Household adhesives come in many forms. Naturally, many of us would prefer an alternative that offers the most strength while remaining hassle and damage-free. Command strips tick just about all of these boxes, and when it comes to strength, they do pretty well for a household adhesive.
Command strips can hold up to 4 lb (1.8 kg) of weight. They’re used in pairs, and they come in various sizes. A pair of small strips can hold 1 lb (.5 kg), while a pair of large strips can hold 4 lb (1.8 kg). Using more strips in the correct way will increase the weight they can collectively hold.
The rest of this article will go into more detail about various aspects of Command strips, including how much weight they can hold and how to use them correctly to ensure they last as long as possible.
How Much Weight Command Strips Can Hold
Command strips come in various sizes, each with their own weight limits. How much weight a Command strip can hold depends on two factors:
- The size of the Command strip.
- How many pairs of strips are used.
The Size of the Command Strip
Command strips come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Additionally, they’re designed to be used in pairs.
So, let’s go over how much weight an individual pair of each size can hold.
Small Command Strips
One pair of small Command strips can hold an item weighing up to 1 lb (.5 kg). Measuring 0.625 inches (15.9 mm) wide by 1.813 inches (46 mm) long, small Command strips are best suited to hanging up lightweight items such as:
- Posters
- Banners
- Small signs
- Small picture frames
Medium Command Strips
A pair of medium-sized Command strips can comfortably hold up to 3 lb (1.4 kg). With each strip measuring 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) wide and 2.75 inches (69.9 mm) long, multiple pairs used together can hold items such as:
- Mirrors
- Wall clocks
- Dry-erase boards
- Holiday decorations
- Acoustic foam boards
Large Command Strips
Coming in at 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) wide by 3.65 inches (92.7 mm) long, a single pair of large Command strips can hold up to 4 lb (1.8 kg). These large strips are made to hang heavier items, such as:
- Large paintings
- Large picture frames
- Large wall art
- Heavy mirrors
Of course, whether these Command strips can hold these items depends on if they fall within the specified weight and size limits.
How Many Pairs of Command Strips Are Used
The number of Command strips used determines how much weight they can safely hold. Generally, the more strips you use (and the larger the strip size), the more weight they can collectively hold.
Here’s a quick guide to the weight and size restrictions of four pairs of strips used together.
Size of Command strip | Weight limit of four pairs of strips used together | Size restriction of object to be hung (length and width) |
Small | 4 lb (1.8 kg) | No more than 8 inches (20.32 cm) by 10 inches (25.4 cm) |
Medium | 12 lb (5.4 kg) | No more than 18 inches (45.7 cm) by 24 inches (61 cm) |
Large | 16 lb (7.2 kg) | No more than 24 inches (61 cm) by 36 inches (91.4 cm) |
What Is a Command Strip?
A Command strip is a household adhesive that allows you to hang objects up without needing hammers or nails. Command strips offer a secure way to hang up posters, pictures, wall art, wall clocks, and mirrors without causing any damage to walls and other surfaces.
You can hang just about anything with a Command strip – as long as it fits within the recommended weight and size restrictions. Items hung with Command strips can stay up for many years, provided that you keenly follow the instructions for use.
Surfaces Suitable for Command Strips
Command strips are safe to use on many surfaces, including:
- Metal
- Glass
- Laminates
- Tile
- Varnished wood
- Most plastics
- painted walls
- Wood
- Concrete
Surfaces Not Suitable for Command Strips
While the majority of surfaces are suitable for Command strips, there are several surfaces that Command strips either won’t adhere to, or just don’t work as well on. These surfaces include:
- Fabrics
- Wallpaper
- Brick
- Rough or textured surfaces
How to Make Command Strips Last Longer
Command strips are designed to stay up for many years if used correctly. They’re a versatile household hanging method, suitable for long-term and short-term hanging needs.
Therefore, Command strips can offer years of reliable service if they’re used correctly. I’ll go over some tips and precautions to keep in mind to ensure the long life of Command strips in the sections below.
Use Command Strips Within the Recommended Temperatures
To some extent, temperature and climate can affect Command strips’ reliability. Like most adhesives, high temperatures can weaken the Command strip’s ability to stick firmly onto a surface. At temperatures above 105°F (40°C), you can expect the adhesive on the strip to begin to soften, making it less sticky.
High humidity also weakens Command strips, which is why they’re not advised for use in places like the shower. However, a water-resistant variety is available for bathrooms and high humidity regions like coastal or lakeside areas.
Additionally, at temperatures below 59°F (15°C), sticking the strips onto a surface might be more difficult than usual. You can raise the temperature of the intended surface by heating it with a hair dryer just before applying the strips. Once applied, Command strips can stay stuck on the surface, provided temperatures don’t fall below 23°F (-5°C).
Ensure That You Remove the Strips Correctly
Avoid prying off a Command strip as this can cause damage. The correct way to remove a Command strip is by stretching it slowly against the wall or any other surface that it’s attached to. The strips can stretch up to 15 inches (38 cm) when pulled, but they can break if pulled too hard.
Here’s a YouTube video demonstration from Command on how to remove strips correctly:
Using any method other than the recommended one can result in damaged strips that are trickier to remove. Even so, broken strips are still relatively easy to peel off.
So, if you’ve tried removing a Command strip incorrectly and you’re not sure how to proceed, don’t panic. It can be fixed! You’ll only need two items:
- A hairdryer
- Dental floss
Once you have your items, follow these steps:
- Set your hair dryer at high heat. Heat will help loosen the adhesive on the Command strip.
- Aim the dryer at the strip. Let the dryer run for 30 seconds.
- Cut through the strip with the dental floss. Slide the dental floss underneath the strip and slice through until the strip detaches from the surface.
Give the Command Strips the Recommended Waiting Time
Command strips are designed to be able to hang your items up for pretty much the foreseeable future. However, there are a few scenarios in which falls can occur, and it mostly comes down to failure to follow manufacturer instructions for use.
After applying the strips onto the intended surface, it’s best to wait at least one hour before attaching the object to be hung. This waiting period gives the adhesive on the strip enough time to stick more strongly to the intended surface, which reduces the chances of a fall.
For example, if you’d like to hang a picture frame on a wall, here’s how to incorporate the one-hour waiting period correctly:
- Wipe the intended surface with rubbing alcohol. Ensuring that the surface is free of dust and other small particles helps increase the adhesive power of the strips.
- Take out a pair of strips and click them together. Remove a pair of strips from the packaging and press them together until they click. The weight of the frame you’re hanging will determine how many pairs of strips to use.
- Stick the strips onto the frame. Peel off one of the green liners on the strips and stick them onto your frame.
- Stick the frame onto the wall. Remove the remaining green liner and press the frame onto the wall for 30 seconds.
- Detach the frame from the wall. To detach the frame, pull it up and away from the wall, starting with the bottom. Each pair of strips should separate, leaving one side on the frame and the other still stuck to the wall.
- Wait one hour. Press the strips that remained on the wall for 30 seconds. Give the strips one hour to stick firmly onto the wall.
- Reattach the frame. After one hour, reattach the frame to the strips on the wall. Press until the strips click together.
Summary
Command strips are a handy way to hang objects around your home. The weight they can hold depends on their size and how many are used. A pair of small strips can hold 1 lb (.5 kg), medium strips can hold 3 lb (1.4 kg), and large strips can hold 4 lb (1.8 kg). Using more than one pair will increase the weight they can collectively hold.
Always follow instructions to ensure the strips last as long as possible. This includes applying and removing them correctly, using them on recommended surfaces, and paying attention to their weight restrictions.
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