3m Adhesive Remover

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past 20 years, 3M adhesive remover is a well known product and one used by both professionals and non-professionals alike.

When it comes to the world of professional auto detailing, no serious detailer will be without some form of adhesive remover.

But adhesive removers are not just reserved for the professional, but most car owners in general will find themselves in need of an adhesive remover at some point.

3M Adhesive Remover:
A really good adhesive remover

3M General Adhesive Remover on Amazon

• Professional grade 
• Safe for any factory paint, well-cured repaint, fabrics, vinyl
• Use as a label adhesive remover
• Chewing gum remover
  
• Road tar remover
• Thick grease remover
• Name brand product (see below for my preferred recommendation)
  

Adhesive Remover: My Personal Favorite

I accept that most people default to any product that has a bigger "brand recognition" and very few companies can compete with 3M on that.

With that said, I do not rely on 3M but was introduced to a professional grade adhesive remover from one of my customers in the professional decal industry:

Rapid Remover

Rapid Remover on Amazon

• More effective than any other adhesive remover I have tested
• Water soluble (rinses off with basic water)
• Comes with "tools" that will help your adhesive removal project
• I use this in both exterior and interior applications
• Adhesives, tar removal, gum removal, thick grease, etc.
  

The Many Uses of Rapid Remover

As I stated above, I was introduced to this product by a customer who owned a professional sign and decal shop.

Originally I only used it as per the labeling instructions but like so many of the innovations i have made in the detailing community, I began testing this product for what is called 'off-label" uses.

I realized this product was superior to not only other adhesive removers, but also superior to heavy duty degreasers in dissolving thick oil and grease.

Adhesive Remover and Exterior Detailing Tasks

Bumper Sticker Adhesive: When it comes to removing bumper stickers or decals in general, there will always be (2) layers. The first layer must be peeled off first. Adhesive removers such as this 3M adhesive remover is just that....for the removal of adhesive, not the sticker itself. The top layer is a different animal all together.

• You can use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat up top layer as this will often aid in the removal of the top layer.
• Once the top layer of the decal or bumper sticker has been removed, now you can follow directions on the adhesive remover to remove residual adhesive.

Road Tar Removal: Road tar is a common problem when it comes to cars and asphalt roads and streets. If you find the lower panels (rocker panels) of your car have a splatter effect of black or dark brown material that does not wash off, chances are it is road tar that has been kicked up onto your car directly behind the wheels.

Use this adhesive remover to safely dissolve and remove road tar from your car's paint.

Chewing Gum Removal: Yes, as  professional detailer, I often find chewing gum along the lower rocker panels of many cars.

When the temperature becomes excessively hot out-doors, any chewing gum laying on the ground from some disrespectful individual will become very gooey from the heat, and will get flung up onto the side of your car if driven through.

This adhesive remover will also prove very effective at safely removing chewing gum from the exterior of your car.

Paint Overspray/Spills: This product will not be effective on automotive paint overspray, but when it comes to latex paint, it will be very effective. Think of latex paint as traditional house paint (exterior or interior house paint). And this can show-up in a few cases: latex paint that was spilled out onto the roads and has now kicked-up onto your car rocker panels.

Engine Degreasing: I even use this product to pre-treat a dirty engine by spraying this full strength (cool engine only) onto heavily soiled areas of the engine where heavy dirt/oil/grease have built up.

Paint spills if you have spilled latex paint inside your car, in the trunk, in your truck bed, etc.

Adhesive Remover and Interior Detailing Tasks

Chewing Gum: While I am sure you would never throw your chewing gum onto the ground, that other person out there will....and you will eventually step in it.

After removing the major "chunk" of chewing gum by hand, I then use the Rapid Remover to let it dissolve the residue form the chewing gum and then wipe up. This usually takes a few repeat applications to fully remove the chewing gum.

Oil and Grease: Often you will find a big wad of grease from some unknown source that has suddenly shown up in your car's interior.

For heavy duty grease or oil, most interior car shampoos will prove only slightly effective. This is the time to reach for the Rapid Remover adhesive remover that will prove far more effective.

Interior Window Decals: Often there are different types of decals stuck to the various interior windows or windshield that you want to remove. These are typically in the form of factory applied warning stickers or labels stuck to the inside windows.

After peeling off the top layer of any of the window stickers, use the Rapid Remover to clean the residue off the glass.

3M Adhesive Remover Summary

Even though I know the 3M adhesive remover "works", I simply prefer the Rapid Remover as what I could label as my "all-purpose adhesive remover" that goes way past just an adhesive remover but a pre-spotter for heavy grease and oil cleaning tasks of detailing.

It is one of my best secrets as a professional detailer that has allowed me to be far more efficient when cleaning, while producing better results.

I hope you experience the same benefits I have if you decide to try something new!

Sincerely,

Darren Priest

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