Vinyl Sticker Application and Removal Guide

Vinyl stickers are best placed on smooth, flat, hard surfaces, such as glass, rigid plastic (phones, laptops, safety helmets, lunch boxes), and painted metal such as vehicles and water bottles. Painted wood and walls may work too, but the adhesion will not be as strong and removal may also affect the paintwork.

Preparation
Ensure all surfaces are spotlessly clean and dry, and free from dust, hairs, oil, and grease. We recommend wiping with a lint-free cloth to avoid leaving any fibres behind. Anything left on the surface underneath the sticker will potentially show up.

Simple Stickers (it can help to have a water spray bottle and kitchen roll to hand)
Small, single-piece stickers arrive on a backing sheet. Simply peel off, taking care to ensure the sticker separates cleanly from the surrounding vinyl. Then place the sticker where you want it and smooth the air out from underneath, working outwards from the centre to avoid air bubbles. If you do get a trapped air bubble, make a tiny hole in the centre with the point of a needle to allow the air to escape.
If you want to allow for precise positioning, spray the back (adhesive side) of the sticker with a fine mist of water. This will reduce the stickiness and allow the sticker to move whilst applying. Be sure to then squeeze all the water out, again, working outwards from the centre. Dry the surface with kitchen roll and allow 24 hours for the adhesive to properly stick.

Large, Intricate, or Multi-part Stickers (it can help to have a water spray bottle, a squeegee and kitchen roll to hand)
For more intricate designs, or stickers with several separate elements, your stickers will arrive sandwiched between the backing sheet and a layer of transfer film. You will need to place the whole sticker face-down on a clean table or working surface.
Next, carefully peel the backing tape away, ensuring that all the sticker elements remain stuck to the transfer film.
Then, to allow for precise positioning, spray the back (adhesive side) of the sticker with a fine mist of water. This will reduce the stickiness and allow the sticker to move whilst applying. Once you have applied the sticker in your chosen position, you will need to work outwards from the centre to squeeze all the water out from underneath. If you don’t have a squeegee, a ruler or credit card can be used. Mop up any drips and allow a few hours for the adhesive to properly stick.

You will then need to remove the transfer tape, being careful to ensure that the vinyl remains stuck to the surface and doesn’t come away with the transfer film. Mop up any remaining drips.

Large Graphics
The process for even larger graphics is the same as above, but it can help to have an extra pair of hands to help. The main challenge is to ensure it is in exactly the right place and is aligned and levelled correctly. Having a spirit level, tape measure, masking tape, scissors, and a pen to hand will really help with this. Having sprayed the back with a mist of water will allow you a couple of attempts to reposition it.

One good method is to place the whole thing – including backing and transfer film exactly where you want it, and it’s worth taking your time to get it right. Then secure it in place using masking tape.
Secure an extra piece of masking tape across the middle (vertically or horizontally). This will allow you to temporarily remove half the sticker whilst the rest remains in place. Next, with the ‘free’ half, carefully peel the backing tape away, ensuring that all the sticker elements remain stuck to the transfer film. Cut off as much backing paper as you can and, with a fine mist of water, apply the sticker to the surface and squeeze the water out working outwards from the centre.
Once that half has been secured, you can release the second half and repeat - carefully peeling the backing tape away, ensuring that all the sticker elements remain stuck to the transfer film. Another light mist of water, and work the second section the sticker into place. Leave for a few hours for the adhesive to stick and then you need to remove the transfer tape, being careful to ensure that the vinyl remains stuck to the surface and doesn’t come away with the transfer film. Mop up any remaining drips.

Removal
Most of the time, vinyl stickers can be removed by simply peeling them off. A utility knife blade or scraper can help get you started, but take care to not damage the surface underneath. Any adhesive residue may need some solvent such as white spirit or ‘sticky stuff remover’ to lift it off but again, take care not to use something that will damage the surface underneath.

For stubborn stickers – especially those that have been in position a long time or outdoors – applying some heat can soften the adhesive and may the vinyl more pliable. Warming with a hair dryer or (gently!) with a heat gun can be very effective. Don’t use a flame/blowtorch as this will likely damage the surface underneath.