How to remove a sticker from your auto glass without damage

We’ve all had a pesky sticker stuck to our windshield. If you have an old sticker that you’re tired of looking at every time that you get in your car, Taylor Autoglass knows how to solve your problem. We are here to help you remove that sticker (or stickers) all by yourself!

It can be tough to remove stickers because the adhesive that bonds with the glass is meant to last quite some time, potentially forever. This task may require the following household materials to help erase these adhesive streaks without damaging the auto glass:

• Soapy water
• Liquid Fabric Softener
• Windex
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Denatured Alcohol

Other items that you will need to properly remove stickers will be:

• A bucket
• Multiple rags/cloths
• Plastic Scraper
• Paper Towels

Make sure to always start with the product that contains the least condensed chemicals and work your way up if the material is not fully removable. This ensures you won’t damage your auto glass. We’ll take you through this step by step!

1. Peel the sticker off with your hands or a plastic scraper

Make sure that you peel diagonally (starting from a corner) so that the majority of the sticker comes off in one piece. Pull slowly to keep it from tearing off, but if it does tear, it is not a big deal. Continue scraping and pulling until the entire sticker is removed and what is left is the adhesive streaks or paper from the back of the sticker.

2. Begin working on the adhesive with soapy water

With the bucket of soapy water and a rag, begin soaking the adhesive so that it absorbs the moisture and hopefully loosens. Do not let the material dry, but do let it set in for a few moments, otherwise it will continue to stick. Once it has set, continue with the plastic scraper, your fingers, or the rag and see how much you can remove before attacking it with another chemical. Clean with water and pat dry with a cloth. If this step removes the sticker completely, congratulations! Move directly to Step 7. If not, continue to step 3.

3. Continue with Liquid Fabric Softener

In a bucket, mix equal amounts of liquid fabric softener and hot water and apply it to the sticky spots left on the windshield with a rag. Scrub the area and remove as much of the adhesive as possible.

4. Try Windex

If the fabric softener is not working, spray some windex on the sticky spot and wipe with a paper towel. Hopefully this will soften the adhesive.

5. Use a Razor Blade made specifically for scraping stickers

If the fabric softener and windex are still not doing the trick, try using a sharp razor blade. There are razor blades that have specific sticker scraping abilities that you can find at auto shops or hardware stores. Use caution so as not to damage the glass. Scrape the adhesive material until it disappears.

6. Use a stronger chemical

If for some reason all of these steps are still leaving sticky residue, then recruit another product from the list above such as rubbing or denatured alcohol. Spray the substance on a paper towel and rub it on the remaining residue. Allow time for the residue to absorb some of the product and then continue to scrape it away with the razor blade from step 5.

7. Rinse and Dry

Once all evidence of the sticker is gone, be sure to wash the area of the glass with water and pat dry with a cloth. If you were cautious there should be no problem, but be sure to check for any damage that could have come to the glass during the process and have it repaired accordingly.

These steps should remove your sticker without any problem to your auto glass! Hopefully they proved helpful and successful. Congratulations!

Check out all that Taylor Autoglass has to offer for any other questions or concerns about your vehicle’s glass!