Tips on How to Remove Car Window Decals Safely

Window decals for cars can be a great way to express your personal interests, show off your family or promote your business. But there may come a time when you want to remove or replace your decals.

Naturally you'll want to avoid the possibility of causing damage to your car's windows or paint in the process of removing car window decals. Here are some tips that may help!

First clean the sticker and the area surrounding it. Soaking the decal in vinegar or rubbing alcohol can also help make removing it easier.

Newer window decals for cars which haven't been in place for too long can be peeled off easily. But that's not always the case. The sticky side of window decals for cars have a weather proof adhesive.

Warm it up. Decals are easier to remove when they are warm so park the car out in the sun. If the weather is cool, bring the vehicle into the garage. It may be helpful to apply heat using a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

Using a safety razor (for windows only, not paint) in a holder at a 45 degree angle to the glass, gently try to pry the edge of the decal off of the glass. Once you have the edge of the decal lifted you may be able to pull the decal off. If the decal is older it may be more brittle and tend to tear making it harder to remove.

If scraping doesn't work you can also try dental floss, held taught, to try to separate the decal from the window.

Once you have the decal off, there will most likely be some adhesive left on the window. Use adhesive remover to remove any remaining residue, following the directions on the label. It may take more than one application to do the job. Once most of it is removed spray a paper towel with the remover to eliminate what's left.

Clean the window with soap and water and/or glass cleaner. You do not want to risk leaving any of the solvent on your car's paint job.

If none of these methods for removing car window decals work, try using WD-40, which can be effective in removing decals that resist your other efforts. Spray the product on the decal and you should be able to peel it off easily. Be sure to remove any residue from the WD-40 right away.