Painter's tape is supposed to be a DIYer's best friend, but wait too long to remove it, and it quickly turns into a wall-ruining enemy. You might even wonder if using painter's tape is really worth the hassle when a simple mistake can ruin your work. While the debate between stripping tape wet versus dry has split home renovators for years, the ideal time is actually much more specific than most people realize. The short answer is to pull it when the paint is wet or immediately after the final coat feels dry when you touch it. Apply your paint, wait about 10 minutes for any immediate drips to settle, and pull the tape immediately before the paint forms a skin.