To remove a badge, especially adhesive-backed badges commonly found on vehicles, you can use a simple and effective method involving dental floss.
Using dental floss allows you to safely separate the badge from the surface by cutting through the adhesive holding it in place, minimizing the risk of scratching.
Using Floss: The Core Method
This technique leverages the thin yet strong nature of dental floss to saw through the sticky backing of the badge.
Step-by-Step Removal with Floss
Follow these steps for removing an adhesive badge using floss:
- Preparation: Clean the area around the badge thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. This prevents scratching the paint or surface during the process.
- Insert Floss: Take a piece of dental floss. As shown in the reference, you can "stick the floss under there," carefully working it behind an edge of the badge. You might find that the floss "will snap a few times over," so you "might need to double up" the floss for extra strength.
- Sawing Action: Grip the ends of the floss and begin a back-and-forth sawing motion. "And go nice" and steady, slowly working the floss behind the badge. Continue the sawing motion as you move the floss along the full width or height of the badge, cutting through the adhesive.
- Removal: Once the floss has worked its way behind the entire badge, it should detach from the surface.
After Removing the Badge
After the badge is off, you'll likely have adhesive residue left on the surface.
- Adhesive Removal: Use a specialized automotive adhesive remover (like Goo Gone Automotive, WD-40, or isopropyl alcohol) to soften and gently scrape away the remaining adhesive. Plastic scraping tools are ideal for this to avoid scratching the paint.
- Clean and Polish: Once all the residue is gone, clean the area with soap and water, then dry. You may want to apply a polish or wax to protect the cleaned surface.
