How to remove a sticker from a car window? Discover the most effective ways!
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Why is it so difficult to remove the sticker from the glass?
If the user tries to peel off the legalization sticker without any preparation, i.e. just starts prying it with a fingernail or a razor blade, he definitely won’t be able to peel it off in one movement. Tear off a fragment - half the thickness of the foil, and the other half will remain on the glass.
Removing the sticker from the glass is difficult due to the design of the sticker. The legalization sticker with the registration number consists of two connected foils. One of them (lower) contains the filling of the background hologram, and the other (upper) contains the first layer of the hologram with the registration number and the symbol of the country of registration. This design makes it much harder to counterfeit, which means it's illegal to use stolen license plates (and steal the sticker itself). Therefore, even the “correct” (according to the instructions below) removal of the sticker from the glass may be associated with the need to remove the two layers separately. The sticker may peel off.
What does it take to remove a sticker from a car window?
Before removing the sticker from the car glass, prepare:
- an object that allows you to peep - as thin as possible. A razor blade or scalpel will do;
- heat source - when re-registering a car in summer, its user is in a very comfortable situation. On a hot day, it may be enough to expose the car to the sun. However, during cloudy seasons, in autumn or winter, you will need access to, for example, a hot air dryer.
- solvent - petroleum alcohol or nail polish remover (necessarily with acetone!) is perfect;
- some fabrics.
How to remove a sticker from a car window?
The process of removing stickers from glass is very simple. However, it is necessary to properly prepare the car. All this can be summarized in a few steps.
Heat up the windshield
Expose the car to the sun for a few hours or heat the windshield yourself with a hair dryer. The latter method is more attractive, but much faster. Direct a stream of warm air into the window (from inside the car) for a few minutes. The main goal will of course be the space with the sticker, but remember to heat the glass as evenly as possible over a much larger area. Directing the air flow only to the sticker, especially on a frosty day when the glass is generally cool, may cause it to break!
push back the sticker
After the glass is properly warmed up, the adhesive under the sticker will begin to melt slightly. Thanks to this, it will be much easier to pry and remove the sticker. There are three different ways here:
- pry one corner;
- place a razor blade or scalpel along the vertical side of the sticker and pry the entire side;
- pry two corners lying on the vertical side.
In any case, do it carefully and slowly. Make sure the glass is properly heated. If the sticker on the windshield of the car comes off with great difficulty, it is worth warming up the glass or warming it up for the entire time of further removal (simultaneously with peeling off).
Remove sticker
If you pry one corner, pull your fingers on it. If it's two or one side, tear off the sticker while holding the top and bottom corners. You can remove it simply with your fingers or help yourself with a razor blade or scalpel - all the while moving the blade under the sticker. In this case, of course, remember to be careful not to scratch the surface of the glass.
How to wash the sticker from the windshield and remove the glue from the car?
Be aware that when removing the sticker from the car window, it may peel off. So there are three possibilities: either the whole sticker will immediately peel off, or its top layer will come off, and the bottom one will remain on the glass, or there will be remains of glue and foil. In any case, you will need an easy way to remove sticker marks from your car.
If you need to remove the second layer, follow the instructions for removing the sticker: heat it up and tear it off with your fingers or a thin blade.
If you only want to remove sticker adhesive from car glass or small film residues, use prepared solvent and rags for this purpose. Moisten one rag with gasoline or nail polish remover, and place the rest on the dashboard under the sticker (to prevent the panel from discoloring if the solvent runs off). Use a damp cloth to wipe the residue on the glass until it is completely dissolved and removed. In conclusion, it is worth washing the glass with a special tool. Thanks to a specialized liquid, you can get rid of, for example, stains.
How to stick a new legalization sticker on a car window?
Sticking a new sticker requires preliminary thorough cleaning of the glass. The slightest dirt, and most importantly the oiliness of its surface, can cause the sticker to not adhere properly to the glass. Here, the above-mentioned preparation for washing automobile glasses will work again - special products have degreasing properties.
After washing, simply remove the protective film from the front side of the sticker (the one where the license plate is visible) and apply the sticker to the glass from inside the car, press it, and then peel off the back protective film. At the very end, it is enough to press the sticker against the glass several times with your fingers to make sure that both layers of it stick to the glass.
Where to place the sticker on the windshield of the car?
In accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Infrastructure of July 22, 2002, No.It should be glued in the right (from the point of view of a person inside the car) lower corner of the windshield. It is important that the wipers do not cover the sticker when at rest. If this is not visible, the user of the vehicle may be fined 50 euros.It turns out that both removing the sticker from the window and sticking a new legalization sticker can be very simple. All you need is proper vehicle preparation and a little patience. So arm yourself with the right products - and try it yourself!
