Simple and quick ways to remove a sticker from window glass

Andrey September 17, 2016Specialization: facade finishing, interior finishing, construction of dachas, garages. Experience of an amateur gardener and gardener. We also have experience in repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and many other things that I don’t have time for :)

Most often, the need to remove stickers arises from owners of plastic windows - manufacturers cover them with a protective film, which over time simply sticks tightly, making it impossible to tear it off with your hands. In addition, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove vinyl and paper stickers, tape, sun protection films, etc. To help in this matter, below I will tell you about the five most effective ways of how and with what to wash window stickers.

Window stickers can be a real problem

What types of stickers are there?

Almost all types of stickers leave traces of tape on the glass after removal.
All types of films and stickers on windows perform some function for a certain period of time, but sooner or later you have to say goodbye to them. Decorations leave marks, but removal methods depend on the type of sticker.

There are the following types:

• Protective film for windows is necessary to improve the performance of glass.
• Sun protection film is a tinting film that prevents strong exposure to sunlight. Can block up to 99% of ultraviolet radiation and up to 80% of infrared radiation.
• Shockproof - gives the windows even more strength and prevents fragments from flying away when the glass breaks.
• Energy saving - delays heat loss in winter, reflects the sun's rays in summer.
• Installation or transportation - adhesive film, which is removed immediately after installing the windows.
• Stickers or window decals are thin products with a decorative design. They have an adhesive base with a protective layer. Such applications can often be seen on the windows of apartments and kindergartens. These stickers are firmly glued and cannot be removed entirely. Therefore, after some time it will be difficult to wash the sticker from the window glass.
• Paper stencils - as a rule, such snowflakes are used to decorate surfaces for the holiday. They are attached to PVA glue, tape, paste, soap solution and even toothpaste.

The main problem with all types of decor is that they are not completely removable. The former decoration leaves unattractive fragments in the form of glue, tape and other traces.

A small educational program on the types of adhesive bases

Manufacturers of stickers and labels use different types of adhesive bases. In most cases, adhesion to the surface is provided by 3 types of glue - acrylic, silicone or rubber (rubber).

► The easiest way to remove stickers is with an adhesive base made from a special easily removable acrylic adhesive, after which no traces remain.

► Thermal labels with semi-permanent rubber adhesive, which has strong residual stickiness, are a little more difficult to peel off. These stickers are reusable: they can be removed and re-applied to surfaces several times.

► The worst situation is with permanent adhesive bases for self-destructive labels. Rubber-based compounds have strong adhesion, which significantly exceeds the adhesive force of the internal layers of the label. The stickers are removed in parts, and often a translucent bottom layer remains on the surface.

Image source - ekaterinburg.print.firmika.ru

Standard adhesive bases do not withstand exposure to high (above 50 °C) and subzero temperatures (less than -5 °C). The glue loses its adhesive properties when heated and cooled for 3-5 minutes.

Special adhesive compositions can withstand deep freezing and extreme heat. Some types of glue are highly resistant to water.

How to remove a sticker from a window glass

After treatment with chemicals, the adhesive from the sticker is removed faster.
Usually on packages with stickers it is written that removing them from the surface will not be difficult. But in practice, everything turns out differently: after such decoration, traces remain. If you were unable to remove the sticker and glue from the glass the first time, you will still have to remove it the second or third time. Otherwise, dirt particles stick to it, thereby making the appearance of the window sloppy.

There are many ways to clean stickers from glass:

• Chemical professional products will help you quickly clean plastic windows. With their help you can easily get rid of traces of glue. The composition includes components that effectively dissolve the remains of tape and self-adhesive films. Such products are sold in any supermarket; they do not leave any extraneous stains on the glass, as the manufacturers claim.
• Home Recipes . Traditional cleaning products are used.
• Mechanical methods . The glue rubs off well provided it is fresh. You can either roll it out with your fingers or remove it using some sharp objects.
• Heat treatment . Heating with a hairdryer and other devices helps restore the glass's cleanliness.
• Steam cleaning . Steam can remove the sticker itself and soften any traces of it, which can then be easily removed.

First you need to tear off the entire sticker. Some parts and the adhesive base will most likely remain. They need to be moistened with some chemical or home remedy. Can be treated with steam or high temperature, for example, using a hair dryer. Remaining glue after such manipulations can simply be wiped off with a sponge or napkin. If traces remain after this, more serious measures will be required.

