During the past decade bumper stickers and decals have become less and less popular, while the popularity of putting stickers on a carâs backglass has grown tremendously. From stick figure families, to 5K races, and landmarks, these stickers give people a sense if individuality- showing other drivers what theyâre passionate about- while at the same time hoping other drivers might have common interests.
Glass.com Operations Manager, Daniel Snow, demonstrates how to quickly and easily remove stickers from your car’s glass windows and windshield.
For those of you who have applied, and then later tried to remove a bumper sticker, you know why they lost their popularity. Although bumper stickers and vinyl decals adhere like theyâre meant to last forever, the reality is that they become old and tired looking, political campaigns end, and future owners likely wonât share your same interests. And when the time came, removing a bumper sticker often meant removing a layer of paint underneath too.
Stickers and decals on car windows donât just end up on the back glass (also known as a backlite) though. Dealerships often put stickers on the windshield advertising the price (which should be removed before driving). Other stickers like parking permits or expressway passes often end up on the inside of the windshield also. Some people even apply tint strips across the tops of their windshields in order to block glaring sunlight. (always check state laws regarding legality before applying anything to the windshield).
Young children sometimes are seen building sticker collections on rear sidelites (side windows), which is especially common on vans and SUVs. Other than cartoon characters though, it is rare to see stickers on sidelites as they are usually consolidated to backglass.
Maybe your child has outgrown their sticker phase, maybe your stick figure family got a divorce, or maybe its just come time to sell your vehicle. Whatever the reason, weâre here to help you remove those stickers safely and effectively.
*Note: Never use this method on the inside of auto glass if window tint has been applied as it will likely damage the tint.
There are different methods out there for removing stickers and decals from auto glass such as using rubbing alcohol, WD-40, baking soda, and other. But these are liable to cause more of a mess than theyâre worth. Or worse yet, possibly damage your vehicleâs trim or paint. The two recommended methods above are the easiest and most common practices.
Do you have other tips or tricks for removing stickers from car glass? Weâd love to hear them! Let us know in the comments below.
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Having done this for a living I would add one more important note to the process. On instruction 3 you should never drag the blade backyards of move it back and forth without lifting from the glass. When you drag the bade backwards you are likely pulling debri with it and this is when you scratch the glass. Only use the blade moving forward and lots of lubricant.
Great tip Scott!
If you still want to use the sticker what would be the best option?
Hi Sandra,
You can try to get the sticker up in one piece by being gentle with the razor blade but the adhesive backing will not be reusable.
I tried the window cleaner and it worked perfectly thank you very much for the advice greatly appreciated!đ
Ahh i feel like an idiot. I got a good amount of decals and it being my first car I put them on the inside of the car. Is there any way I can switch them or is it too late for me
Hi Phillip,
By “switch” do you mean removing the stickers from the inside of the glass and re-sticking them to the outside of the glass? If so, stickers usually do not hold up well to being removed. The removal process usually removes most of the adhesive and typically causes the stickers to deform.
I have a sticker on my back window that has been worn out and peeling off on the top but it wont peel off in 1 piece. It is just coming off like dust. How can I completely remove this?
Hi Sherry Lee,
You’ll want to (carefully, at your own risk, and only if you’re comfortable doing so) use a razor blade and glass cleaner. Wet the sticker with the glass cleaner then scrape it with the razor blade. The glass cleaner should help the dust pile together and the razor blade will lift it away.