How to Remove Those Pesky Adhesive Backed Emblems and Badges from Your Vehicle

Many people do not like the fact that auto manufacturers place so many emblems and badges on their vehicles. Or you might not want the dealer getting free advertisement on your vehicle by placing their name on it. Some, like myself, would prefer a more clean and uncluttered surface. If you want to remove all or some of the badges on your vehicle, this is a quick tutorial on how to do so. This is for adhesive backed emblems and badges only.

Items needed:

· Hairdryer

· 20+ pound fishing line or dental floss

· Pair of gloves (preferably thick)

· Some type of goo remover

Step One:

The first thing you should do is wash the vehicle to free it from any dirt and debris. You do not want to have any small particles get between the paint and the badges when you are trying to remove them. Washing the vehicle first will allow for a clean surface and reduce the risk of scratching the paint.

Step Two:

Use a hairdryer to heat up the badges. Be careful when doing this as you do not want to get too close to the paint or use too much heat. This can damage the paint, so use just enough heat so that the adhesive on the back of the badge softens up a little bit. If you are not comfortable in using a hairdryer or do not have a hair dryer, you can let the vehicle sit in the direct sun for a few hours on a hot day to soften the adhesive.

Step Three:

You will need some fishing line or dental floss. If you choose to use fishing line, get a high breaking strength such as twenty pound or more so it will not break continuously. I chose to use dental floss because that is what I had on hand. Dental floss will break a few times, but it is cheap and it gets the job done. Wear gloves for this part because both the fishing line and the dental floss can cut into your hand. Take the string of line or floss and start flossing through the back of the badge. This will cut between the paint and the back of the badge releasing it from the vehicle. Continue doing this until the badge is off. You may need to heat it up as you go to keep the adhesive soft.

Step Four:

Once the badges are removed you will be left with some sticky goo on the paint. Some simple goo remover will take this off. Once the surface is clean and free from any residue, you can re-wash and wax the area to get it sparkling like the rest of your paint!

You now have a clean and uncluttered surface on your vehicle.