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Car dealerships certainly understand the benefits of marketing and their decals are nothing more than free advertisement. Most of us leave them on because we’re afraid to damage the paint, but there are a few safe ways to remove dealership decals from your car. We’re going to teach you a very simple method for removing decals without hurting the paint…
Get Ready to Remove the Decal
Before you start peeling or scraping off the decal, you need to do some prep work. This is basically a thorough cleaning of the surrounding area. You can use warm water and soap (car shampoo, or even Dawn dish soap if it’s watered down) – and/or alcohol with a microfiber cloth or wash mitt.
Start Removing the Decal
Not all decals are the same, and depending on how long its been on your car, you may have to heat up the sticker. You can use a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove. Sometimes, you can simply remove it on a hot, sunny day. However, it’s highly recommended that you put a hair dryer or other form of heat to the sticker before attempting to remove it.
Failing to heat up the decal can result in damaged paint – and it will also make the job much more difficult than it needs to be.
Carefully remove the decal! If you can use your fingers, then do it that way. Sometimes you will have to scrape it off with a tool. Credit cards, floss and ice scrapers work well for removing stubborn decals.
Once the Decal is Removed…
Removing the decal is only half the battle, as now you will likely have to remove remaining adhesive that’s stuck on the paint. Leaving the adhesive on the paint is a bad idea, as dirt and other debris will stick to your car and damage the paint over time.
To remove the remaining adhesive, use a product like 3M Adhesive Remover or Goo Gone Adhesive Remover Spray. Rubbing alcohol and vinegar are also options that most people will already have in their homes. Use a microfiber cloth and be careful so you don’t scratch the paint.
Had a decal that’s been on your car for many years? Maybe you had to fight it off and now there are minor scratches in your paint? Try buffing the area with a rubbing compound or polishing it if the scratches are minor.
Now you know how to remove a dealership decal from any vehicle. It might sound shocking, but there are a lot of people who will pay their auto detailers to do it for them. More money in your pocket if you run a mobile detailing business!
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