Knowing how to remove bumper stickers is essential when preparing to sell your car. You’ll get a better selling price by cleaning your vehicle inside and out, including removing decals from car windows, bumpers, and panels.
Read on for our tips on how to get stickers off a car without marring its finish.
How to Remove Stickers From Car
You can remove car stickers using everyday products and tools paired with elbow grease.
- 1. Clean the surface. A thorough car wash eliminates abrasive dirt around the sticker that could scratch the finish when you’re scraping away the decal.
- 2. Warm with hairdryer. Direct heat loosens the adhesives for vinyl, decals, graphics, and stickers on cars. Hold a hair dryer on high heat about 6 inches from the sticker. Make a circular motion to warm the area gradually and avoid heating one spot too much or too quickly.
- 3. Scrape with plastic blade. Use the flat edge of a plastic razor blade, frequent shopper card, or even your fingernail to scrape and tear away the bumper sticker from its softened adhesive. Reheating stubborn spots may be necessary. NOTE: Never use a metal blade on a car’s painted surfaces.
- 4. Saturate with WD-40 or Goo Gone. Products such as WD-40 and Goo Gone are excellent adhesive removers and do not harm automotive paint or clear coat. Let the solvent soak for several minutes before using a microfiber towel to scrub away the remaining glue.
- 5. Wash again. Finish by washing the area to remove residual solvent and adhesive bits.
Other Methods for Removing Decals From Cars
Oil-based solvents can help remove the emblem advertising the dealership that sold you the car, expired parking permits, and other decals and stickers. However, you might consider using cheaper and more environmentally friendly options to take stickers off your car.
- White vinegar: Saturate a paper towel with white vinegar and rub it into the sticker. Let it soak for a few minutes, then scrape and peel it away.
- Boiling water: Carefully pour boiling water over the sticker to loosen the adhesive. Scrape, peel, and repeat. This is the least expensive product to remove decals and stickers. Unfortunately, it’s also the least effective.
MORE: Exterior Car Detailing: 14 Steps to Clean Your Car Like a Pro
How to Remover Stickers From Glass
Remove stickers from car windows by generously spraying them with a cleaning solution, glass cleaner, or the Goo Gone you used to take off bumper stickers. Then, carefully use a razor blade at a shallow angle to scrape off the sticker or decal. Apply more window cleaner as needed and remove any remaining adhesive residue with the blade. While a metal razor blade at a shallow angle is suitable for glass, never use a metal blade on the car’s body.
Why You Should Remove Decals From Cars
Potential buyers might appreciate your honor student, chuckle at your witty catchphrase, and share your political affiliation, but they likely don’t want your bumper sticker on the car they buy.
Or maybe you got a great deal on a used car covered in stickers you want to get rid of. On the other hand, perhaps you want to take off the decal promoting the losing sports team you no longer support.
Whether you’re selling your car or refreshing its exterior for your enjoyment, use the straightforward and inexpensive techniques above for removing bumper stickers and other decals from your vehicle.
