Preparation

• The surface that the sticker is being applied to must be clean, dry and not freshly painted. Dirty, wet or freshly painted surfaces will not allow the sticker to adhere properly. Washing down dirty surfaces with mild detergents and rinsing them clean with fresh water is the best way to handle heavily soiled surfaces. A final cleansing with rubbing alcohol will remove any impurities and is recommended even for previously clean surfaces.
  
  

Temperature

• The environment should be mild in temperature. If the temperature is too high, the sticker will stretch and the surface itself may be too hot, causing the glue on the sticker to melt and smear. In colder weather, the adhesive will be too stiff to adhere completely. Any temperature between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit should be suitable, but if the surface itself is cold or hot to the touch, the sticker will not be able to adhere correctly.
  
  

Handling

• Stickers will not adhere smoothly if the sticker is creased or curled. For this reason, store the stickers in flat folders or envelopes before using them. Wear gloves while handling the sticker, or at the very least, clean your hands with rubbing alcohol directly before handling the sticker to reduce the amount of oil on the skin. Oils from the skin on fingers and palms will counteract the adhesive.
  
  

Application

• The paper backing on the vinyl stickers is the only layer that should be removed. The paper layer often has a slit down the center to allow one side to be removed at a time. If it does, remove one side and then smooth the sticky backing under it onto the surface before removing the other side of the backing. This has the benefit of a smaller area of sticker to work with, leaving less room for error. Position the sticker over the surface exactly where it needs to be placed before pressing down. Removing the sticker to straighten or move it will ruin it. During adherence, smooth the sticker from one side to the other to reduce bubbles and ensure an optimal result.