If you’ve finished your Decoupage project, a very common problem you can run into is the surface of your design still feeling sticky or tacky, even after drying.
So why is my Decoupage sticky? Your Decoupage can be sticky because the glue, Mod Podge, or medium you have used is very glossy. This means it’s more likely to stay sticky, tacky, and take longer to dry or fully cure. It can also depend on the application and thickness per coat, as well as the humidity in the room while drying.
Even though many Decoupage glues such as Mod Podge can only take 1-2 hours to dry on each coat. They can take a very long time to fully cure – up to 4 weeks depending on the coat thickness and humidity.
Glossy Decoupage mediums can also stay more sticky, soft, or tacky for longer due to the nature of the product you are using, and the application.
It’s important to know that “Dry” is not the same as “Cured” when it refers to Decoupage glues, mediums, or adhesives. You need to allow roughly a month for most glued or sealed Decoupage designs to fully cure, harden, and become durable.
Once fully cured, your Decoupage glue or medium will be less sticky or tacky, and more resistant to damage, peeling or shifting.
How Do You Fix Stickiness On Decoupage?
If your Decoupage is sticky you can fix it by using a clear acrylic sealer to spray a coat over the top of your design evenly. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes between coats, and spray several light coats of clear acrylic sealer if needed to reduce sticky or tackiness.
Once you are finished with your Decoupage project, you should leave about 24 hours after the last coat and allow it to dry, before using or applying a clear acrylic sealer.
This will allow your chosen Decoupage glue, medium, or Mod Podge to dry and begin to cure before adding a protective coat of clear acrylic sealer. It will give it a smooth finish and reduce stickiness.
If you don’t want to use an acrylic spray to stop your Decoupage from being sticky. There are many clear-drying sealers, varnishes, and products available that are suitable for Decoupage which can be applied using a sponge or fine artist’s brush.
How Do I Keep My Decoupage from Being Sticky?
To stop Decoupage from feeling sticky or tacky you should apply multiple thin layers (not thick layers), and allow them to dry completely between each coat. Only use as much glue, medium, or Mod Podge as you need to provide even coverage and stick down your designs.
If you apply your chosen adhesive in thin layers and allow it to fully dry between coats. This will help to ensure the application is not too thick and reduces the chances of it being sticky or feeling tacky after multiple coats.
Applying Mod Podge, glues, or mediums too thickly on Decoupage is not recommended. As it can sometimes result in the following problems:
- Stickiness
- Tackiness
- Uneven drying
- Clumping
- Cloudiness
- Air bubbles
- Streaks
- Wrinkles
So to ensure you don’t run into these problems in your Decoupage project and you avoid being left with a finish that feels sticky or has wrinkles on the surface. You should apply your chosen Decoupage glue in thin and even layers on each coat.
Why Is My Modge Podge Still Sticky?
If you’ve finished your Mod Podge project and it still feels sticky. There’s a good chance you have applied it too thickly or didn’t allow it to dry fully between coats. Also, the Podge formula you used was very glossy, which means it’s more likely to stay sticky or tacky until it’s fully cured.
Usually, the more glossy the Mod Podge is that you are using. The more likely it is to stay sticky or tacky for longer before fully drying.
Depending on the type of Mod Podge you are using, it can take a very long time to fully cure – around 4 weeks.
Another reason your Mod Podge is still sticky is that you did not allow it to dry completely between coats. This can cause the final coat to feel sticky and may cause clumping, tackiness, or bubbles.
So to avoid sticky Mod Podge you should apply thin and even coats. Then allow the surface fully before applying additional coats.
Does Mod Podge Hard Coat Dry Sticky or Tacky?
Hard Coat Mod Podge is a Satin finish that will dry clear with a non-sticky or tacky surface as the name suggests. This formula is ideal for Decoupage as it leaves a durable, smooth surface once it’s fully dried and cured.
So Mod Podge Hard Coat does not dry sticky or tacky like many other Decoupage glues or adhesives might do. But that’s not to say you don’t have to be careful with the application.
When used on surfaces such as Canvas, Metal, Wood, Tin, Etc. It’s very easy to get a smooth and sticky-free finish. Especially if you allow it to cure for 4 weeks and then apply an acrylic sealer.
The finish you get is Satin, so this means it’s somewhere in the middle between Gloss & Matte in terms of a shiny finish.
Glossy finishes are typically more prone to having issues with stickiness, tackiness, brush strokes, or streaks. So this makes Mod Podge Hard Coat ideal if you want to avoid these issues as much as possible.
Do Most Decoupage Glue’s Dry Sticky?
As we’ve suggested earlier, it is usually the Glossy or very shiny finish Decoupage glues that typically dry a lot more sticky, especially with a thick application. Not all Decoupage glues dry sticky, but it’s a good idea to allow them to dry completely between coats to avoid stickiness.
How sticky most Decoupage glues will be can often depend on the type of finish you are looking for on your chosen surface or project.
Most Glossy finish glues and Decoupage mediums are water-based which allows them to dry clear quickly and be suitable for most surfaces and materials.
However, this can also mean that many of them take a long time to cure or harden fully – up to 4 weeks. So they can stay sticky or feel tacky for a short period after they have dried until fully cured.
So to avoid using a Decoupage glue that results in a sticky surface on your design. You should consider testing different types of glues and finishes such as Gloss, Satin, or Matte to see which gives you the best result for your project.
What Brush Should You Use To Avoid Sticky Decoupage?
To help you avoid sticky Decoupage, you can use any brush that allows you to apply a thin and even coat of Decoupage glue. In most cases, a sponge brush or fine artist’s brush will work fine as they allow you to have more control over the thickness of each coat of glue.
When picking the right brush to use on Decoupage to reduce the stickiness of the final finish. It’s important not to use a brush that will apply too much Decoupage medium at one time.
Ideally, you will want to use a brush that allows you to apply Decoupage glue in thin layers over the top of your design.
It’s recommended to avoid large or thick bristled brushes as they will give you less control over the final finish, especially on smaller objects and surfaces. But they are fine to use on large surfaces where you need good coverage.
Using the right brush for your Decoupage project and ensuring the application of glue is not too thick will help you solve a lot of problems. The final finish is a lot more likely to be smooth, and free from stickiness.