How to Apply Vinyl Stickers

Co-authored by Nicole Bolin and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 23, 2021 References

Vinyl stickers, otherwise known as decals, are fun ways to decorate your window, car, laptop, and other sturdy surfaces. First, wipe down the surface of your choice to get rid of any dirt and dust. After peeling off the backing paper, place the sticker on a dry or wet surface, depending on your personal preference. Once you’ve put the sticker into place, peel off the back transfer paper as a finishing touch.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Nicole Bolin
Crafts & DIY Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2020.}

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Prepping the Surface

1
Check that your desired sticker location is around 55 °F (13 °C). Use a room-specific thermometer to check how warm or cold your car, window, or other sticker surface is on an average day. Ideally, you don’t want the environment to be too hot or too cold, or the vinyl sticker might not adhere properly. While your space doesn’t have to be this exact temperature, try to keep it in a cool area.^{[2]
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- If your garage or home gets especially cold or hot for extended amounts of time, you might want to consider placing your sticker elsewhere.
2
Wipe and dry off the area where you want to place your sticker. Take a baby wipe or water-soaked towel and clear away any dust, wax, and debris from the surface of your car, window, or other transparent areas. Try to get the area as smooth and clean as possible, so no dust or grime adheres to your vinyl sticker later on. If the area is especially dirty, add a pea-sized amount of delicate soap to your damp towel to get the surface squeaky clean.^{[3]
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- If your desired sticker area already looks clean, just give it a quick wipe down.
- Try and use soap that has “delicate” listed on the label.
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3
Spray the surface with soapy water to adjust your sticker later on. Create a sudsy water mixture by mixing a pea-sized amount of gentle soap into a spray bottle filled with warm water. Once you’ve mixed the soap into the spray bottle, spritz the solution over the desired sticker surface.^{[4]
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- You only need a tiny amount of soap to make the water sudsy.
- If you’re applying the vinyl sticker “dry,” then you don’t need to worry about spraying down the area at all.
Did you know? You can attach vinyl stickers using “dry” or “wet” methods. “Wet” application gives you more freedom to adjust your vinyl, but has a 24-hour drying time. “Dry” application is instantly permanent and doesn’t have a waiting period.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Securing the Sticker

1
Peel away the backing tape on the sticker.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Nicole Bolin
Crafts & DIY Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2020.} Use your thumb and pointer finger to pry the back paper from the surface of the sticker. As you peel away the paper, pinch the vertical edges of the sticker with your opposite hand. Once the back paper is completely removed, hold the sticker with the thumb and pointer finger of each hand.^{[6]
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- Avoid touching or holding the back surface of the vinyl sticker, as your fingerprints will make the sticker look smudged and sloppy.
- It’s tricky to arrange a sticker when you’re holding it by the center portion.
2
Pinch the vertical edges of the vinyl sticker as you place it down. Continue holding the sticker securely as you place it on a wet or dry surface. Try applying the center of the sticker first, then press the outer edges of the vinyl sticker into place. Aim to do this in a fluid motion to prevent any air bubbles from forming.^{[7]
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- If you’re applying your sticker to a dry surface, make sure that it’s positioned and angled properly. Once the vinyl is in place, you won’t be able to adjust it easily.
- If you’re applying your sticker to a wet surface, use your fingers to push and adjust the edges of the vinyl to your desired position.
3
Press out any air bubbles with a squeegee or credit card. Grab a flat, bendy item and press it in an even line along the surface of the sticker. Move your squeegee, credit card, or the other tool consistently, applying an even amount of pressure as you go from edge to edge. Focus on areas that have air bubbles, so the sticker looks smooth.^{[8]
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Tip: If you’ve applied the sticker on a wet surface, try spraying over the transfer paper with soapy water, as this makes it easier to remove extra air bubbles from the sticker. The transfer paper is the thin, outer layer of the sticker that makes the vinyl’s design look opaque.^{[9]
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4
Heat curved vinyl stickers with a blow dryer to make them stick. Don’t be discouraged if your sticker isn’t adhering properly to a curved edge or surface, like a car bumper. Turn a hairdryer or heat gun to a low setting, and run the device several inches or centimeters above the surface of the sticker. Beneath the added heat, use your squeegee, credit card, or the other flat tool to help the sticker apply correctly to the curved edge.^{[10]
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- Don’t use a high heat setting for this—you’re only looking to stretch and expand the vinyl, not melt it.
5
Peel away the final layer of transfer tape. Use your thumb and pointer finger to pinch and remove the outer layer of the sticker, which looks like a strip of opaque masking tape.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Nicole Bolin
Crafts & DIY Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2020.} Pull away at the transfer paper until you’ve completely removed it from the sticker.^{[12]
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- Don’t worry if your vinyl sticker comes off with the transfer paper. Use your squeegee, credit card, or the other flat tool to press the sticker back onto the surface.