The thing about trends in the auto industry is that they will always fade away. Some fade away sooner than others but at the end of it all, no car trend is destined to last forever.
Pinstripes are an example of a car trend that drove car owners crazy a couple of years ago. However, now it’s no longer popular.
You may have been a fan of pinstripes back in the day and now you don’t feel the same way about them. Or, you may have bought a used car with pinstripes and they don’t look so appealing to you and that’s why you are interested in removing them.
Most car owners are afraid of removing pinstripes because they are afraid that it may damage car paint.
However, there are a couple of ways you can remove painted pinstripes from cars without interfering with the paint job.
Before we list the most effective ways to get rid of painted pinstripes, let’s look at what they are so that you can understand why some removal methods will work and others won’t.
What are Pinstripes?
These are thin decorative stripes that can be stuck or painted on a car. Their role is to beautify or customize the vehicle. Pinstripes were a popular car decoration a few years back.
And most cars to date feature pinstripes. Even though the popularity of pinstripes ended, some car owners love having them on their cars. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with having these decorative stripes on your vehicle.
However, if you feel like you have had enough of seeing pinstripes on a car. If you have bought a used car with stripes on the body, you can always remove them.
And other than removing them because of your preferences, pinstripes, if they stay on a car for too long, can harden on the car paint and make it difficult for you to remove them.
This mostly affects pinstripes that are stuck to the car using an adhesive. Such will often leave nasty marks behind. But worry not, below we are going to share ways to remove any stubborn mark.
Can I Use the Same Methods to Remove Both Painted and Vinyl Pinstripes on a Car?
We need to answer this question before we can look at the methods of removing pinstripes on a car. Earlier, when defining what pinstripes are, we mentioned that they can either be painted or stuck on the car.
Because of the different methods that these two types of pinstripes were applied on the car, the processes of removing either are also different.
Using the process of removing painted pinstripes on vinyl pinstripes won’t work efficiently and vice versa. Before you touch those pinstripes, confirm what type you are dealing with.
With the above in mind, you are now ready to remove pinstripes on your car.
Removing Painted Pinstripes from Car
There are many methods of removing painted pinstripes from a car but the most effective one is using denatured rubbing alcohol.
We aren’t usually big fans of putting rubbing alcohol on car paints but desperate calls call for desperate measures. And this is one of those cases.
To use rubbing alcohol to remove painted pinstripes from cars, you will need to grab some, then get some paper towels and a clean microfiber cloth.
The role of the towels is to help you get the rubbing alcohol only on the area where there are pinstripes.
This is essential because if rubbing alcohol runs off on car paint, you may have a bigger problem with your hands. The microfiber cloth is to be used in scrubbing the pinstripe paint off.
Having gathered all the above materials, we can start the process of removing the painted pinstripes. Here is a step-by-step guide;
• 1st step
Wash the surface to remove debris and dirt that may be on top of the painted pinstripes. As you may have assumed, this process requires some scrubbing, and if there is debris, you may end up scratching the paint. So, wash your car as you normally would and dry it.
• 2nd step
Fold paper towels on top of the pinstripe paint. Ensure that you only cover the pinstripes and not the car paint.
Depending on the design, you may have to place the towels over an area with car paint. But that shouldn’t worry you because the main goal is the pinstripe paint.
• 3rd step
The next course of action is to gently pour the rubbing alcohol on the pinstripe paint. The paper towels should be slightly saturated but shouldn’t be heavily soaked.
The main risk of the latter is that it may spread rubbing alcohol on unwanted surfaces. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes so that it can be absorbed into the painted pinstripes.
• 4th step
Remove the towels and using a microfiber cloth, start rubbing off the pinstripes. Proceed in a gentle circular motion. As you rub it off, you will realize that the paint will start to come off. Continue until all the painted pinstripe comes off.
Finalize by washing the area that had been exposed to rubbing alcohol with car wash shampoo and soap. This is done to remove traces of rubbing alcohol. Don’t forget to apply a layer of wax. And your car will be pinstripe-free.
Tips on How to Remove Painted Pinstripes from Car
It’s not always when painted pinstripes will come off easily. Depending on how long the paint has been on a car, you may face some stubborn pinstripes.
And if that’s the case, you are better off hiring a professional detailer to get rid of it. This is also an excellent option especially if you aren’t a DIY enthusiast.
Another pro tip that you should know is that other than using denatured rubbing alcohol, you can also use a high-speed buffer with some heavy compound to remove the painted pinstripes.
Though an effective method, it best suits professional detailers because a high-speed buffer, if not used well, can cut through the pinstripes as well as the car paint beneath. Forcing you to engage in repairs.
Lacquer thinner is also another excellent product that can strip painted pinstripes from a car. But then it will also strip car paint.
So, even if someone recommends it you better keep off it. You should also avoid using mineral spirits and easy-off oven cleaners. These will do more harm than good.
How Can I Remove Tape or Vinyl Pinstripes?
If you inspect the pinstripes on your car and realize that they are vinyl or tape and have been attached to the car using an adhesive, there are a couple of ways you can also use to get rid of them. They include;
1. Using a heat gun or blow dryer
This is the most popular method of removing vinyl or tape pinstripes from car paint. The heat from either of these two sources melts the adhesive and makes it easier for you to peel it off.
Using a blow dryer or heat gun, switch it on and point the heat to the beginning of the pinstripes. Gently move the gun in the direction of the pinstripes till you reach the other end.
Be very careful not to point the heat to one part for longer as it can hurt the car paint.
In between the process, you should always confirm if the tape has softened. Once it does, peel it off gently so that you can avoid damaging car paint.
There will be some adhesive stains left behind which can come off using elbow grease and car wash shampoo.
2. An electric drill and a pinstripe disc remover
There are specialized discs that remove pinstripes, a good example is the 3M Stripe Off Wheel. You can buy this at your nearest auto store and connect it to the drill, then get to work.
To get the best results, you should always loosen the vinyl pinstripe with some heat from a blow dryer. Then the disc with the help of an electric drill should remove the pinstripes.
If there are stains, an adhesive remover made for car paint should get rid of them.
3. Goo Gone
Goo Gone also makes an automotive spray gel that you can use to remove tape pinstripes on car paint. Please remember that this only works on adhesives and not painted pinstripes.
What about a Razor Blade?
Do not use razor blades on your car paint as the risk of scratching the paint is abnormally high. Razor blades are usually not very stable and can easily scratch your car paint.
There are plastic razor blades, but these are too blunt and you may waste a lot of time when using them to remove tape pinstripes.
How to Remove Rally Stripes?
Similar to pinstripes, rally stripes are mostly made of vinyl and are attached to the car using an adhesive.
You can approach the process of removal of rally stripes as you would paint pinstripes. A heat source can melt the adhesive and you can strip the stains off with an adhesive remover.