How To Remove Stickers From Glass – 8 Car Hacks You Need To Know

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Back in the early 2000s, car stickers were all the rage. I won’t lie – I took part in the trend myself, with a gorgeous red Honda Civic SIR that came with a few sleek black Chinese hieroglyphs stuck on the side doors. I loved it for the time being, but I got a little tired of the look after a while. I decided it was no big deal and tried to remove the stickers.

If you don’t know why such accessories lost popularity, try removing a sticker from your car without removing a layer of paint too. Even if you decide to put a sticker on your windshield, you can get some unpleasant results, like leftover glue that starts collecting dirt and insects. Some political campaign stickers and vinyl decals are so stubborn, you cannot remove them even with the most robust homemade windshield washer fluid solutions. Over the years, I tried many methods at the risk of expensive repairs, and today I’m willing to share my secrets to removing stickers from car glass.

Types of Auto Stickers

To find the best method, we need to look at the different types of stickers. Stickers and decals often end up on your backlite (the back glass) and rear sidelites (side windows) after your children decide this is the best way to present their brand new sticker collection.

Many dealerships tend to advertise the car price with stickers on the windshield, and it’s crucial to remove them before we drive off into the sunset with our brand new car. Parking permits and expressway passes are stuck on the inside of the windshield, and they can be pretty tricky to scrape off as well.

Some of you might be looking into applying tint strips to reduce sun glare and harsh light, two very distracting phenomena for drivers. Before you do that, double-check your state laws and make sure it’s legal to stick anything to your windshield. Then bookmark this article and come back to it when you want to learn how to remove them so that you can do that with minimal effort.

Many helpful stickers like “Baby on Board” or “Novice Behind the Wheel” may not be suitable for the next car owner if you’re reselling your automobile. It’s a good idea to check how to remove old stickers from a car window without damaging the glass, and I will tell you all about it in the section below.

How to Remove Stickers from Car Windows?

Before we jump ahead, here are some crucial factors that will help you get started:

Removing Stickers dos and don’ts:

• Health and safety first – if you’re working with strong chemicals when removing sticker and glue residue, always wear eye protective equipment.
• Keep children and pets away from any dangerous chemicals.
• Heat can be a great aid when removing stickers. Make sure your windshield is facing the sun so that the heat can start melting the adhesive.

Glass stickers can be pretty difficult to remove due to the adhesive bond between the sticker and the glass. There are just a handful of household items you’ll need to get stickers off of your window. Make sure you have the following:

• Bucket
• Various rags and cloths (you can make some from old pillows or T-shirts)
• Plastic scraper for ice removal
• Paper towels (or toilet paper roll)
• Extension cable (for one method only)

Now that you’re all set let’s start looking at the different methods so you can learn how to remove stickers from glass.

1. Glass Cleaner

For this method, look for an ammonia-free glass cleaner so you make sure you don’t damage the rubber on the edges of the glass. I use the ammonia-free Sprayway glass cleaner, which is quite powerful. Generously spray with a glass cleaner onto the sticker. The glass cleaner will remove any layer of dirt on top of the sticker and create a lubricant for the plastic scraper. That way, it can slide down the sticker and the glass easily.

Once you’ve removed most of the sticker, apply some more glass cleaner and repeat the process until most of the sticker is gone. I recommend you use the glass cleaner as a prep for any of the methods below. It can eliminate any built-up dirt and make it easier for other chemicals to soak into the sticker.

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a crucial ingredient to any sticker-removal method. The steps are pretty simple – dampen a cloth with some rubbing alcohol and dab onto the sticker. Leave it soaking for 5 minutes, and using a plastic scraper, start from the edges of the sticker, slowly removing it little by little. As the last step, you can repeat the process using some more rubbing alcohol to get rid of any adhesive residue.

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Razor Blade

Many people will suggest you use a razor blade to remove stickers, but I would go against this because you can easily scratch or damage the glass in the process. And forget the glass – you can even end up cutting yourself with an unprotected razor blade! If you’re looking for a thin and sharp tool to help you get rid of stickers, purchase a razor blade scraper.

I love this tool as it has many functions. I use it to remove ice during the winter, as well as other bits and bobs around the house, like cleaning my burners and such.

Otherwise, in a dire situation, if you don’t care about scratching the glass and you think you can be careful enough not to hurt your fingers, you can slowly scrape the sticker using a razor blade.

4. Hot Water

The water doesn’t have to be boiling for this method, but it should be nearing that point. Take extra care if you choose this method, as you could end up burning yourself. Use common sense, and don’t rush yourself.

All you have to do is dampen a rag or cloth with the hot water and then lay it over the sticker. Leave it like that for a minute or two, and then slowly start peeling the sticker away, starting from the corners. If you’re having trouble, use the plastic scraper I mentioned or a plastic card (like a credit card or library/university ID). This helps with peeling off more broken-up sticker bits.

Once you have most of it gone, if there is still a tiny bit of glue on the glass, use another cloth and rub it away with rubbing alcohol.

5. WD-40

Surprising, but a fact – WD-40 can be great for removing stickers off of glass. Apply the WD-40 to a rag and start rubbing the edges of the sticker. Peel away what you can and repeat if necessary. Finally, if there is still some residue left, following the suggestion above, rub it out with rubbing alcohol.

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6. Blow Dryer

Another unexpected method. Here is where you would use that extension cable. You are going to need some electricity to power up the blow dryer. The trick here is that the blow dryer can quickly warm up the adhesive, making it easier to remove the sticker.

If you’re removing a sticker placed on the car itself, not the windows, you might risk damaging your car’s paint job with this method. Take extra care and only do this using the lowest heat setting and for short increments of time, up to 30 seconds.

Once you’ve done that, you can start peeling the edges of the sticker. You can try keeping the blow dryer turned on for small sections of time, so it can continue to melt the adhesive gradually. For best results, use a plastic scraper to get rid of the sticker left. Once again, you can clean up any leftover residue with rubbing alcohol.

7. Baking Soda and Cooking Oil

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Mix the ingredients and apply to the unwanted sticker. Using your plastic scraper, rub away the edges of the sticker at a 45-degree angle. Dry off the surface using a paper towel or toilet roll and repeat until the adhesive begins to loosen and you can peel off the sticker.

8. Sticker Remover Spray

The Goo Gone is a fantastic sticker remover spray that can eliminate any tape, wax, gum, or tree sap residue. I prefer using DIY methods for most windshield-related problems, and I wouldn’t buy a spray specifically for sticker removal, but Goo Gone has many more uses than just getting rid of stickers. It’s a great multifunctional adhesive remover that I can wholeheartedly recommend!

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Need more windshield-related advice?

Taking good care of your car and your windshield can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re a novice driver. That’s why I’m happy to give all the advice I can. On that note, if you’re looking for the best way to defog a windshield, and you’re tired of using a cloth to rub away the condensation, I have a detailed article that can prepare you for the winter months.

I also have some useful advice on windshield washer pump maintenance. Sometimes the fault isn’t in your washer fluid and you should be prepared to replace your pumps. Finally, I’d love to share some of the best commercially sold windshield washer fluid I have come across over the years.

I have been working on automobiles for over 42 years and I love sharing my advice with you, but there’s always something new to learn. If you’d like to exchange ideas, tips, and tricks, head over to my bio section and feel free to contact me with an inquiry! Until then – drive safely.