very sticky resident parking stickers

[tsuki_no_bara]

does anyone have any handy helpful hints for getting the old parking permit sticker off my windshield so i can put the new one on? (hints that aren't "scrape it off with a box cutter", which is what i did last year. so many tiny bits of sticker all over the inside of my car. >.< )

Comments

[gingicat]

Alas, no, but perhaps put an old towel down under the work area?

[tsuki_no_bara]

that is a very practical suggestion that never even occurred to me. >.< and god knows i have enough paper towels.

[rmd]

Box cutters are the wrong thing for this. You need a more flexible blade - one of those razor blade holders might do better since there's a bit more flex on it. It's still lots of scraping, but it makes it easy to get the little flecks off. You might also try using some solvents on it (goof off or something like that) rubbed on it and then cleaned up with the razor.

[teko]

I haven't found a foolproof method, but this is what I've found best so far. Goof Off helps soften it, and there's solvents specifically for sticker removal that help, too. Rub it on, let it soak, use a razor blade to get a corner up, squirt more on, take it slow.

[squirrelitude]

Many of the solvents that work on stickers are simply oils of various sorts. You can actually use vegetable oil to good effect on a lot of gummy residues -- softens it up. Then you can use soap and water to remove the oil. :-)

(As with any of these solvents, you'll need to take care they don't have an opportunity to sit on rubber gaskets or plastic trim and whatnot, since they can damage many such materials...)

[intuition_ist]

Most any inspection station has a tool they use for scraping off old inspection stickers. Most will be glad to quickly scrape off parking stickers as well (or lend it to you so you can do it yourself).

[tsuki_no_bara]

this is actually what i ended up doing - i went to the gas station next door and asked if they had something to get the parking sticker off. they had a scraper. it worked. :D

[totient]

Also it helps a little if the sticker (or more to the point the glue) is warm when you remove it.

[teko]

I've heard that a heat gun works really well, but haven't tried it yet.

[vonelftinhaus]

Don't actually stick it to the windshield. I know you are asking for idea's to remove but moving forward.

For years we buy this sticker pack, from tags I believe, that we stick the parking decal to and then adhere that to the windshield. It basically creates a removable decal though there is no reason to remove these but when it comes time to switch out for the new one there is no mess & no fuss

[ken_r]

I've been doing this for years as well. SO much more convenient. (And yes, Tags does carry them; I just picked up another pack tonight. I haven't looked around to see who else carries them.)

[smammy]

I use a hair dryer to warm things up and a razor scraper to get it off. Usually comes off in once piece.

It helps that Cambridge lets you put the sticker on your rearmost left side window, which is generally more accessibly and flat than the windshield.

[auntycourtney]

I used nail polish remover and a widget blade. Last year, I had my inspection sticker replaced at the same time as my resident sticker update. Trum Field Sunoco scraped off both for me at the same time.

[tsuki_no_bara]

my inspection doesn't expire until may and my parking permit expires tomorrow, but i ended up going to that same sunoco and asking if they could scrape off the permit. and they did. :D that was a very useful suggestion.

[scf]

Not useful for getting the sticker off, but I just scotch tape the edges to my windshield rather than actually sticking it on.

[jicama]

I press the new sticker against my hands and clothes a bunch to make it less sticky before I put it on the windshield.

[dtremit]

You can get one of those long-handled scrapers for less than $10 -- not a bad thing to have in the car around these parts.

Search your favorite e-commerce site for "long handle razor scraper" and many results will appear.

[kalimba]

I complained about this years ago to little sympathy but I think it's outrageous how hard it is to remove. For the last 10 years or so, I cover the entire center with scotch tape, just leaving 1/8" on all sides free to stick. It's _still_ hard to remove! So now I leave one corner open. It still leaves residue, but not so much.