Removing old residue from a window decal

[Big Dave]

I bought an older Porsche and the past owner had put a alma matter type sticker/decal on the rear window. It is on a couple of the defroster wires.

Anyway, it was peeling at the edges so I started to pull it off...it came off fully with no dislodging of the wires...yeah!

It did leave behind a film of dry adhesive, it is not sticky. What would be the prefered method of removing this adhesive without damage to the wires?

Thanks!

David

 

[cb450sc]

WD40 has always worked well for me in these situations. Spray it on and let it soak in for a minute, rub with a circular motion with an old clean rag and you are good to go!

 

[swalve]

Zippo fluid works fairly well, but I'm not sure what it will do to the defrosters.

 

[PW01]

"Goo-Gone" will do the trick!

 

[moribundman]

If it's a glass window, acetone should work.

 

[Big Dave]

Thanks guys. I will try the WD-40 first if I need something stronger...then I'll go with some acetone.

David

 

[moribundman]

It's not like acetone will ruin glass...

 

[s2ms]

A small amount of good old Gumout sprayed on a rag will also do the trick.

 

[Kestas]

I'd be careful with acetone for two reasons... you don't want to drip it onto interior surfaces, and it may be too agressive and chemically damage the defroster grid.

I prefer to use alcohol. It seems to gum it up enough to where you can rub it off.

 

[Big Dave]

I tried the Goo-Gone product and it softens it up a bit and the surface gets tacky but even with moderate rubbing it does not come off.

I'm being rather careful due to the presence of the defroster grid wires.

I will try the alcohol...I'm asssuming that you refer to isopropyl (?) alcohol.

I share your concern about acetone damaging interior surfaces.

What makes this hard is the location...deep in the corner of the glass near the rear parcel shelf. Can't flex this old body very well to get there!

Thanks!

David

 

[Kestas]

Any alcohol is fine... ethanol or isopropanol, just don't use methanol, it's a poison. The isopropanol is a little heavier than ethanol and won't evaporate as quickly.

Another trick I use is to use a single-edge razor to mechanically remove as much gum as possible. But this may be chancy with the defroster grid.

 

[Syntec-Man]

hot air gun. dont put chemicals on the windshield there is a coating that will be removed i think

 

[ted s]

wax and grease remover.

 

[casper]

If there is no tint involved...use some windex and a straight razor. Use it as close as possible to the heater wires. If there is tint involved, use something like Goof-off or the like.

 

[QuickSilver]

there is a trick to using goo gone well but it might not work in this situation.

with goo-gone i squirt some on the surface and let it sit for about 30 seconds to a minute. let it soak. then i rub it with my fingers using circular motions. the adhesive will gum up into balls which you can just pick off the glass. if you try to wipe the balls off they will just smudge and smear again.

 

[obbop]

Is it one of those nifty "Starfleet Academy" stickers?

Nuthin' like letting everyone know thou art a space cadet!!!