Plasti Dip is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to tint your car. As much as it is easy to apply, it is likewise easy to remove when applied properly.
In this article, I will give you an overview and a detailed instruction of the best and easiest ways to remove plasti dip which may come in handy in the future.
In certain cases, the problem with Plasti Dip is when it is too thin; the tendency is it will be most likely be hard to remove. Typically, to effectively remove the Plasti Dip, you must carefully peel off the edges using your bare hands.
There are three basic methods that you may want to consider on how to take off plasti dip from your car.
Here are some of the methods that you can try if you want to do it yourself.
Technique 1: Peeling Off the Plasti Dip
- Start by lifting off the dip from the edge of the car. You may want to choose a part where to start first. For example, you have chosen the hood, carefully lift off the edge away from the car using your fingers.
Lift the dip slowly and carefully to avoid small pieces of unwanted Plasti Dip strips that were not removed properly.
Plasti Dips that are applied properly are usually thick enough to peel off. Thus, it may require a WD-40 or a similar product to be washed off. - After peeling off the Plasti Dip, you may want to use a microfiber cloth to get rid of any Plasti Dip strip left on the edges of your vehicle. Check carefully on the hood, the car's underside, and the car doors for any Plasti dip fragments.
- Use isopropyl alcohol to wash off further any remaining Plasti dip on your vehicle. If possible, you may want to put the alcohol in a spray bottle so it can be easier to apply.
If you are removing Plasti dips from a steering wheel, you should spray on the outer rim. You can also use a power washer to help remove small bits of Plasti dips. However, be sure it is on the low setting to avoid scratches on your vehicle. - For the final procedure, wash your car with soap and water. To ensure that your car’s paint is not scratched or dented, spray with isopropyl alcohol and wash it with car soap. Then, dry your car using a microfiber towel.
Another Article You may Like: https://curateview.com/wrapping-car-pros-cons/
Technique 2: Using WD-40 to remove Plasti Dip
Before using such sprays, you may want to protect yourself from any irritations or toxicities that may arise. Wear protective gears such as a safety mask to avoid any possible inhalation of chemicals and a pair of rubber gloves to avoid skin contact with the chemical.
- WD-40 can be found here. Preferably, it is better if you will buy the spray bottle so you can apply it easier and evenly to the vehicle surface.
You may also use any gum loosening or Plasti dip removal spray or goo dissolver to remove the Plasti dip from wheels. - If you do not want to a WD-40 spray, get a paper towel or a microfiber towel and rub the substance onto the Plasti dip and gradually move in a circular motion to easily remove it.
- Leave the WD-40 and let sit in for 5 minutes before wiping off. To avoid scraping your car’s surface, use a plastic razor and lightly put pressure to sweep off the leftover Plasti Dip.
I don't recommend using a metal razor or paint scraper since they are more likely to cause damage to your car. - After scraping, wash your vehicle with soap and water. Ensure that you did not accidentally put WD-40 on the sensitive parts of your vehicle such as the brakes.
If there are still small bits of Plasti Dip remaining, get a cloth and damp it with warm water then carefully scrub them off.
Technique 3: Using paint thinner as an alternative to remove Plasti Dip
Before you start, make sure to bring your vehicle to a well-ventilated area. You don't want to get suffocated and nauseous due to its strong odor. Also, for safety measures, wear a pair of gloves to avoid skin irritation caused by the chemical.
- Get plenty of paper towels and soak them in the paint thinner. You may start by completely soaking 2 or 3 paper towels first in the container of thinner.
- Unlike the earlier methods, you won’t need to scrape the surface immediately; instead, you just need to lay the paper towels flat onto the Plasti Dips. You can use plastic clips to hold the paper towels in place by fastening them into the car’s frame.
- Allow the soaked paper towels to sit in the Plasti Dip surface. You may wait for a few minutes and observe until the paper towels absorb the color of the Plasti Dip. At this point, the Plasti Dip is already easy to remove.
- Carefully lift the paper towels away from the car’s surface. You may want to transfer the soaked towels on the other part of the car with Plasti Dip to speed up the removal process. I suggest that you soak the towels again in the thinner before laying them on the Plasti Dip surface.
- To remove the Plasti Dip thoroughly, use a drywall scraper and slide it under the Plasti Dip to easily remove it. Wipe the excess trimming using another paper towel soaked in thinner to ensure that there is no Plasti Dip fragment left on the car’s surface.
- Repeat the same procedure throughout the car's surface. Soak, scrape, and remove each fragment of Plasti Dip you can see over the vehicle’s surface. You may want to continually soak paper towels and treat the same area until the Plasti Dip is removed.
- Finally, just like any other method, wash your car with soap and water. Make sure that you use a car-safe soap and wash your car fully to rinse off the thinner or any chemical you have applied to it. Your car must look like its original form just like before.
You want to know The Average Window Tinting Prices
James is a certified auto technician specializing in commercial vehicles. With 30 years of experience under his belt, James has encountered almost every type of automotive issue there is! Besides his day job at the repair shop, he is also an amateur race car driver.