“How to remove plasti dip? Hmmm, what a tricky question! To be honest, it has been driving me nuts for weeks on end! How on earth can I get rid of this dip as quickly as possible?”
Relax, mate! We are all on the same boat here! Plasti dip, without a doubt, makes car geeks fall head over hills with its awesome and flexible range of applications, as well as the eye-catching and trendy look it brings to our “babes”.
However, the removal process of these stubborn guys is a real pain in the neck as they refuse to come out quickly! So, what are the options?
“Drive to a mechanic and let an expert take care of it?”
Apart from losing quite a bit amount of money and becoming a useless husband-to-be in your girlfriend’s eyes, that option sounds fine!
Let make things clear! Removing plasti dip is neither difficult nor easy-peasy, but you can totally nail this task by following our detailed step-by-step instructions below!
How To Define Plasti Dip?
Let’s start with the basics first! Those of you gearheads can skip this part, but for the future-to-be ones, it’s essential to know exactly what you are dealing with.
Due to its satisfying insulation capabilities, plasti dip is well-known among car fans for enhancing their “babies” grip and stopping them from slipping dangerously. There are three main applications of this material: brushing, dipping, and spraying directly onto the surface.
So why is plastic dip so famous among car geeks?
Let’s answer this question first: “Can you swear on your life that you don’t secretly peek at those stunning car tires?” Oh man, that gorgeous new coat is all thanks to this plasti dip, bringing out an impressive and “fashionista” look.
How To Remove Plasti Dip?
Here’s the part we’re all looking for – the secret of getting rid of this irritating bastard and bring back the spotlight!
Peel it all off
Roll up your sleeves and get to work!Hang on a minute! This only works for the correct applied layers of plasti dip, sadly. The more even the coatings are, the easier it is for you to peel them all off at once.
This manual method offers two most significant advantages: no chemicals required and saving the car’s paint from potential damages.
So we’d better complete the task the right way!
- First, lift a corner of the body panel up
- Then, remove more prominent pieces of plasti dip and avoid breaking into smaller pieces
- Finally, pick out those remaining smaller bits and enjoy a flawless look
Goo Gone comes to the rescue
Finding no hope with the peeling-it-off method above? Let’s Goo Gone be your lifesaver this time!
This substance works magically by turning those hard-shell coatings of plastic dip into a sticker and softer one, making it more effortless to remove by a towel made from microfiber.
Here is how the process should be done:
- Spray Goo Gone on the targeted areas
- Wait for 5 minutes to let the substance do its magic
- Wipe off clean by a microfiber towel
It’s advisable to give your car a thorough bath with soap and water after applying Goo Gone to ensure no sticky marks remain behind. Next, consider putting on a new coat of wax to not only polish the car’s look but also preserve its paint.
Make use of WD-40
There is hardly anything that can beat WD-40 in plasti dip removal. This guy is a must-have item in any garages and for loads of DIY projects!
Get yourself familiar with this terrific multipurpose lubricant through the step-by-step guideline below!
Required equipment
- Rubber gloves
- A spray bottle
- Scrapers with plastic blades
- Towels (Soft microfiber type)
- Car soap and sponge
Let’s start with the detailed process:
Suit up
Ensure your hands are all covered with the rubber gloves. No matter how effective it is, WD-40 is still a chemical substance. Thus, exposing your skin to it is a not-a-very-smart choice.
Poor WD-40 into the spray bottle
Usually, a box of WD-40 goes with a wand-like nozzle. If the number of adhesive needs to be removed is huge and time is limited, a standard spray nozzle makes the work much faster.
Begin spraying
Let’s get wet by spraying carefully on the plasti dip areas on your car. Afterward, use microfiber towels to rub gently to speed up the peeling-off process.
Apply WD-40 only around the surfaces you wish to tackle and don’t go too far and too broad. This lubricant isn’t proven to affect your car’s performance, but “prevention is better than cure.”
Rest for 5 minutes
Leave the car dry for 5 minutes and let the adhesive perform its surprising tricks.
Wipeout everything
Continue using microfiber towels to wipe out all the remaining of WD-40. For more headstrong pieces, take out your weapon immediately – plastic-blade scrapers – to scrape them lightly.
Again, resist yourself from using too much force as it is likely to leave permanent marks on your beloved car!
Remember to scrape with all your heart!
Go for a bath
We didn’t mean you are going for a shower, duhhh! That’s your car we are talking about!
Fill up the bucket with warm water mixed with soap and clean the car inside out. Check the surface after washing to know whether it still feels sticky under your touch. If yes, the work is not finished yet! Keep spraying water!
