How to remove vinyl stickers
Content
Vinyl decals are a great way to personalize a vehicle for your specific purposes. Here are some possible reasons for using vinyl decals:
- Displaying business information
- Display contact information
- Coating stains in rough condition
- Fleet numbering
- Personalization
Vehicle customization specialists can apply all kinds of vinyl decals, from small emblems and window graphics to wrapping an entire vehicle. They can be as small as a stick figure or as intricate and detailed as you can imagine. Colors and patterns are endless, and decals can be applied to any vehicle, regardless of shape or size.
Vinyl stickers stick to the glass or painted surface of the car with a self-adhesive backing, just like the stickers kids play with. The protective backing remains attached until the vinyl decal is applied. If the sticker is not pasted in the correct place the first time and needs to be removed, it cannot be pasted again; instead, a new sticker must be installed.
Custom stickers are printed and cut on a sophisticated printer. The design is entered into a computer program that allows the user to modify and correct the image. Then a vinyl sheet is placed in the printer, on which the design and colors are applied. The printer intricately cuts out the design and overlays colors or graphics onto the vinyl. After that, the sticker is ready for installation.
One of the most attractive features of vinyl decals is that they are not permanent. In the future, you may decide that you no longer need the stickers on your car and remove them. If you no longer support the sports team you have painted on your truck windshield, you no longer run the business printed on your car, or you are simply tired of the design you have on your rear window, it can be removed.
Method 1 of 2: Scrape off the sticker from the car window
Necessary materials
- Glass foam
- Clean cloth or paper towels
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Plastic blades, razor blade or razor scraper
- Residue remover
Step 1: Start removing the sticker with a razor scraper.. Spray the decal with a foaming glass cleaner. It acts as a lubricant to prevent light scratching of the glass with a razor.
Holding the razor scraper at a 20-30 degree angle, place the corner of the blade under the edge of the sticker and lift it up.
Step 2: Peel off the sticker. Peel off the sticker through yourself. If you have the top right corner, peel the sticker down and to the left while holding the vinyl sticker close to the window.
The old sticker will dry out and the adhesive will be very difficult to remove entirely. It will most likely tear into smaller pieces and you will have to repeat these first few steps a few times to get the vinyl off the window.
Step 3: Heat the glue if necessary. Gently heat the sticker with a hair dryer or hair dryer to make the adhesive sticker soft again and easier to remove.
- A warning: Hold a heat gun over the sticker and do not heat the glass more than comfortable warmth to the touch. Overheating the glass can cause it to break.
After removing the decal, there will be a sticky vinyl adhesive left on the window - like the remnants of a decal.
Step 4: Remove leftovers from the window. If you have a spray residue remover, spray it directly onto the sticky residue.
Use a plastic blade or razor scraper to separate the residue from the window glass. It will form clumps when you run the razor across the glass.
Remove any leftover clumps from the razor blade and glass with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Step 5: Clean the window. The residue remover will leave a film on the glass. Use glass cleaner with a clean cloth or paper towels and clean the entire surface of the window.
To do this, spray glass cleaner on the window. Wipe the window up and down, then side to side.
If your cloth sticks to residue on the window, spot clean with a cloth tip remover and then reclean the window with glass cleaner.
Method 2 of 2: Use a pressure washer to remove the sticker from the car window
- A warning: Use only a pressure washer to remove stickers from windows. Direct, close-range splashes from high-pressure cleaners on painted surfaces can peel off the paint immediately.
Necessary materials
- Wiper
- Paper towels or clean cloth
- Plastic blade or razor blade
- High pressure washer with fan nozzle
- Residue remover
- water supply hose
Step 1: Set up your pressure washer. Connect the hose to the water supply and turn it on. Make sure your pressure washer has a narrow fan nozzle or tip.
Turn on the pressure washer and let it build up pressure if necessary.
- Functions: Hold the high pressure washer tube firmly with both hands to maintain control of the jet.
Step 2: Spray the sticker with washer. Hold the pressure washer tube at a horizontal angle to the glass about six inches from the window surface and pull the trigger.
Run a fan of water back and forth along the edge of the sticker. You will notice that the edge of the vinyl sticker has started to lift.
Continue spraying the sticker with a pressure washer to peel it further.
Step 3: Remove the sticker by hand if possible. Once you can hold the sticker with your hand, release the trigger on the pressure washer and pull the sticker with your hand.
Release the sticker. If it breaks, use the pressure washer again to remove the sticker from the window.
Repeat until the sticker is completely removed from the glass.
Step 4: Remove sticker residue from glass. If you have a spray-on residue remover, spray it directly onto the remaining sticker residue.
Scrape off residue with a plastic blade or razor blade, then dry with a paper towel or cloth.
Step 5: Clean the window. Clean the window with glass cleaner and a paper towel or clean cloth.
If you find any remaining tackiness from residue, spot-clean it with residue remover and a clean paper towel or cloth, then scrub the area again with glass cleaner.
In general, removing vinyl decals from car windows is a fairly straightforward process. If you take the necessary precautions and follow the steps in this guide, you will quickly remove the old sticker!
