Yes. Command says its hooks and picture hanging strips work on painted walls when the paint is fully cured for at least 7 days, clean, smooth and in good condition. To take one off, it says to pull the tab straight down, slowly, along the wall.
Putting them up on paint
- Wait for the paint: Command’s how-to pages and its Outdoor Stainless Steel Wire Hooks sheet say to wait 7 days after painting before use. Its bath picture strip page says to wait seven days “to allow paint to cure.”
- Clean with rubbing alcohol: “Do not use household cleaners or water.” Command’s FAQ says rubbing alcohol evaporates cleanly without leaving the slippery film that water or household cleaners can.
- Press, then wait: the hook how-to says to press the strip to the wall for 30 seconds and wait 1 hour before use. For picture hanging strips, it says to press each strip on the wall for 30 seconds and wait 1 hour before clicking the frame on.
- Temperature: Command lists 50°F to 105°F for its indoor hooks.
Taking them off without pulling paint
- For a two-piece hook, slide the hook up and off its base first.
- Hold the hook or base gently in place with one hand.
- With the other hand, stretch the tab slowly straight down along the wall. Command says at least 12 inches for hooks and 15 inches for picture strips and bath products.
- Never pull the strip toward you.
For a framed picture, Command says to grab the bottom corners and peel the frame from the wall, not pull it straight off, then stretch each strip slowly down against the wall.
Command’s FAQ says a strip can pull off paint if the paint was weak, old, uncured or damaged, or if the strip was pulled out instead of straight down. If a tab breaks, it says not to yank the hook off. Dental floss or string can saw through what’s left of the strip, and a hair dryer on the base plate softens the adhesive first.
What other makers say about paint
| Product | Painted surface it names | Fresh paint and removal |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Max Strength Mounting Tape | “Painted walls”; “WORKS GREAT ON PAINTED SURFACES” | Not on freshly painted walls; “BONDS PERMANENTLY” |
| Gorilla Multi-Purpose Mounting Tape and Squares | “painted drywall” | Not on freshly painted walls; “May cause damage or leave residue if removed.” |
| Gorilla Mounting Putty | “Painted Walls” | “Not recommended for use on freshly painted walls…”; may stain some surfaces |
| Scotch-Mount Indoor Double-Sided Mounting Tape | “Painted Drywall” | Indoor; apply at 50 to 100°F |
| Scotch-Mount Multipurpose Gel Tape | “painted wood” | “not recommended for delicate surfaces such as painted drywall…” |
| Loctite Fun-Tak | None named | Not on “peeling or newly painted surfaces”; “May leave oily stain on some papers and flat painted surfaces.” |
From each product’s own page or data sheet. Gorilla’s pages say freshly painted without giving a number of days. The 7 days is Command’s figure for its own products.
Command’s how-to pages warn that failure to follow the instructions carefully may cause damage, and say not to hang over beds. For anything heavy, we’d use a screw and anchor instead: see choosing a wall anchor on our drill bit site.
Hanging peel-and-stick wallpaper on paint?
Will peel-and-stick damage paint?