Removing Bike Stickers

[KnottedYet]

I've never been fond of the "FFF" stickers on my Surly.

Mind you, it's been 4 years and I haven't done anything about it.

Today I tried the "fingernail" method advocated by Surly.

No luck.

Tried the "credit card" method I found while searching.

No luck.

Tried the "Duct-Tape" method.

No luck. (well, a flake or two came off)

Lesson we learn today: Do NOT wait 4 years to take off your stickers!

ETA: so far I've managed to get ONE entire FFF sticker off. It took about 20 minutes. It went something like this: apply duct tape, try to warm and press it with hands. Peel off. Reapply. Peel off. Repeat until bored. Use sliced credit card to scrape at remaining sticker. IMMEDIATELY remove loosened flakes with used duct tape - or they will stick down like burrs on a feral dog! Repeat until bored. When credit card gets dull, slice it again with scissors to get a new sharp edge. Go back and forth until the sticker is gone.

ETA: TECHNIQUE UPDATE!!! For the older stickers, put the duct tape on and leave it for 10 minutes or more. Large portions of the sticker will come off if you leave it on longer, not just wee flakes. Go get a beer, call your mom (you know she misses you), toast a bagel.... *then* pull off the tape. Sex-ay!

(aka - how to entertain your enforced sedentary self while nurturing a less-than-24-hr-old fresh tattoo.)

[OakLeaf]

Tattoo on self, stickers off bike?

Did you warm the stickers? Hair dryer is the usual method for taking the innumerable safety warning stickers off a moto.

[KnottedYet]

Tattoo on self, stickers off bike?

Did you warm the stickers? Hair dryer is the usual method for taking the innumerable safety warning stickers off a moto.

I don't have a hair dryer, but it sounds like it would have helped. Got both "FFF" stickers off, but the "Cross x Check" stickers aren't budging.

Might have to borrow a hair dryer from someone, but at least I got the "FFF" stickers off. They bugged me, and looked wrong on the chainstays.

[Thorn]

Hmmm...road salt and/or WD-40? Or maybe just send your Surly's on a road trip into a friend's snowy winter?

Seriously....my Surly's FFF stickers are almost gone on their own. But I live in the snow belt and the Surly's get most of their riding is in slush. So road salt and, when I'm too tired to give them a good cleaning when I get home a sloppy spray down with WD-40 (yes, yes, environmentally crap, but occassionally I slip) are probably the cause.

But now I know how I can get rid of the "F Fin" sticker that is left on one and the "Fatt" on the other....

[KnottedYet]

Y'know, that's probably why my FFF stickers came off so easily: they've been bathed in a few year's worth of rain slop.

The toptube stickers have gotten wet, too, but not to the same exciting extent as the chainstay stickers.

The bike does look much better without the FFF stickers...

I wonder if setting her in the sun would soften the toptube stickers enough that I could get them off?

[tangentgirl]

Try Goo Gone. I haven't met a sticker it can't remove yet.

Put a bunch on the sticker, especially around the edges so it can soak into the adhesive underneath. Let it sit for a few hours, and you should be able to peel it off easily and then lightly scrub the gunk from underneath.

If it's not so easy, or there is still adhesive left, re-apply. You might need to let it sit overnight, but it will eventually get everything off.

**Be sure to wash your hands after handling the GG. I think it's just orange oil, but it's super-concentrated, and you shouldn't leave it on your skin.**