We’re willing to bet that if you’ve seen a car or truck sporting their favorite logo, sports team, or their kid’s school on the back of it. That’s right! We are talking about bumper stickers. Chances are that you may have even put on a few yourself.
Tip: We created our Truck Bumpers' Guide to cover all the questions you may have about aftermarket truck bumper. You can find it here.
While it may have seemed like a good idea back then, all good things must come to an end. Bumper stickers are a perfect way to express yourself, but ideas change, cars switch owners, and kids graduate school. At one point or another, they will have to come off. In most cases, that’s easier said than done.
However, with the right equipment and knowledge, you can make removing those pesky bumper stickers a breeze. Here are 3 easy ways that will help you say “goodbye” to bumper stickers once and for all.
Sticker Remover Spray
There is a tool for everything, right? So it’s only fitting that there is a specific spray for easily removing bumper stickers.
Firstly, we need to understand that bumper stickers are held on by simple adhesive, or glue. Luckily, there are several solutions out there that will help loosen up the glue. Some can be found in your garage right now.
While there are solutions specifically designed for sticker or decal removal, multi-purpose penetrating oil such as WD-40 can work as well. Either way, it's not going to be as easy to get off as it was putting them on.
The thought behind sticker removing spray is that it helps loosen up and break down the glue that was used to help keep the decal on in the first place. Unfortunately, weather conditions such as sunlight exposure will end up literally “baking” the bumper sticker on the surface it was applied to.
A spray will help get to the adhesive and make it that much more manageable to get off. Simply spray it on, give it a few minutes, and start on one corner with a used credit card or a rubber decal removal tool. Under no circumstances should a blade be used, unless you have surgeon-lever hand stability and control.
Heat
Heat is another tool that can be used to remove those stubborn bumper stickers. You can even use your significant other’s hair dryer if she lets you, that is.
Using heat to remove decals on your car or truck’s bodywork is preferred because it doesn’t use any sort of chemicals. It is also arguably the safest because you don’t run the chance of affecting the finish. However, this technique is something that requires some practice and experience. If the heat gun(or hairdryer) is too far away from the surface, it won't be effective. Too close and you’ll end up increasing the likelihood of damage, especially with industrial-grade heat guns like the ones used by vinyl wrapping companies.
The theory behind using heat is that it will help the plastic get softer and more flexible. This method also warms up the glue, which all adds up to help you take it off that much easier.
Of course, this way of getting bumper stickers or decals off is only effective if the decal is fairly new. Years of UV rays from the sun and drastic temperature changes will only help render this method useless. Even if you are trying to be as eco-friendly as possible, other techniques can help get the job done that much easier without the use of chemicals.
Vinegar
Vinegar has a reputation for being something of a wonder liquid. It's not just for adding zest to your food. The stuff has been used for years as a powerful cleaner. Best of all, it’s all-natural! We know that the salads taste better with balsamic or apple cider vinegar. For this task, however, we recommend using just plain white vinegar. See, being regular does have its benefits.
You'll just need a bowl, clean microfiber or paper towel, and a jug of nature's disinfectant. Start by soaking the rag in a bowl of vinegar and then place it on your favorite(or most hated) bumper sticker. Most likely, the sticker will be on a vertical surface, and you will have to hold it on there for a few minutes. You can take this time to reflect on life, ponder on new ideas, or just scroll through your phone looking at new bumpers from BumperStock.com.
After a few critical minutes, you'll see the vinegar start to dissolve the glue on the back of the bumper sticker enough that you will be able to get underneath it with a plastic card or rubber spatula. If you are lucky enough, the sticker will come off in one piece.
Once this step is done, any remaining glue can be dissolved with rubbing alcohol if the vinegar isn’t up to the task.
Final words
There you have it. The 3 easiest ways to get bumper stickers off your car or truck. No matter if your interests have changed or you bought the vehicle like that, getting the bumper sticker off will give your vehicle a cleaner overall appearance.
It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but like anything, things change. The good news is that you don’t have to stress out over getting them off your rear end. With the right knowledge and tools, getting bumpers stickers off can be easy.
If you’ve found this article interesting be sure you give it a big like and share it with your friends. It may be the perfect hint for them to take that bumper sticker you’ve always despised off, even if they haven’t put it on yet!