You can generously moisten the problem area with alcohol, acetone, or any solvent. To do this, soak a piece of cloth with liquid and press it tightly into place. After 1-3 minutes, you can try to wipe off the remaining label again.

If one remedy does not help, use another until you can get the glass in order.

Why is a sticker difficult to remove?

1. Sometimes this happens due to the fault of the customer. If you do this right away, it will come off neatly. But some believe that the film protects the frame from dust and scratches and preserves its original appearance longer. As a result, the film dries tightly and cannot be easily removed.
2. If the manufacturer is not very conscientious and uses low quality film. It begins to melt even with a slight increase in temperature, and under the scorching sun it sticks to the surface.
3. The adhesive base of the tape has high adhesion to surfaces. After removing the tape, dust sticks to it and it turns dark. Such a dirty spot will ruin the appearance of windows, furniture facades, and plastic panels.

You can remove the adhesive film from glass and plastic by using household chemicals.

Tools you can use for the job

A glass scraper removes glue from a window well without damaging the surface.
Some stickers can only be removed mechanically. In this case, you need tools that will clean the glass without damaging it:

• Blade . The cutting surface is very thin, so when working with it the likelihood of damaging the glass is minimal. The blade is convenient for scraping off the remaining glue and stickers themselves. It is better to use the blade only on glass, as plastic frames may suffer from such exposure. To make it more convenient, you can use a razor.
• Glass scraper. It is a body with a stainless steel blade, which extends to the required length and is fixed. Helps remove glue, film residues, paint from glass, even traces of flies.
• Knife . This tool cleans glass well, but not plastic - there is a high probability of damaging it.

Tools for mechanical removal work better if the remaining sticker is soaked with special chemicals or at least water.

Mechanical methods

Using the Blade

This method requires caution; hasty actions may result in scratches remaining on the surface.

First of all, you need to wet the glass using a soap solution. You can prepare it using ordinary household cleaning products, mixing them with water. The remaining sticker should be saturated with it and become wet.

After this you can use the blade. Remnants of labels swollen from soap solution should be carefully picked up and removed.

This method is not suitable for removal from plastic surfaces, as they are very easily scratched, leaving very noticeable marks.

Using a hair dryer

Before using a construction hairdryer, glass with residues must be washed, removing all dirt from it.

Further:

1. The turned-on hair dryer should be kept within a range of 2–5 centimeters from the problem area where label particles remain. It is necessary that the heated air hits the surface at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees. The heating process should take several minutes; it should start from the middle and move to the edges.
2. After the heating process, remaining stickers should come off very easily. If you can’t get rid of them with your hands, then you can take a bank card and clean it with it, holding it at an angle.
3. If the residue area is large, then the process must be performed in stages. By warming up not all the glass at once, but only part of it. If the residues could not be removed the first time, then the heating process should be repeated.
4. When the glass is completely clean, its surface should be polished with a damp cloth and a few drops of tea tree oil applied to it.
5. If you do not have a hair dryer, then as an alternative you can use a hair dryer, a heat gun, or even an iron.

The latter option involves removing it using hot steam rather than the working surface of the iron. You cannot bring, let alone apply, a heated sole to glass or plastic.

What chemical compositions are suitable for removing stickers?

Scotch Remover is one of the most effective means for removing stickers.
There are many ready-made products, each of which is effective in its own way.

Scotch Remover

Perfectly removes traces of stickers on glass and tape residues. The composition contains natural citrus oils, which are also effective against tar and resin.

Liqui Moly

A universal product whose manufacturers guarantee quick and trace-free cleaning of glass and plastic from stickers. Made entirely from natural ingredients.

ASTROhim

Contains additives that penetrate deep layers of dirt. After some time, the sticky layer softens, partially breaks down and is easily removed from the windows. While completely safe for the surface being treated, the product can eliminate stains of glue and even bitumen.

Profoam 2000

The drug has a wide spectrum of action, odorless. Suitable for all surfaces. Useful functions include removing stickers, traces of tape, glue, markers and other contaminants.

Denatured alcohol

Helps remove sticky layers from windows. If it doesn’t help in its pure form, you can mix it with ammonia soda and distilled water in a ratio of 2:1:7. Apply the mixture with a sponge to problem areas, leave for a while, and then remove with a scraper.

Acetone

Suitable only for cleaning glass, not plastic. It is a strong chemical, so it must be used with extreme caution, otherwise it will corrode the paint on the frames and leave white streaks on the glass.

