How To Remove Sticker Residue From Car?

By Power Tools

September 1, 2022


Many car owners like the idea of placing stickers on their vehicles, but after a while, they want to get rid of them. The bad news is that even if stickers or decals can be peeled off easily, they still leave behind the unwelcomed residue. 

And no, scraping them off won’t work either because that might permanently scratch the car, or leave behind a residue stain. 

So, what should you do in such a situation? 

The good news is that there are some tools and products that can help you eliminate sticker residue from your car. So, if you are one of those car owners who like the idea of a spotless car, reading this article might be good for you!

How To Remove Car Decals?

Gather the following materials before you begin:

  • Water and soap or shampoo
  • Hair dryer or hair gun
  • Home-made or industrial adhesive remover
  • Goo Gone/WD40
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Ice cubes

Got it all ready? Let’s get to the actual cleaning.

Wash the Car

A man is cleaning the car

Firstly, give your car a good wash or cleaning and clear away dirt or debris. We recommend this step because it makes the adhesive remover more effective since it can reach the label without the layers of dirt stopping it in between. 

You can add a cup of baby shampoo into a bucket of water and wash the car. Once done, rinse the vehicle with cold water and clean it with a dry sponge or towel. 

Bring Some Heat

If you are wondering how to remove factory decals from your car, the best way is to apply a bit of heat to them.

Once you have washed the car, it’s time to apply some heat to the decal, especially if it’s vinyl. The easiest option to heat it is via a hair dryer, and the second easiest is a hair gun. 

However, if you are trying to remove the residue from paint, it is recommended to use a hair dryer since a hair gun can make metal too hot and cause damage to the car.

Put the dryer on moderate heat and blow it over the sticker. Make sure that you keep it moving, and as soon as you notice any of the sides melting or loosening, try to hold the side and scrape it off the surface. 

If you are not a hair dryer fan, you can use a sponge and hot water to pour on the sticker and wait for it to loosen. 

Use Home-made Adhesive Remover for Car Windows.

If you don’t want to spend money buying commercial adhesive removers, you can make a few of your own. Here are some ideas for homemade adhesive removers. 

Baking soda and white vinegar

  • Coconut and baking soda 

The first recipe to remove sticker residue from your car’s window is a solution comprising coconut oil, baking soda, and a few drops of lemon essential oil. 

The baking soda works as a scrub, while coconut oil has a slick-like effect on the sticker, which loosens it up. The essential oil removes the gunk and residue around the sticker and helps it come off. 

You can paste the mixture and spread it over the sticker. Wait for a few minutes before peeling it off. After some time, you can use a credit card or knife to remove the paste and the decal. Once removed, clean the area with water and a towel. 

  • White vinegar 

White vinegar is available in every household, and even if you don’t have a bottle, you can buy one from the market; you can get it for as cheap as a dollar! 

Pour it on the decal with a brush or a towel and wait for it to come out. Use a credit card or knife to remove it when you see it loosen. 

Use Goo Gone or WD-40 for stickers on the paint surface 

There are several adhesive removers available in the market, but Goo Gone and Goof Off are the most proven ones in this case. They are pretty effective in removing the decals from the paint surface of cars. 

Goo Gone or WD-40

You can also use WD-40, which is oil-based and, thus, absorbed by the sticker, making it loosen and come out. 

In case the sticker loosens but doesn’t come off, carefully use a razor blade or scraper to remove it from the surface. If possible, use a credit card to remove the sticker on the safe side. 

How To Remove Sticker From Car Windshield?

Rubbing alcohol can harm the painted surface of a car, but it can easily remove the decals from the windshield and windows. 

However, you must use rubbing alcohol in diluted form by mixing it with a cup of water and a tablespoon of vinegar before adding it to the windshield or windows.

Use Ice Cubes To Remove Old Decals.

Ice cubes work the best on old decals or stickers, including the surface and the windows. All you have to do is add a few ice cubes in a bag and put them over the decal on any part of the car’s body. 

Take a few minutes to hold the bag over the stickers before trying to remove it. You can use a plastic razor or the edge of a credit card for its removal. 

Wrap Up 

Once you successfully remove the sticker from the car, clean it thoroughly so that any leftover pieces of adhesive remover get away from the vehicle. 

You can further clean it with wax and let it dry overnight, and we promise that your car will look as good as new the following day.