How to Remove old Bumper Stickers
Removing old bumper stickers is one of the easiest ways to bump up the resale value of your car. Some bumper stickers will peel right off. Others will disintegrate so that you can't get at a clean corner, but the pieces can still be removed. Patience is the key, along with a little elbow grease. All bumper stickers will come off using one of these methods.Start by spraying the unwanted sticker with some WD40. Then find a corner and pull back steadily. Don't pull up. Instead, fold the sticker back on itself. Many stickers will come off at once. Wipe off the excess WD40 with a lint-free rag. Clean the area and buff up the chrome.Some bumper stickers are more stubborn. The next step is to soak an old towel in boiling water and let it sit on top of the unwanted bumper sticker for about a minute or so. Then remove the rag and peel off the bumper sticker. If you feel any give in the bumper sticker, repeat this step a couple more times and be patient. It's just like peeling wallpaper off a wall.Anything which produces steam also works well. You can use a clothing steamer, a non-abrasive carpet steamer tool, or even a kettle. If you use a steam iron, don't let the metal touch the car.Be careful when handling steam. Its temperature is higher than that of boiling water. Avoid scalding burns by using appropriate protective gear. Remove the steam source each time before trying to remove the bumper sticker.If there is no give with hot water, try softening the adhesive with dry heat. A hair blow dryer or heat gun works well. If you can get a corner loose, keep applying heat while slowly peeling off the sticker, just like stripping furniture. Use a rubber spatula if you have to. You can also use a blunted putty knife after covering the metal edges with tape.Don't use anything with a metal edge without blunting that edge. Never use anything sharp. A knife or razor blade can do a lot of damage to your car's finish.Once you have most of the sticker off the car, rub away the rest of it with your wet towel. You can also soak a lint-free rag in rubbing alcohol or eucalyptus oil to get rid of the last of the glue. If the glue is being stubborn, use an automotive adhesive cleaner.When the last of the bumper sticker is gone, clean the area with soap and hot water. Buff up the chrome or add a coat of wax over the paint.
Removing old bumper stickers is one of the easiest ways to bump up the resale value of your car. Some bumper stickers will peel right off. Others will disintegrate so that you can't get at a clean corner, but the pieces can still be removed. Patience is the key, along with a little elbow grease. All bumper stickers will come off using one of these methods.
Start by spraying the unwanted sticker with some WD40. Then find a corner and pull back steadily. Don't pull up. Instead, fold the sticker back on itself. Many stickers will come off at once. Wipe off the excess WD40 with a lint-free rag. Clean the area and buff up the chrome.
Some bumper stickers are more stubborn. The next step is to soak an old towel in boiling water and let it sit on top of the unwanted bumper sticker for about a minute or so. Then remove the rag and peel off the bumper sticker. If you feel any give in the bumper sticker, repeat this step a couple more times and be patient. It's just like peeling wallpaper off a wall.
Anything which produces steam also works well. You can use a clothing steamer, a non-abrasive carpet steamer tool, or even a kettle. If you use a steam iron, don't let the metal touch the car.
Be careful when handling steam. Its temperature is higher than that of boiling water. Avoid scalding burns by using appropriate protective gear. Remove the steam source each time before trying to remove the bumper sticker.
If there is no give with hot water, try softening the adhesive with dry heat. A hair blow dryer or heat gun works well. If you can get a corner loose, keep applying heat while slowly peeling off the sticker, just like stripping furniture. Use a rubber spatula if you have to. You can also use a blunted putty knife after covering the metal edges with tape.
Don't use anything with a metal edge without blunting that edge. Never use anything sharp. A knife or razor blade can do a lot of damage to your car's finish.
Once you have most of the sticker off the car, rub away the rest of it with your wet towel. You can also soak a lint-free rag in rubbing alcohol or eucalyptus oil to get rid of the last of the glue. If the glue is being stubborn, use an automotive adhesive cleaner.
When the last of the bumper sticker is gone, clean the area with soap and hot water. Buff up the chrome or add a coat of wax over the paint.