Try out Isopropyl alcohol
Similar to wines, Isopropyl alcohol has a fantastic solvent ability to dissolve organic matters. Therefore, it can be utilized as the most hassle-free and safest method for getting rid of the rubber coating in your car’s rims.
- Poor Isopropyl alcohol into a towel (not the whole bottle, just a suitable amount)
- Clean the rims with the towel
- Let it rest for at least 5 – 7 minutes
- Peel the layers off by hands or by a microfiber towel
- Let it rest for another 5 – 7 minutes
- Wash the rim with clean water and leave it dry
Go for Paint Thinner
There is a reason we delay mentioning this method until now as Paint Thinner should be the last resort if nothing works.Why so?
Paint Thinner is quite a powerful substance that not only removes plasti dip but also the car’s clear coat, which protects the paint. Thus, think twice before jumping up to any rush decisions since there is no undone to it.
With Paint Thinner, don’t mess around and follow these steps strictly to have your car come back in one piece!
- Apply a small amount of Paint Thinner on a rag
- Put the rag on the plasti dip areas for a few seconds
- Clean the adhesive right away
- Wash the car thoroughly
- Put on a layer of wax
One warning: Don’t let the Paint Thinner stay on your car for too long than a few seconds. The last thing you want is to see is your car’s clear coat being eaten away helplessly and pay a fortune to have it fixed at a mechanic’s.
Commonly Asked Questions
Is it possible to remove plasti dip from car wheels?
Should we wash clean plasti dip for reuse?
There is a wise man saying: “No man ever steps in the same river twice!” Reusing plasti dip after disposal is almost impossible as it may break into pieces under the impact of the removal process.But it all comes down to your decision! Since this rubber coating is vulnerable, remember to alter the water pressure and measure the amount of chemicals applied carefully.
Also, make it a habit of checking your car daily for any sight of animals’ dropping. Under the sun, especially the extreme summer heat, these droppings can become a long-lasting unique “touch” on your car’s dazzling coat!
Is only car washing enough to dispose of plasti dip?
How about putting a new coat of plasti dip over the old one?
What Is The Expected Longevity Of Plasti Dip?
Thanks to its rubber origin, plasti dip is exceptionally durable and long-lasting, up to 3 years at most. To acquire this guaranteed result, you need to perform at least 4 to 5 layers and leave them dry for 6 hours.That seems like lots of hard work, doesn’t it? Now you know getting rid of plasti dip is easier said than done!
What Are The Common Problems With Plasti Dip?
“It’s just a rubber coating! How difficult could it be to take out plasti dip?”Oh well, we can only hope that it’s as easy as you said!
The layers are super thin and patchy
If you mess up with the plasti-dipping process at the beginning, beware of crying in misery and seeing your babe spotted all over like one of the 101 Dalmatians!
Uneven application of this substance is likely to make thinner layers stuck annoyingly. Besides, applying too much force while scraping only makes the matter worse – an ugly scratchy surface on your car!
Countless tiny pieces refuse to go down with the ship
Imagine you and your microscope spend forever under the moonlight looking for those tiny bits left behind to ensure a spotless look for a hangout tomorrow!
What To Resist Yourself From Doing?
Before diving deeper into this ultimate guide of plasti dip removal, let’s have a look at what we shouldn’t do to prevent further more terrifying damages to the car!“Practice” scraping your car with sharp scrapers
It’s not the right time for a muscle-show-off competition, for God’s sake! Stop hurting your car with those evil crazily sharp scrapers’ blades. Even if you win the game, are all these awful and monstrous scratches like a horror scene happening right there worth the risk? I guess not!
Apply powerful chemicals
It’s not uncommon to have 1 or 2 bottles of cleaning chemicals in store. Once again, applying those strong chemicals onto the car’s surface may either remove the plasti dip or cause irreversible damage to your car.
So are you ready to put your thousand-dollar car up for an experiment? If it didn’t go according to plan, all you need is a Thanos’ finger snap!
Moreover, don’t act smart and come up with your own plasti dip removal method by mixing those toxic chemicals together! You may not live long enough to drive your beautiful babe.
Final Call
We hope you guys can take something from this exclusive guide about How to remove plasti dip and make it come in handy one day!
Now it’s time to unleash your imagination and creativity to bring glory and spotlight to your car without worrying about the aftermaths. Stay loyal to our instructions, snap your finger and make the plasti dip disappear in the blink of an eye!
Peter Levick
ArchitectI am a licensed architect who is passionate about all things home improvement industries, I have been doing DIY painting projects and have developed lots of experience around home improvement over the 10 years.
