Using Masking Tape

Where you need to protect carpet, sheet flooring, or unfinished wood and metal from paint, medium-to-high-adhesion Scotch General Purpose (#2050) goes down tight and pulls away cleanly up to three days later. Caution: It may leave a residue if allowed to bake in the sun, and it's not recommended on finished wood floors, wall coverings, or painted metal. About $7.50, 3M