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Knowing how to get glue off a car is a must if you want to remove decals from your vehicle. The residue many glues leave behind can be an eyesore – but not if you learn how to remove glue residue from cars.
Follow these easy steps to get decal glue off your car so it looks neat again.
Wash the area with soap and water. This helps avoid rubbing dirt into the paint.
Warm the glue. This makes the glue softer and easier to work with. You can set a hair dryer to the hottest setting or use a heat gun, but be careful not to heat the paint’s clear coat excessively. You may need to reheat the glue as you work.
Scrape off using a card/scraper. Place one of these implements on the vehicle one inch from the glue. Keep the implement tilted 45 degrees to the surface and slide it into the glue repeatedly to loosen the adhesive.
Wax it up. The glue probably removed the wax and maybe some clear coat as well. Wash the area again with soap and water, let it dry, and apply a layer of wax.
Use this procedure for removing glue from car windows.
Soak the glue. Hold a warm, wet rag against the glue for a while to help loosen it up.
Scrape it off. Hold a razor blade at a 45-degree angle to the glass and slide it into the glue. Maintain the angle to avoid scratching the glass. Wipe away chunks as you scrape.
Use adhesive remover/acetone nail polish remover. If your razor left a thin layer of glue, you can spray commercial adhesive remover onto the area and wipe the glue away or rub acetone solvent into the adhesive using a cloth.
Clean-up. Use glass cleaner to remove chemical residue.
You can use soap and a couple of tools to remove glue like Loctite Vinyl, Fabric & Plastic Flexible Adhesive from car upholstery and dashboards.
Scrape/peel it off. Peeling loose glue off with your fingers will help get glue off your car interior quicker. Do not use anything sharp that could damage the surface to remove the glue from your car.
Soak it. Placing a warm, wet cloth over the adhesive for half an hour will help loosen up the glue. Make sure the glue stays warm; you may need to re-apply warm, moist rags.
Apply cleaner/soap. You can use upholstery cleaner for many surfaces, but dish soap also works well. Mix two cups of water with one tablespoon of soap, then scrub the glue away using a sponge or rag. Read the manufacturer’s instructions if you use upholstery cleaner.
Dry it. Use a towel to blot the area dry, then check to make sure there is no residue. If there is, repeat the process.