WD40

WD40 will help remove even tightly stuck stickers
. A degreaser suitable for removing tightly stuck pictures. It is a toxic chemical, so after working with it you need to ventilate the room. Spray the sticker and carefully sand the edges. After 2-3 minutes, peel off the sticker and remove all remaining traces with a damp cloth.

WD40 is highly effective on glass. You need to work very carefully on plastic, first checking it in an inconspicuous area.

Aviation gasoline

Can remove a picture attached with rubber-based adhesive. However, it is not widely available and is quite expensive.

Dip a sponge in gasoline and thoroughly saturate the sticker with it. Cleans perfectly from plastic or glass. After using gasoline, this area must be washed with soapy water.

Top 3 special tools

The use of special preparations allows you to cope even with a complex task for which home recipes have proven ineffective. The market offers a large list of goods in various volumes and price categories.

Kangaroo Scotch Remover

The product will effectively remove adhesive from tape, stickers and labels. Scotch Remover contains citrus oils. Can be used to clean glass, including car glass. Manufacturer – Korea. A bottle with a sprayer with a capacity of 0.24 ml costs from 550 rubles.

Application procedure:

1. Shake the balloon.
2. Spray from a distance of 0.2-0.3 m from the surface.
3. Hold for 20 seconds.
4. Wipe the glass with a rag.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• ease of use;
• natural oils in the composition;
• surface safety.

Minuses:

• high price;
• Strong smell;
• leaves behind greasy stains, which must then be removed by other means;
• not always effective the first time with double-sided tape;
• small amount of product.

Aufkleberentferner from Liqui Moly

Sticker Stain Remover contains an effective combination of solvents that removes adhesive residue. Can be used on vertical glass surfaces. The cost of a volume of 0.4 liters is about 700 rubles.

Application:

1. Shake the can.
2. Spray on the desired location from a distance of 0.2-0.3 m.
3. Allow a short period of time for the reaction to pass.
4. Wipe with a napkin.

Pros:

• It breaks down the remains of the adhesive layer well;
• suitable for vertical application;
• non-flowing gel-type consistency;
• versatility;
• nice smell;
• can be used to clean various surfaces, not just glass.

Minuses:

• price;
• may not help the first time.

Glutoclean

The sticker, tape and sticker remover allows you to work on any hard surface (from glass to plastic and wood). Manufacturer – Germany. The cost of the container is 0.5 l. – from 600 rubles.

Contains:

• 5% nonionic surfactants;
• 30% aliphatic hydrocarbons, etc.

Application:

1. Soak a rag with the removal compound.
2. Wet any remaining label residue.
3. Leave for a minute.
4. clean off starting from the corners.
5. Wipe off any residue with a brush.
6. Rinse off with plenty of water.
7. Wipe dry.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• ease of use;
• Suitable for all types of labels.

Minuses:

• The packaging and lid are not always convenient;
• in some cases, re-processing may be necessary;
• high price.

Folk remedies

The means at hand are good if the marks from the sticker are fresh. Most likely, they will not clean the glass from old ones.

Vegetable oil

Wet the sticker thoroughly and leave for 10 minutes. When the oil has thoroughly soaked the sticker and the glue underneath, all this can be easily removed with a paper towel. Then clean the area to be treated from oil with dishwashing detergent.

Vinegar

Does not apply to aggressive chemicals and is suitable for any surface. For cleansing, a concentrate of 11% is used. Apply to the sticker with a sponge, after 5 minutes, when the paper and glue have swollen and become limp, remove the residue with a blade or scraper. Wash the window with soapy water. If necessary, repeat the manipulation.

Lemon

Cut half a citrus fruit and rub the surface thoroughly. Wait 5-7 minutes, then scrape off any remaining glue and paper and wash with clean water. If there is no fruit, you can dilute citric acid in water and do the same.

Useful tips

If children have a strong desire to stick decorations on the windows, for example, for the New Year, they must then remove them as quickly as possible. Over time, the adhesive crystallizes or turns into a thick rubbery layer, making it even more difficult to remove.

The paper base of the sticker becomes clogged with small dust particles. Because of this, the harmless glue turns into a hard substance that is very difficult to remove without damaging the window.

If you don’t want to have to deal with cleaning glass after the holidays, try to convince your child to decorate the apartment somehow differently. For example, hang snowflakes on strings rather than gluing them. Apply designs to windows with toothpaste, which is easily washed off.