How to remove sticker off car paint

Yes, car stickers–they’re a nasty bunch. Not only do they stick out like ugly patches on your car’s glass windows, but not all of them are easy to get rid of.

The good news is there are easy ways to remove them without sacrificing your fingers (or hands). Here are four proven ways to get rid of stickers (and their adhesive residue) once and for all:

1) “Soften the Glue” Technique

Stickers are hard to get rid of because of hardened adhesives. You can soften them by dipping a wash rag into a soapy water and wash it over the car sticker a number of times. You can now slowly peel the sticker off.

Another option–which we think is far more effective– is to apply soft heat using your hair dryer. Make sure you don’t apply it too close to your car’s body, though. The last thing you want is to mess up your car’s paint–all because that old homeowner sticker doesn’t want to give itself up.

So how long should you expose it to heat before you peel off the sticker? Less than a minute would do–enough to see the adhesive soften and stretch out a bit like a slice of mozzarella cheese pizza.

Once the glue has softened, get a credit card (for your car’s body) or a razor blade (for your car’s glass windows). You will use them to start lifting up the edges of your sticker. Make sure to do it slowly–peeling it fast might leave not only adhesive residues, but also traces of sticker materials like paper or plastic. This will make it harder for you to remove the sticker.

Make sure to wipe the sticker off with a dry, clean cloth once you’re finished.

2) Ice and Nail Polish Remover (Acetone) Technique

Ice and nail polish is another good combination to get rid of stickers. Here’s how you do it:

Apply ice on the car sticker and let it stay there for a few minutes. Slowly peel the sticker off using your fingers, a credit card, or razor blade. Then wipe off the residue by applying a light coat of nail polish remover.

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Note that some nail polish removers may not be good for a car’s paint. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s best to play it safe and test the polish remover on a hidden part of the car’s body. That way, you’ll see if the paint will react negatively to the acetone.

Make sure to wipe the sticker off with a dry, clean cloth once you’re done.

3) WD 40 and Pencil Eraser Technique

www.wd40.com

Another alternative we can suggest here is to get a traditional pencil (with an eraser) and buy a can of WD 40. Note that this method will take up a lot of your time. You should also expect your fingers and joints to get a good workout. Here’s how you do it: Apply WD 40 around the edges of the car’s sticker, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then take out your pencil, and start rubbing the outer edges. You should see the adhesive residue slowly gum up as you work around the entire sticker. If you don’t have WD40, then you can use any type of oil (or oily substance) like canola oil, coconut oil, lard, and even baby lotion as good substitutes. You can even use peanut butter here–without the sandwich, of course. Make sure to wipe everything off with a dry, clean cloth once you’re finished.

4) Sticker Remover Technique

What if you don’t have time to do all of these tips? Then save yourself the hassle and just buy a good sticker remover, instead. They’re by far the easiest to use–and they will save you heaps of time as well.

The procedure is easy: Just apply it around the sticker’s edges, wait a few minutes, and remove it using your credit card or fingernails.

Make sure to wipe the sticker off with a dry, clean cloth once you’re done.

The post 4 Effective Ways to Remove Stickers (and Their Residue) on Your Car appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.

It is unlikely any car sticker or decal will permanently damage your vehicle’s paintwork unless the quality of your paintwork is poor, to begin with, or you’re dealing with an older model. If the adhesive has been there for several years or more, the paintwork may be faded due to uneven sun exposure.

Precautions:

Avoid using extreme heat sources and sharp objects, such as hairdryers and razor blades, close to the surface of your vehicle as this will result in damage to the clear coat/ paintwork.

REMOVING STICKERS FROM PAINTWORK

STEP 1: FOCUS ON ONE STICKER AT A TIME

• Before attempting to peel the sticker off, focus on one sticker at a time and take your time.
• Remove any surface dirt with a damp microfiber cloth to prepare the targeted area.
• Saturate the sticker with Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover after having done a patch test on an inconspicuous area.
• Shake the bottle well and hold 2-4 inches from the car surface to spray the product.
• Let the solution set-in for a minute to help dissolve the adhesive. This will make it easier to remove completely and minimize the adhesive left on the surface.

