Car Decals is a classic way of jazzing up a car, old or new. But when the time comes to get rid of these stickers from your car, it can be a very huge pain, most especially if they have been on there for quite a period of time. However, the main goal is to remove the stickers without leaving behind any damage to the car’s body.
What are Car Decals?
A car decal is an outdoor sticker that is pasted on cars for decorative purposes. It adds an extra touch of style to your car and also helps your personality. It lasts several years before fading due to wear and tear.
Car Decals: What You’ll Need
First of all, you need to get your supplies ready and available. The Good part is it doesn’t require much in the way of specialized equipment. Below are some of the things you will need:
A heat gun or hairdryer: Applying heat to the surface helps to break up the adhesive bond of the decal, but in some cars, too much heat can damage the paint.
A Clean surface: Dirt and grime can make it harder to get rid of the decal and can interfere with your efforts to remove the residue afterward.
Adhesive Remover: Some decals will leave more goop behind than others, but you will want to remove any adhesive left over after you remove it. Get a full-strength adhesive remover to help you easier.
Rags or Towels: You will need a rag or a towel to wipe off the cleaner and adhesive
Water and Soap: Soap is one of the most important things you will need to helo you wash the surface.
How to Remove Decals or Stickers From Cars
- Clean It With Soapy Water
Dirt and debris on and around the decals can scratch your vehicle’s paint when you begin to rub it off the adhesive residue, so you will want to clean it beforehand. All you need is to get a clean piece of cloth or a sponge and also some soapy water, and then wash the decal and the surrounding area, or you can even plan to get rid of the decal after you run through a car wash. - Heat It Up
The Next step is to heat up the vehicle sticker or decal to weaken and loosen the adhesive. The best tool for the job is a hair blow dryer, as a heat gun is too powerful and could actually damage your paint job. Look for a heavy-duty extension cord if you need it and then set the hair blow dryer to its highest heat setting. Distribute the heat properly throughout the sticker and be sure to heat the edges of it. Give it a good minute of heating before you stop. - Peel It Off
Next step, you will need to carry this step immediately after heating up the decal. Get a plastic card on hand, like a rewards card or an old debit or credit card. Whatever you choose to use, it should be plastic, as knives and razor blades can easily scratch the paint. A plastic card is quite strong enough to release the decal from the paint of you have heated it up sufficiently. Now use it around all the edges of the decal with the card to try and release it from the vehicle. After you have used the card to release it from the car. After using the card to release the edges of the decal, you should be able to peel it off using your hand easily. - Use A Glue Removal or Vinegar
Once the vehicle decal is off, you will still need some adhesive residue on your car. This is perfectly fine because there is plenty of products at your disposal that can get rid of it without destroying the paint. - Wash and Dry The Area
Wash the area with soapy water to get rid of any residue from the adhesive remover product and to ensure the area is ready to be waxed. But before waxing, make sure the area is completely dry. - Wax It
Waxing the area will protect the paint now that the decal is removed and the paint is exposed. You will need to apply a layer of car wax by following the instructions on the product label.
