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Do you want to put up decor or hang an organizer with a suction cup, but you're worried about it falling down? Whether you're trying to make a suction cup stick in the shower, on windows, or in your car, it's actually pretty easy to make them stay put on the right surface. If you want to learn all the best ways to prep the surface and suction cup for an airtight seal, keep reading!

1

Choose a smooth, flat surface to apply your suction cup.

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  1. Flat surfaces of glass, acrylic, Formica, and stainless steel are all great places to make suction cups stick better. You can even make suction cups stick to plastic as long as it’s a hard surface. The suction cup is more likely to fall if the surface has any slight curves or textures since it could let air into the suction cup and break the seal.[1]
    • If you’re trying to get suction cups to stick in the shower, try putting them on the glass door, a large tile, or on a smooth part of the acrylic wall.
    • For suction-cup phone mounts, avoid putting them on textured dashboards. Try mounting it from your windshield or on your radio display.
    • Suction cups do not work well on porous surfaces, like untreated tiles, fabric, or rough, soft plastics.
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3

Dry the surface thoroughly.

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  1. Either wipe the area dry with a lint-free cloth or let it air-dry. If you try to press the suction cup down on top of the surface while it’s wet, it will leave air pockets once it dries and weaken the vacuum seal.[4]
    Marie Kondo
    Marie Kondo, Cleaning & Organization Expert

    Thoroughly clean surfaces with rubbing alcohol before applying suction cups, removing any residue. Ensure cups themselves are debris-free; press firmly for 30 seconds to dispel trapped air and maximize seal adhesion. For heavy displays, first moisten cup rims for an even tighter grip. Follow this routine and suction cups will adhere neatly where placed.

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About This Article

Carolina Rodriguez
Co-authored by:
Cleaning Specialist
This article was co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Carolina Rodriguez is a Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Ecoverde Cleaning, based in the Washington, DC metro area. Ecoverde was born out of a desire to provide an eco-friendly cleaning option that competes with many traditional cleaning companies in the Washington, DC metro area. Through competitive pricing, attractive service plans, and friendly customer service. Ecoverde has built a strong residential and commercial customer base serving DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and has been named the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Washington DC. Carolina and her team specialize in residential and commercial cleaning services and use Green Seal Certified products. The team's cleaning technicians go through an extensive training process, learning about specific products, real-time cross-contamination, and how to use appropriate equipment for specific services. They also provide free cleanings to cancer patients through a non-profit organization, Cleaning For a Reason. This article has been viewed 282,471 times.
17 votes - 89%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: November 14, 2024
Views: 282,471
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 282,471 times.

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