How to Remove Vinyl from Walls and Doors

Remember for awhile there, when everyone was putting big, long sayings on their walls?  Bible verses and cute phrases like “Always Kiss Me Goodnight,” and “Happily Ever After?”  I had one on my kids’ bathroom wall reminding them to Brush, Rinse, Flush, Floss, and a few other things–now THAT was useful!  Anyway, I think there’s still a place for vinyl in the home, and trust me, I use lots of it still (there’s an enormous three-initial monogram on the wall above my bed, for example), but if you’re wanting to take your vinyl down in some areas to keep your decor cutting-edge :), then you may be wondering if it’s really as removable as we were promised that it is!

I’ve been waiting for warm enough weather to paint our front door.  Our house is on the rental market, as most of you guys know, and an immaculate front entry is key to curb appeal.  First step, though, was to remove my cute vinyl house numbers from the door:

 

Sadly, vinyl is removable, but not reusable, so don’t think you’re going to be able to move it somewhere else or put it back up later.

Using a hair dryer set to medium heat, warm the edge of the vinyl until a plastic spatula or putty knife can lift up the edge.  If you don’t have a putty knife, maybe a credit card, or even a razor blade?  Be careful that you don’t scratch the wall with the razor blade, though!

Working SLOWLY, peel the vinyl away.  If it starts to resist, just shoot it with the hair dryer!  Be patient and remember that it’s better to go slowly than to have to spackle a wall!

I was favorably impressed with how my door looked when the vinyl was off.  You can barely see the outline of the numbers on the right side of the door, but after I wiped it down, I realized that was dirt and/or pollen, and not adhesive residue.  I had planned to lightly sand any glue away before I painted, but it wasn’t necessary.

I forgot to snap a picture of the door after I painted and before I reapplied the vinyl, but it looked perfect.  I could easily have left the door vinyl-free, and no trace would have remained.  But, since I loved those door numbers, I cut a new set and reapplied them.  Just a side note; the font is different.  I bought the original set before I got my vinyl cutter and while I like the original font better, this one is just fine for now!

The bottom line is that the vinyl held up perfectly for almost two years, and then was easily removed without leaving a trace behind.   And while removal was slow and steady, it was also easy.  Two thumbs up!

Thanks for stopping by.