the top edge (if it's heavy), put a couple of pieces of clear box tape, 5" long or so, next to each other, so that you've "laminated" a spot about the size of your open hand.[1]
  2. Image titled Make a loop Step 2
    2
    For each of those spots, cut a piece of box tape about a foot long. Make a loop of it, sticky side out, and overlap the ends. Wrapping it around your outstretched fingers is a good way.[2]
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  3. Image titled Set one loop on each of the box taped Step 3
    3
    Set one loop on each of the box-taped spots you've made on the back of the poster, and it will flatten down.[3]
  4. Image titled Stick it to the wall Step 4
    4
    Stick it to the wall, pressing firmly where the tape is.[4]
  5. Image titled Remove the loops Step 5
    5
    When you take it down, remove the loops and put them in the trash, and the corners will be clean and strong for the next time you want to put it up.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Does the paint come off if I pull off the tape? Because I don't want my wall to be damaged.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, if you pull lightly, the paint won't come off. But, if you pull the tape off extremely fast, then yes, there is a chance that the paint will come off. You can use poster tack for something less damaging but all sticky items have the potential to pull paint off if the paint surface is poor.
  • Question
    Won't the tape on the back eventually bleed through and discolor that portion of the poster?
    Revad
    Revad
    Community Answer
    You can get an inexpensive poster frame, and then you don't have to worry about the tape discoloring the portions it touches. You could also use the 3M command strips that are made for posters.
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Warnings

  • If the tape loop does get stuck to the paper, cut off whatever is not flat, and leave the rest, rather than try to peel it off and take part of the printing off too.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/laminate-with-clear-packing-tape-282026
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP_uW-K_qcA
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP_uW-K_qcA
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZPv42JGd50
  5. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/hang-and-easily-replace-posters-and-artwork-with-magnet-5803169

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 168,057 times.
82 votes - 66%
Co-authors: 15
Updated: August 10, 2021
Views: 168,057
Categories: Maps | Posters | Hanging Things
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