How do you remove residue from decals?

[05yellowbeetle]

I bought my '05 Herbie just over a month ago and discovered with the dew on the back glass a couple mornings ago, that the previous owner had a huge decal for assist2sell across the back hatch glass. My brother recommended cleaning it with 3M General Purpose Adhesive cleaner, which I did yesterday morning a couple times, but I checked this morning and it is still there. Any ideas on how to get rid of the residue? It's not something you notice when the glass is dry, there's nothing sticky or anything that you can feel.

[noR]

Since it's on glass; I'd attempt to use a razor blade held at a 15* angle, maybe even less.

Another alternative is glass-cleaner. Since I have some, I'd use Glass Scrub. I dunno if it'd work, but that's where I'd start. If that didn't work I'd try windex; don't use windex on window tint. But the tint's on the inside, so it should be alright.

[FlwrPwer]

If it's on the glass, I would say use Goo-Gone.

[ghostRder1]

You might try spraying WD-40 on a rag, rub, wash and dry over the area.



ghostRder1

[fuel110]

goo gone to get the glue off, rubbing alchohol to get the goo gone off. I'm a graphics guy, this is the best solution.

[FlwrPwer]

Originally Posted by fuel110

goo gone to get the glue off, rubbing alchohol to get the goo gone off. I'm a graphics guy, this is the best solution.

Thats good advice. Goo gone can be very greasy and hard to get off. Windex works well to get it all off too.

[05yellowbeetle]

I tried the WD-40 and Windex, will get goo gone to try next.

[manoverboard987]

Turtle Wax brand Bug and Tar remover always gets stuff off for me. Took my dealer sticker residue off in 2 applications. FLAPS sell it and I've even found it at WalMart and Fred's.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

On that surface, saturate a small clean rag with "Goof Off" and that should do the trick, if Goof Off is not accessible then try Acetone as a secondary method.

[ghostRder1]

Originally Posted by 98silverbeetle

I tried the WD-40 and Windex, will get goo gone to try next.

Sorry these products didn't work.
Keep us posted


ghostRder1

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Goof Off or Acetone didn't work?

[05yellowbeetle]

I haven't tried either of those yet. Couldn't the acetone damage the paint? I try to pour/spray whatever I'm trying on a small section, but the decals apparently covered almost the entire back window, so it can escape down into the paint and seal around the window.

[Maggadog]

Originally Posted by 98silverbeetle

I haven't tried either of those yet. Couldn't the acetone damage the paint? I try to pour/spray whatever I'm trying on a small section,

Pour the Goof-Off or acetone on a rag, and work on a small area. You can try nail polish remover, same cautions.

Or, you can use a razor blade at a shallow angle.
Good Luck.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

It is always wise to thoroughly mask off painted surfaces or areas that might be damaged if contacted by the chemical being used.

After making sure that the decal has been removed with say the careful use of a single edge razor blade, then I would recommend trying the "Goof Off" product first (Home Depot, Ace Hardware etc.) on a clean cloth towel, saturate a small portion of the towel and apply it to the residued glass area working a small section at a time.

Continue this process until the entire glass is free of adhesive, now grab a clean towel and a good glass cleaner and clean the glass to your satisfaction.

If for some reason you choose not to use the recommended Goof Off product, my second choice would be Acetone.

[fuel110]

dude, use goo-gone, you don't have to tape anything off. as long as the remover dosn't sit on the car it won't hurt anything. I've been wrapping vehicles for years. and when we take one off this is what i use. and i've never damaged a paint job.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

98silverbeetle,
Regardless of which product you ultimately decide to use for the job, it only takes one time for things to go awry leaving costly damage as a result, you can't "unring a bell".

I have nothing to gain by telling you this, it's not my car in question, it's yours.

Some of these chemicals may cause no damage to painted or other surfaces, however, better safe than sorry since it takes very little time to mask off the areas that you don't want contacted and thereby eliminating any possibility of potential damage (no matter how slim), there is no reason to chance it.

This is how I operate and I too have never damaged a vehicle in the countless years that I have been working on them, but, the choice is yours.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out...

[05yellowbeetle]

very true I just find the irony of taping off part of the car to remove some sort of glue residue amusing.

Shanna

[blkpain1.8t]

Goo Gone, followed by a light application of alcohol, then a good claybar treatment. Follow that up with a nice wax or rain-x treatment and your window(s) will be like new.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

I've heard and done amazing things with zippo lighter fluid. Sounds crazy, but a bit cheaper and easy to keep for a long time, just a little and anything on glass or windows like this slides right off.

[05yellowbeetle]

an update...

My brother decided to spray paint his outboard motor about 20 ft away from Herbie one night, which lead to tiny white spots all over Herbie's passenger side and rear end, including the windows. A little research on here and I figured clay bar was the way to go. So I bought a Meguiar's kit and started claying Herbie including all the windows. The effect from the old decals has diminished greatly