How to Get Decals Off of Car Windows

Removing decals from your car windows can be a difficult and time-consuming task if you don’t know how to start. In order to remove window decals and the sticky residue left behind, you’ll need to loosen the adhesive and, unfortunately, regular window cleaner just isn’t powerful enough to get the job done. However, you can use rubbing alcohol, a soft cloth and a razor blade to get decals off a car window quickly and easily.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Spray bottle
  • Soft cloths
  • Razor blade
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a clean spray bottle. Common rubbing alcohol makes a great, inexpensive window cleaner that yields a streak-free shine on most glass surfaces.

    • 2

      Saturate the decal with rubbing alcohol using the spray bottle. The alcohol will help loosen stubborn window decals from your car windows more effectively than water or other household cleaners and it’s much safer to work with than ammonia or bleach. Simply spray the decal and the area of window around it and allow the alcohol to seep into the adhesive for at least three minutes before continuing on to Step 3.

    • 3

      Scrape the decal carefully using a razor blade. A sharp razor blade is very effective in removing the bulk of the decal without scratching the car window. Scrape around the outer edges and work toward the center of the window decal. You can apply more alcohol as you work to keep the adhesive soft, if necessary.

    • 4

      Spray the window again with rubbing alcohol after you’ve removed the decal. Rubbing alcohol dries faster than most other liquids and it’s necessary to keep the window saturated while you work to make it easier to remove the decal residue.

    • 5

      Use a sturdy cloth to remove the residue left behind by the window decal. By now, the decal adhesive should be soft enough that you can remove it with a soft cloth. Work in a circular motion and use your fingernail to scrape away any large clumps of glue.

    • 6

      Clean the entire window using alcohol or window cleaner and a clean, lint-free cloth, newspaper, or coffee filter.