How to Remove Decals From Your RV

If your RV has taken you on many adventures and been in your family for a while, chances are the sun and weather have taken a toll on it and your decals are cracking, peeling and look quite unsightly. Cleaning up your RV's decals can help make your RV look more attractive and give you a little boost in terms of getting excited about your RV. The more you care for your stuff, the easier it is to love what you're doing. It's kind of like having a well decorated home. If your home is nice and inviting, both inside and out, you'll love coming home to it. The same principle applied to your RV.

Removing decals from your RV is easy, but requires patience so you don't scratch your unit.

Straight Edge | Use something with a straight edge to gently roll up the edges of the decal. This might include a plastic knife (don't use the serrated edge), a credit card, or even a pan scraper (these can be purchased at the grocery store). At the edge of your decal scrape up with some force. If your decal is cracked you can use the cracks as a guide to section out your decal and break the job into smaller pieces.

Optional | You could try using a heat gun set on low to loosen decals, but this comes with a risk of scorching the pain or body of your RV. This is only recommended if you're experienced with using a heat gun. Razors are another option, but you must be skilled enough to not only avoid scratching your RV, but also your fingers!

Clean the Area | One the decals have been removed, clean the area to remove any residue that might be left over. Affordable options include trying rubbing alcohol or baby oil. There are several chemicals out there that might get the job done like Goo Gone or mineral spirits. Be sure to call the manufacturer before you use these on your RV as they might not be appropriate to use on your particular paint type.

Apply New Decals | Before applying your new decals make sure any dust and dirt is cleaned. Place your decals before adhering to test where you want them. Once you've decided, follow the manufacturers instructions on adhering. To avoid air bubbles try using any of the scraping tools mentioned above to smooth the surface and remember, don't rush this! Slow and steady wins the race.

Photo Credit: By András Bögöly from Győr, Hungary (Feather Safety Razor Blade) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons