How To Remove Bumper Stickers

So you're trying to sell your car and suddenly having that bumper sticker that says "Lost your cat? Look under my wheels" doesn't seem like such a good selling point. Here's how to remove bumper stickers without damaging the painted bumper underneath.

Step 1  

Find a powerful hair dryer or rent a heat gun.

Step 2  

Hold the hair dryer about 6" from the sticker and blow heat directly on the sticker for a minute or two. If the corner of the sticker does not start to lift try longer. OR, hold heat gun from sticker from 8" - 12". This works much faster than a hair dryer.

Step 3  

Starting at a corner, with your fingernail (or razor blade to grab the edge only) peel back a corner. Do not pull directly up. Pull back, folding the corner over against the face of sticker.

Step 4  

Pull slowly by the corner of the sticker in the opposite direction and continue to apply heat as needed.

Step 5  

Once the sticker is off, clean off remaining adhesive with an automotive adhesive cleaner such as PPG Ditzo DX 440. You may need to re-apply wax to the area.

Tips

• The hair dryer/heat gun is only used to make the adhesive pliable after being hardened on your bumper for so long.
• Remember, to fold the edge of the sticker all the way over and pull slowly in the opposite direction by the corner, not up.

Warnings

• If the hair dryer is not working, you can rent a heat gun from a rent-all. Be very careful not to put your hand or fingers in the path of the heat gun as it can burn you. Also, do not touch the barrel of the heat gun as these are not protected.
• Do not apply continuous heat with a heat gun to the sticker or you may melt both the sticker and the bumper skin (if not a metal or steel bumper).
• Be very careful using razor blades on the paint. Only use a blade to grab the corner.
• You don't need a lot of Ditzo, just a small amount on a rag. Too much will begin to remove the paint.

Things You'll Need

• Powerful Hair dryer or;
• Rented professional heat gun.
• PPG Ditzo DX 440 or automotive tar remover
• Rag(s)
• Possibly a razor blade