How Do I Get Bumper Stickers off a Car?

How Do I Get Bumper Stickers off a Car?

Looking for opportunities in 1946, a man named Forest P. Gill made one for himself using two innovations introduced during World War II: He used fluorescent paint to create signs on self-adhesive paper, then started sticking them to cars. It was the birth of the bumper sticker, and billions are now sold each year. But it’s still a good idea to remove them before you try selling a car. 

They can be a major turn-off for many shoppers who may not agree with your sense of humor or politics, who may want a clean slate for their own sticker collection, or who may just prefer a no-sticker appearance. Luckily, it can be an easy task to go sticker-free whether you’re prepping a car for sale or looking to clean up one you already own.

Top Ways to Remove Bumper Stickers

Used alone or in combination, and with help from a plastic scraper, the following tactics for removing bumper stickers have proven successful for many people:

High temperatures — Using a hair dryer or heat gun can be a great way to remove bumper stickers since the high temperatures can quickly loosen up the adhesive on their backs, making them easier to peel off. Just be careful to only apply the heat for a few seconds at a time so you don’t damage your vehicle. 

WD-40 — One of the practically uncountable uses for WD-40 is to remove bumper stickers. Simply spray the edge of a sticker, wait a few minutes for the WD-40 to do its stuff, and then begin peeling. Repeat as necessary to get the whole sticker off. It’s a good idea to clean the area that was under the sticker afterward with warm water and/or rubbing alcohol to get rid of any residue.

Vegetable oil — You can consider vegetable oil as an organic alternative to WD-40 and use it much the same way on bumper stickers.

Solvents/dedicated auto products — You can use the power of chemistry to help dissolve the sticky stuff by using a solvent such as rubbing alcohol or a specialized adhesive-removal product like Goo Gone. 

Environmentally friendly solutions — Warm soapy water and white vinegar can be effective on stubborn bumper stickers, while some people recommend boiling water to really soak stickers with high heat. Just be careful handling it!

Now that you know more about removing bumper stickers, you can start shopping here, start selling here, and enjoy the whole HMSMC site from wherever you have an Internet connection.