How To Apply Your Printed Custom Vinyl Stickers In 4 Easy Steps

If you’re wondering how to stick vinyl stickers, the key is to start with a clean and dry surface. Make sure to carefully position the sticker before pressing it down firmly, using a credit card or similar tool to smooth out any air bubbles. If you’re applying the sticker to a curved surface, like a water bottle or laptop, consider using a hairdryer to help the vinyl conform to the shape. With a little patience and attention to detail, you can ensure your vinyl stickers stay put and look great for years to come.

How to apply vinyl stickers in 4 steps:

Step 1: Clean the surface with a light solution of sunlight & water.
Step 2: Apply your stickers when temperatures are moderate (18 – 25 degrees)
Step 3: Use masking tape to keep your vinyl in place.
Step 4: Use the wet method for big block vinyls.

So you’ve just ordered your vinyl stickers with Printulu. They’re beautiful, and you can’t wait to put them up. But once you try to do it yourself, you turn the stickers into a crumpled mess. What a waste!

PS – If you haven’t printed vinyl (stickers) with Printulu yet and you’re not sure where to start, take a look at this blog post: How To: Design and Prepare Stickers For Print (Sticky Business)

A lot of people have asked us if we apply the stickers for our clients, and unfortunately, we don’t. At least not yet! Our senior designer can talk you through the process as she has applied thousands of stickers in the last few years.

Related: Meet The Printulu Team (Behind The Scenes of Printulu’s Success)

If you’re attempting this yourself, here’s a great tutorial that I found super helpful, and also correlates with what the professionals did at our office.

Step 1: Clean The Surface

Pre-wash the area where you’ll be applying the sticker using either soap and water or a mixture of rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) and water. After cleaning with soapy water, rinse thoroughly with water until no soap or residue remains. Do not use window-cleaning products. They may leave a residue behind, making your sticker cling less effectively.

Man cleaning window — *Add soap to the solution when you wash the surface!*

Step 2: How to Apply Vinyl Stickers When Temperatures Are Moderate

For the best results, install your stickers in a shaded area away from direct sunlight and no wind. Wind will blow dust particles under your vinyl & result in an uneven application. When possible, you should apply stickers when the temperature is above 18°C and below 25°C.

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Step 3: Use Masking Tape (Dry method)

This is super difficult and we advise that you leave it to the professionals. Masking tape can help ensure that your sticker is positioned precisely where you want it. Leaving the white backing paper in place and facing the surface you’re applying it to, set the sticker where you want it to go. Place a piece of masking tape along the top edge of the sticker—this fixes it in the proper location. Then, lift the sticker as if it’s on a hinge, and peel off the backing paper. While holding onto the bottom edge, slowly lower the sticker, using the thumb of your other hand to press from the centre out and gradually working your way from top to bottom.

Step 4: How to apply vinyl stickers use the wet method (Better for a novice)

You can apply most smaller decals without using water, but for large and very large stickers, this trick is a life-saver. After cleaning your surface area, wet the area again using a spray bottle and a solution of about 5% soap / 95% water. Apply the sticker while the area is still wet. This will keep it from adhering immediately and give you time to re-position if necessary. It also lets you remove any bubbles using a squeegee or a plastic card. The soapy water will dry in a few minutes and leave your sticker firmly affixed.