Composition for releasing adhesives from a surface

A composition for releasing adhesive from a surface, comprising:

• a liquid first solvent having the inherent capacity to soften or dissolve said adhesive, said first solvent being selected from the group consisting of xylene, benzene, toluene, cyclohexanone, and mixtures of two or more thereof, a second solvent selected for an inherent capacity to soften or to dissolve said adhesive, and a lower flammability than said first solvent, said second solvent being selected from the group consisting of trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and 1-1-1trichloroethane and mixtures of two or more thereof, and a liquid carrier having a lesser inherent volatility than said first solvent, whereby to render to volatility of the composition less than that of the first solvent, and the capacity to keep the adhesive softened even after some of said first solvent has evaporated, said carrier being a liquid petroleum distillate in the boiling range between about that of naphtha through about that of diesel fuel, and present in proportion sufficient to accomplish said reduction of volatility and capacity to keep said adhesive softened after evaporation of said first solvent, both of said solvents being present in substantial quantity whereby each contributes to the softening of said adhesive, and in such total proportion relative to said carrier that said adhesive is softened by them.