How To Remove Window Decals From Your Car

Applying window decals to your car is a great way to show your personality or to advertise for a cause that is important to you. Window decals come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, and some can even be custom made to promote your favorite saying, product, or sports’ team. Window decals can even be used to make a clever statement that will brighten someone else’s day or cause someone to rethink their opinion on a political or social matter. In short, window decals can be used to display almost any opinion, idea, or statement that you can think of.

However, despite their versatility some people shy away from expressing themselves through window decals because they are afraid that they won’t be able to remove them once they are applied. Thankfully, window decals aren’t permanent like tattoos. While they can be difficult to remove, it is possible to do so as long as you know what techniques to use. Here are some steps you can take to remove window decals from your car at any time.

Natural Method #1 – Water and Putty Knife

Window decals can be removed naturally if you prefer to protect yourself and the environment from chemicals found in cleaners. However, if you choose to use natural solutions to remove window decals from your car, be prepared to spend a little bit more time and put a little bit more effort into the process than you would if you used stronger cleaners. Here are the tools that you will need to remove window decals naturally with water:

• Warm water
• Putty knife (preferably dull)

Step 1 – Soak the Decal

Once you have your warm water and putty knife, simply cover the decal with the water and allow it to soak for a few minutes. You may need to use some sort of cloth, a spray bottle or a small dropper to apply the water directly to the decal without getting it everywhere.

Step 2 – Scrape the Decal

Once the decal has been allowed to soak and become somewhat soft, you can then use your dull putty knife to gently scrape it from the window. Be sure to work carefully around the outer edges, then move slowly towards the center of the decal to avoid tearing it or leaving bits of it behind. If the decal is too difficult to remove with water, then you can try the next natural method.

Natural Method #2 – Vinegar and Putty Knife

Vinegar is a bit stronger than water and is better for removing stubborn window decals that have been stuck to a window for long periods of time. Like the water method mentioned above, the vinegar method also follows the same steps:

Step 1 – Soak the Decal

Since vinegar is messier and smellier than water, you should take precautions to make sure you don’t spill it in your car. To minimize drips and spills, try soaking the vinegar up in a sponge then wringing the sponge out to get rid of excess vinegar before you apply it to your window decal. You should try to have just enough vinegar in your sponge to get your decal wet without dripping everywhere.

Step 2 – Scrape the Decal

Once you have allowed the decal to soak for a few minutes in the vinegar, you should have a fairly easy time scraping it from your window with your dull putty knife. Just be careful not to scrape your window in the process.

If you prefer to use commercial methods for removing your decals, here is a great methods that should get the job done fairly easily.

Commercial Method – WD-40

WD-40 is very effective at removing the sticky glue that holds decals to windows. Because it contains strong chemicals it is important that you wear gloves when dealing with WD-40, and make sure you don’t spray any on yourself.

Step 1 – Spray the Decal

Being careful to avoid inhaling the fumes, spray a short burst of WD-40 directly on your window decal, then wait for it to soak in.

Step 2 – Remove Decal with Cloth

Once the WD-40 has had time to soak in, you should be able to easily wipe the decal from the window with a cloth. If you have any difficulty doing so, use your putty knife to remove the decal.

As you can see, there are several different methods you can use for removing decals from your car. So feel free to go out and purchase window decals that will express your personality without worrying that you won’t be able to remove them.