Although the days of displaying a tax disc in your windscreen are a thing of the past there are a number of other stickers that you might need to display.
From blue badges to parking permits and national trust memberships there’s a number of stickers that you might still need to put in your window/windscreen, or you might just choose to add a decorative sticker to the rear windows
When the time comes to replace or remove these stickers then the adhesive residue can be tricky to remove which is why we’ve rounded up our top five tips to help you.
Please note that some of these suggest using a sharp razor blade to help remove particularly difficult stickers. You should be extremely careful when using any kind of blade and for the methods described should ensure it is clean and you use it at an angle, remaining steady and patient as you do so to ensure you leave no scratches or marks.
Alternatively, you can use the clean edge of an old bank card or an ice scraper instead of a razor blade in any of the methods below.
In first place, we have your classic window cleaner.
You can use some household window or glass cleaner spray to help remove the sticker.
Once you’ve let the liquid soak into the adhesive residue you can then use a cloth to rub at the spot with a firm pressure until it is all removed.
Alternatively, if the sticker is still fully attached you can very carefully use a sharp razor blade to slowly peel it off the window.
Many of us already have a can of WD-40 in the garage somewhere as it’s such a versatile product and can be used for a whole host of things, from loosening a screw, keeping your sewing machine’s wheels turning or greasing your bike chain, and it can even be used to clean.
Although it’s typically used as a lubricant it is also a degreaser and water disperser and so is also a useful tool when dealing with a stubborn sticker.
You’ll first need to remove as much of the sticker as possible and then spray the WD-40 onto the area. Give it a couple of minutes to soak into the sticky residue and then use a damp cloth to wipe it away.
You might need to repeat this a couple of times on particularly sticky areas.
As the name implies adhesive removers are products specifically designed to remove adhesive residue. We've put it in third because it's likely you won't already have this at home like some of the other products and would need to make a special purchase.
There are a lot of different removers available on the market, Goo Gone, De.Solv.It and Auto Glym are the three biggest brands with the widest range of products.
With these you simply follow the directions on the bottle which normally involves spraying the remover onto the sticker, waiting for a few minutes and then peel the sticker off. You should be able to do this without any tools.
Rubbing alcohol, also knowns as isopropyl, can also be used to remove a sticker from your windows.
You’ll just need to apply the rubbing alcohol and leave it to dry and then once this is done you should be able to peel the sticker away. Use a razor blade or edge of a clean bank card to ensure it’s all removed.
Another way to remove a sticker from your window is to freeze the adhesive, which will make it lose its grip and become easy to peel away.
To do this we recommend using either a few ice cubes, in a bag to avoid the melting ice making a mess in your vehicle, or an ice pack and holding it against the sticker for a few minutes.
After a few minutes the adhesive should be frozen and using a razor blade or the edge of a clean card you should be able to peel the edge of the sticker off enough to get a grip on it and then remove it completely.
With any of these methods we recommend wearing appropriate hand and eyewear to protect yourself and ensure you are working in a well-ventilated area, with the vehicle windows open to ensure you do not suffer from any side effects.
Check out one of our helpful guides or our explaination of leasing to get all your questions answered.
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