How to Remove Decals From Your Car

Almost every car purchased off of a new or used car lot has at least one or more decals on it. Most dealers put their business name on cars in the form of decals or badges. The longer a decal has been stuck to your car, the more difficult it can be to remove it without harming the paint underneath the decal.

Things You'll Need

• Blow dryer
• Plastic squeegee
• Clay bar kit

Instructions

1. Direct the heat from the blow driver evenly over the decal to warm the glue beneath it. Keep the blow dryer moving so you don't keep the heat directed in one place for more than a few seconds. Heating the paint too much can cause it to be more easily damaged.

2. Use a plastic squeegee to gently peel off the decal. Use more heat on the decal if it cools off. You can also use your fingernails, but the glue will get stuck on your finger, and it may be hot from the blow dryer. Peel until all of the decal is gone. Some or most of the glue will remain.

3. Spray lubricating spray from the clay bar kit over the area. Rub the clay bar back and forth across the lubricated area. The clay bar picks up the glue residue.

4. Fold the clay bar over to reveal a clean area and repeat spraying the glue and rubbing the clay across it. Do this until the adhesive is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Wax your car after using a clay bar since the clay removes some of the wax protectant from the surface.

• A heat gun may be used in place of a blow dryer, but heat guns are much more powerful than blow dryers. They can quickly heat the surface of your car to damaging levels. Use a heat gun sparingly.