Proper way to remove sticker on exterior window?

lancerplayer

New member
Can someone share the proper way to remove a sticker on an exterior window?

We recently added a new-to-us vehicle and the previous owner has some school stickers on the rear windshield that I would like removed.

Thanks in advance!
 
I typically do it with a NEW single edge razor blade. I must emphasize new as a nick in one of these blades will scratch the glass. Do it carefully. I've also seen others recommend a plastic blade. I remove the adhesive with WD40 or 3M adhesive remover.
 
Heat the area with a heat gun or good blow dryer first. Try to peel it with your hand first. Blade next. I don't believe I had to use a blade when I removed the vinyl numbers on my doors, or the stickers on the black glass.

Followed up with Goo Gone for the stubborn residue (only some spots).
 
I'm a big fan of the plastic razor blade + Adhesive Remover, if only because it's unlikely to do damage. IMO everybody oughta have both of those things on the shelf anhow.

But I once had to resort to the "heated razor blade" tool that's made specifically for this job (bought a vehicle from a Sports Fan).

We *ARE* talking about the exterior surface, right? As opposed to the inner surface with the (in many/most cases) potentially vulnerable defroster element?
 
I'm a big fan of the plastic razor blade + Adhesive Remover, if only because it's unlikely to do damage. IMO everybody oughta have both of those things on the shelf anyhow.

We *ARE* talking about the exterior surface, right?

Agreed. I do have a plastic razor blade now, but haven't needed to use it.

I sure was talking about *exterior* - I wouldn't take a blade to the inside by the defroster element. :o
 
I typically do it with a NEW single edge razor blade. I must emphasize new as a nick in one of these blades will scratch the glass. Do it carefully. I've also seen others recommend a plastic blade. I remove the adhesive with WD40 or 3M adhesive remover.

This is the method I use. New razor blade and 3M Adhesive Remover.
 
This is the method I use. New razor blade and 3M Adhesive Remover.

You have a can of the "pour version" or are you using the aerosol? I always think that the aerosol stuff would mean "overspray".

JustJesus said:
..talking about *exterior* - I wouldn't take a blade to the inside by the defroster element. :o

Right. Though some backlights (actual name for the glass in question) have the defroster elements embedded in the glass such that it's not an issue except for at the wiring connections.
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone!

I had success using the following method:

1. Heat gun to warm up the sticker adhesive

2. Slowly peel off the sticker

3. Used a combination of isopropyl alcohol and Goo Gone to remove residue

4. Completed task by using Meg's Quik Detailer

Can't even tell there was a sticker there.
 
Realizing that the Original Poster (OP) has successfully removed his stickers with a heat gun, IF you do decide to use plastic razor blades for scraping, it may behoove you to "round" (radius) the edges of the blade by sanding them on some wet-dry 1500 grit sandpaper. It may prevent an unsightly "scratch" from a sharp edge if your hand slips using a blade holder (a necessity for better ergonomics) while trying to scrape off a decal or sticker close to a painted surface. If you are brave enough to use metal single edge shaving blades, the same holds true (no pun intended!): radius the sharp edge slightly using wet-dry sandpaper. It's an extension of the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
 
Lonnie- At first I wondered about your rounding on the plastic blades,but the more I thought about it the more sensible it sounded!

If I used mine with a blade-holder I bet it would've made more sense to me right off the bat, but I've hardly ever done that for some reason...maybe I oughta buy additional holders as I guess I just never want to bother removing the metal blades from the ones I have (I use 'em on household glass/mirrors).
 
I did the same thing I did to remove the badges:

  1. Heat gun or blow dryer to heat up the glue holding the sticker
  2. Plastic Razor to lift the edge
  3. Fishing line to cut the glue and remove the sticker
  4. Goo Gone to remove the adhesive left
  5. Glass cleaner or polish depending where the sticker is
 
Accumulator:
On a TOTALLY unrelated matter to removing labels (sorry to OP and those following this thread), I worked for a owner/engineer of a small company that made ink dryers for the printing industry. Since many of the parts were flats or bent parts from sheet metal or thin plate stock that could be cut on a laser, ALL corners needed to have a small radius designed (CAD drawn) in them to prevent cutting one's self during assembly (yes, I had to assemble dryers I designed or worked on as a CAD technician!) or to plant maintenance personnel when installed in the plant/factory. He was adamant about doing so and had me carefully check the CAD drawings that were used directly for pattern programs for the laser path to follow to cut out and make the part. Needless to say, if I did forget to draw a radius in a sharp corner, it was added by hand during assembly. It becomes quite tedious when 10 identical parts are involved and one remembers NOT to forget them in the design/drawing phase.


I am sure other detailers and mechanics can relate to this when reaching in door seams or wheel rims where the sheet metal or cast/forged part has not been radiused or deburred and slicing, cutting, or gouging out flesh from one's fingers or hand to some degree. While these may be "badges of honor" of a person who does such work, they can be reduced if the vehicle factory would radius and deburr such edges and corners. GM cars are the worst and Ford is not much better. I have NEVER had this problem on Mercedes-Benz cars, for what its worth. Prevention is in the design and attention to such details.
 
Lonnie- Hey, that was interesting!

Yeah, simply designing the radius into the specs seems so simple but yet it's so rare, and I've cut myself but good on all sorts of things where that could've made all the difference.
 
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