In the moment, some sticker art on your vehicle may seem like a good idea. Perhaps political support, child’s honorary stickers, or maybe other stickers that fit your humor has run its course. Because the adhesive breaks down and the paint around it may bleach, the longer you wait, the harder the sticker will be to remove. You may ruin the finish, scratch the paint or be left with a patch of sticky residue if you attack your bumper without a plan. Today, we at Top Notch Body Shop & Mechanic would like to offer some sticker removal options.
How to Remove Bumper Stickers
1) With a hair dryer, warm the sticker. For about a minute, blast the sticker with hot air. you can hold it close to the sticker if your dryer is on low heat and hold it further away if you set it too high.
2) Peel back a corner of the sticker gently. To peel one corner of the sticker, use your fingernail or a rubber spatula, nothing metal. Continue peeling the sticker back, not up, until it comes off once you have a good grip. If necessary, apply more heat.
3) Adhesive residues need to be removed. You can use rubbing alcohol, Goo Gone or an adhesive remover designed for cars to breakdown the adhesive residues. Until the surface underneath is clean, rub gently with a cloth.
What Solvents Removes Stickers from Car?
You can use various solvents to try to loosen the adhesive and soak the sticker off your vehicle if you don’t have a hair dryer handy, or if heat alone is not working. These include the following:
Boiling Water / White vinegar: Use the same technique as for boiling water. Either pour the boiling water or vinegar directly over the sticker or soak a cloth in boiling water or vinegar and apply it to the sticker.
Additional substances that are recommended by some include:
– WD-40
– Vodka
– Rubbing alcohol
– Miracle Whip
– Lighter fluid
With all flammable solvents, be sure to use caution. These can damage the finish on your paint while some people suggest using nail polish remover with acetone or gasoline to remove stickers from a car. Use nail polish remover only on glass.
Tips to Make Bumper Sticker Removal Easier
Like political campaign stickers or parking decals, some stickers have built-in expiration dates. Use one of these techniques so it’ll be easier to remove if you plan to remove a sticker from your car before long. Apply it to the glass. As long as you have a razor blade and something to remove sticky residue, removing bumper stickers from glass is a cinch. Because you could damage the defrosting wires, never use a razor blade on the inside of the rear windshield. Attach your sticker to a bumper magnet and then stick it on your car. Another option is to apply wax first. If you use a product like Turtle Wax on your bumper and apply the sticker before buffing, some experts believe it is easier to remove later.
Custom Paint & Auto Repair & Body Shop Services in Dallas, Texas (Just Minutes Away from Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Coppell, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale & Wylie, TX)
For auto body repairs and painting services in Dallas, TX call in the professionals of Top Notch Body Shop & Mechanics for quality services.
