One of the best features of my stickers is that they are waterproof and dishwasher-safe. Because they are made with vinyl and several layers of material, they are very durable.
BUT of course, there is a catch – they must be applied properly in order to withstand the elements. Today I’m going to share my best tips for applying stickers to maximize their durability.
First, let’s talk surfaces. Stickers stick best to flat, smooth, non-porous surfaces – these maximize the surface area the adhesive has to stick to and minimize opportunities for water, oil, or other contaminants to sneak in. Avoid things like powder-coated water bottles, ridged or bumpy surfaces, untreated wood, or device cases with a grippy, rubbery texture.
Next, let’s go through the application steps, which inadvertently and serendipitously are brought to you by the letter “P”:
- Prep your surface. Clean it with soap and hot water, and dry thoroughly. You can also use a disinfecting wipe, or an alcohol wipe if it’s not plastic or acrylic. The important thing you’re going for is a clean, dry surface so the sticker’s adhesive sticks to the surface itself, as opposed to dust or oils left on from handling.
- Peel your sticker. Do this carefully, and handle the adhesive part as little as possible. If you struggle to find a spot to peel, gently bend a corner back and forth to dislodge the backing a tad.
- Place the sticker onto the surface. Start with the center of the sticker and slowly push and press outward. This will minimize bubbles and wrinkles.
- Push, press, and smooth the sticker outward from the center until the whole thing is completely adhered.
Bonus tips:
- Plan ahead! You can re-position a sticker if you need to, but it is always best to place it one time. Every time you peel off and re-place, you lose some of the adhesion ability.
- If you mess up, quickly and gently peel the sticker off and re-place. You have a short window of time to do this.
- While layering stickers can look cool, it impacts the top sticker’s staying power. As much as possible, keep stickers on the base surface and avoid layering, unless you are okay with a sticker not lasting as long.
Although no sticker is going to be as permanently, forever, all-enduringly waterproof, as say, Flex Tape or a ship’s hull, applying a sticker properly will prolong its life. You’ll get to enjoy the personalization on your tumbler through several dishwasher runs, your favorite motivational quote on your work laptop until you get that upgrade you really needed 2 upgrade cycles ago, and your perfectly-curated Kindle case from the first to final book in your favorite series.
Happy sticking!
Lemon Press Studio 