How To Remove Sticky Stuff From Your Windshield

You can find stickers and decals on various parts of your car. However, windshields are the most common places that look like a sticker collection.

You can deal with various types of stickers on your windshield: parking stickers, city stickers and not to mention those club membership stickers, oil changes, AAA decals, or sports team stickers. Most people that buy used cars or even inherit them from their relatives have some type of stickers on them. Keep in mind that these things have some pretty strong glue on them and they really stick to your windshield. You can’t remove them that easily. Well isn’t that a sticky situation (pun intended)?

It doesn’t matter if it’s a parking sticker or maybe a ticker from your favorite fast food place…these stickers are meant to last for a very long time. Don’t even both spray some cool water on them in the hope to remove them easily, since most of them are water-proof. But don’t get discouraged. There’s a way to remove them and keep your car’s windshield nice and clean.

There are plenty of useful ways to remove stickers from your windshield without damaging it. Naturally, the adhesive is the most difficult part to remove, but it’s possible. So, here are some useful tips on how you can remove stickers from your windshield.

Window Cleaning Detergent

This is logical right. Window cleaning detergents are meant to clean all sorts of nasty things off from windows, so you should start with this. What you do, is just spray a little bit of cleaning detergent on the sticker and let it sit for a few minutes. Some stickers will look like they are going soft while others will begin to skid when you touch them. Next, you’re going to take a razor blade, carve out the sticker gently without damaging your windshield. All done!

Alcohol

In case the window detergent failed you, the next thing you can do is use rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol. Alcohol is also a pretty good tool to help you remove stickers from your windshield easily. First, take a paper towel (make sure that it’s dry) and soak it with some rubbing alcohol. Then it’s only a matter of dabbing the sticker away. Just make sure that the entire sticker is soaked with the chemical.

Soon, the sticker will appear soft or crumbly and then all you need to do is the exact thing that you did with the window cleaning detergent (remove it with a razor blade). Once you cleaned all the stickers and the adhesive, take a clean paper towel, soak it in clean water, wipe the spot and that’s it.

Goo Gone

You most likely heard of Goo Gone. This is a simple, affordable non-toxic solution specifically designed to remove adhesive substances and stickers. It is very useful when removing wood glue, normal glue and other types of glues. Take some Goo Gone, spray it on the decal or sticker, leave it for a couple of minutes and remove it by hand. No need for razors, towels etc. A really simple way to remove stickers from your windshield.

Ice

We all know that ice has a very versatile purpose. It’s not only useful in removing chewing gum from your jeans (yes that works too) but it can also be used in removing stickers from your windshield. Take a piece of ice, put it on the sticker or decal for about 5 minutes and then use a razor (or another sharp object) to remove the sticker. Now, since you will be working with a razor, make sure that you di this part carefully in order to avoid causing damage to your windshield.

WD-40

We’ve all heard about this chemical. It’s most used as an anti-rust solution, but has a wide range of other applications. Spray some of it on the sticker, leave it for 3-4 minutes and simply wipe it off with a clean cloth. Now, beware because, unlike Goo Gone, this is a toxic chemical.

Hot water

Some people use this method to remove stickers or decals from their windshield. Take a bottle of hot water, add a bit of liquid soap, shake it (not too much though) and pour it slowly on the sticker. The heat from the water will help soften the adhesive and the soap should help remove the sticker. After a while, check if the adhesive has gone loose. If not, then pour some more hot water on it and it should be good to go.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is the most versatile, non-toxic cleaning agent you can find any every household. It’s basically the safe alternative to WD-40 and it has ample of applications. What you do is mix some baking soda with a half cup of cooking oil. Then you soak a clean, dry paper towel with the mixture and soak the sticker. Then it’s only a matter of removing the sticker with your fingers.

You see, you don’t need to be an expert or spend too much money on removing stickers from your windshield. But, in case you are a bit careless when doing any of these methods, and damage your windshield, make sure to contact Auto Glass and have it looked at and repaired.