STEP 2: WIPE AWAY THE EXCESS WITH A DRY CLOTH

• Once the sticker has been saturated with the product, allowing it to soak for 1 minute, wipe the surface with a dry microfiber cloth to remove sticker residue.
• Enriched with a citrus extract, Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover leaves behind a fresh scent.
• This should remove the majority, if not all, of the sticker and adhesive.

“Not only does it take it completely off but it leaves a very nice shine as well. Would recommend to anyone.”

Label & Sticker Remover - Ryno

STEP 3: REPEAT STEPS IF NEEDED

• If you are removing stubborn stickers or labels that have been adhered to your vehicle for a long time, especially on the exterior, they may require a little more attention. 
   
• If the sticker or the adhesive has not been fully removed, repeat the steps above until there is no more sticky residue, possibly leaving the product to soak for slightly longer.

STEP 4: RESTORE THE SURFACE

• If you’re removing from an exterior surface, finish up with a wash and wax using Turtle Wax MAX Power Car Wash and Turtle Wax Dry Spray Wax.
   
• Alternatively, if you’re removing from an interior surface, finish up with Turtle Wax Dash & Glass Interior Cleaner.
   
• This step will restore your cars shine and leave it feeling smooth and adhesive-free - like the sticker was never there!

REMOVING STICKERS FROM CAR WINDOWS

STEP 1: CLEAN THE GLASS

• Removing stickers and decals from auto glass will require patience as the surface is a little more delicate in comparison to the paintwork
• Start by cleaning the surface with Turtle Wax Dash & Glass Interior Cleaner and a clean dry microfibre cloth.
• This will remove any road debris or dirt and prepare to sticker for removal.

“Not only does it take it completely off but it leaves a very nice shine as well. Would recommend to anyone.”

Ryno

STEP 2: APPLY THE PRODUCT

• Apply Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover to the sticker and allow the product to rest for 1 minute.
• The solution will begin to break down the sticker and the glue residue beneath it.
• Using this method to remove stubborn stickers will remove the need for harsh objects on the surface and potential damage.

STEP 3: SOAK AND REMOVE

• Once the product has been left on the surface for 1 minute, remove with a clean and dry microfiber cloth.
• If you are removing a sticker that has been on the surface for a long time, you may need to repeat this process to break down the glue residue.

STEP 4: FINISH WITH A WASH & WAX

• After you’ve successfully removed the remnants of the sticker from the surface, finish up with a wash and wax using Turtle Wax MAX Power Car Wash and Turtle Wax Wax & Dry Spray Wax.
• Alternatively, if you’re removing from an interior glass surface, finish up with Turtle Wax Dash & Glass Interior Cleaner.

REMOVING CAR DECALS

Car decals can be very tough to remove if you don’t have the correct tools and they can stretch across several types of surface when used for business advertising.

STEP 1: ASSESS THE SURFACE

• Branded decals may stretch across auto glass, paintwork and trim which require different levels of attention.
• If the decals have only recently been adhered to, you may be able to gently peel off the top layer by hand.
• Prepare the surface by washing with Turtle Wax MAX Power Car Wash to remove the top layer of dirt and grime.

STEP 2: WORK IN SMALL SECTIONS

• Start in a corner and make your way across to the other corner in order to break up your work into manageable sections.
• Shake the bottle well and apply Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover to your first section 2-4 inches away from the surface.
• Allow the product to soak for 1 minute.

STEP 3: REMOVE AND REPEAT

• Remove the product and dissolved solvent using a clean and dry microfiber cloth with slight pressure.
• Once you’re satisfied with the results of the current small section, move on to the next and repeat the above steps

STEP 4: RENEW THE SURFACE

• By this point, you should have successfully removed all of the decal and the surface should be adhesive-free.
• Restore the shine and create long-lasting protection on the surface of your vehicle with a wash and wax using Turtle Wax MAX Power Car Wash and Turtle Wax Carnauba Cleaner Wax Paste.

CONCLUSION

Stickers, Labels, and Decals all vary in stickiness and may take longer to remove depending on how long they have adhered to the surface of the vehicle.

For adhesives that have been there for multiple years, you will need to leave the solution to soak for longer than 1 minute and repeat the process a couple of times.

Always ensure to wash and wax the surface of your vehicle after removal to ensure long-lasting protection.

How do you get dried sticker residue off a car?

How do you remove stickers without removing paint?

Will WD