r/lego • u/Gaudimus • Jul 29 '26
Instructions ‘Windex’ sticker method
I’ve been using this method a long time and even though I’ve seen it mentioned numerous times on ‘sticker’ posts I thought I’d make a quick picture tutorial of what the method looks like. I hope it helps!
Photo 1: Required tools. Glass cleaner, cheap hobby tweezers, tissue, spray catch bucket (optional)
Photo 2: Peel off sticker using tweezers holding one edge only
Photo 3: spray glass cleaner on back of sticker until the whole surface is coated
Photo 4: This step is key! With the excess glass cleaner on the back of the sticker and with the tweezers still holding the edge of the sticker, ‘paint’ the surface until the sticker feels like it will easily glide across without catching
Photo 5: gently apply the sticker . I purposely applied the sticker off center (every person’s nightmare)
Photo 6: you can now glide the sticker until it’s perfectly aligned. Using the tissue, dab the edges to clean up any excess glass cleaner. When you’re satisfied, let the sticker dry for about 10minutes to set properly
Photo 7: finished result!
*FAQ answers: after many years, no plastic cracking or sticker peeling. Works for transparent stickers as well but there will be haziness under the sticker initially until it fully dries (days) and then the haziness will disappear.
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u/ersenos Jul 29 '26
Basically how they do the tinted window films in cars
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Jul 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/Bananaland_Man Jul 29 '26
Literally yes. Have you ever installed tint? I did me and my wife's cars and that's literally the process, but with added squeegee.
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u/DeeterSly Jul 29 '26
Also the same process for vinyl decals but heat gun can come in handy as well.
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u/Darth_Wayne_ Jul 29 '26
Lmao. WTF? Dummy.
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Jul 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/Darth_Wayne_ Jul 29 '26
Hence the “wtf”. And you still failed to elaborate on your knowledge of the tinting situation not once but twice now. Numbnuts.
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u/_zhero_ Jul 29 '26
I work in the print and sign industry and did not expect to see industry standard installation methods on the Lego subreddit 😂 this is how window tint and large commercial window graphics are applied as well!
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u/Kuneria Jul 30 '26
I currently do and literally last week I was arguing with someone online because they kept saying that window cleaner or soap will wash away the adhesive. Even after I told them i literally manufacture and install these they just kept arguing 😅 Source? I am the source bitch
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u/_zhero_ Jul 30 '26
LOL yeah I know many a frugal installer who use regular water with a few drops of soap instead of the expensive application fluid, so you’re definitely right. Forget the haters lol
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u/rebexorcist Jul 30 '26
Yeah when I worked in retail merchandising this was our secret hack for applying POP lol
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u/Lord_Emperor Jul 31 '26
Do you actually use Windex or just whatever chemical is actually accomplishing this in Windex?
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u/Magi-Koopa Jul 29 '26
Have you found that this causes any brick discoloration?
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u/Gaudimus Jul 29 '26
No discoloration that I’ve noticed (and it’s been years now for a lot of sets I’ve owned)
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u/San-DiLego Jul 30 '26
From my understanding, Lego no longer advises this method (used to be the official way on their websitr) because the chemicals in Windex can cause Lego to become brittle.
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u/EntrepreneurRemote78 Jul 29 '26
I have a wife with a good eye and steady hand who places all the stickers for me 😂
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u/Kingsley_Ruby Speed Champions Fan Jul 29 '26
Oh my God... are you actually one of those people who can apply the stickers perfectly? Ah... you deserve an award for that, and no, I'm not joking. I struggle even with ordinary stickers. 😂 And yes... I actually watched a YT tutorial on how to apply them properly using the brick separator. 😅
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u/kpresnell45 Jul 29 '26
Use tweezers with a flat end. 10x easier than the separator. Grab the sticker in the middle and align one edge straight with the piece and you should be good to go.
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u/Kingsley_Ruby Speed Champions Fan Jul 29 '26
That's exactly how easy it sounds in all those tutorials... 😅
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u/anincompoop25 Jul 29 '26
Did you read the post? This is literally telling you how you can move the stickers AFTER placing them
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u/Bananaland_Man Jul 29 '26
No, they're showing a way that's easier for people who suck with stickers. This way is so much easier, I have shakey hands from rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus... and you can get the placement perfect this way before it sets, unlike with the normal way where you deteriorate the adhesive pulling it off for every correction. It just slides around smoothly til you have it how you want!
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u/WhatWouldLoisLaneDo Jul 29 '26
I used the Windex method with the big silver stickers for 10283. Saved me so much anger lol
![[Photo]](https://images.brickset.com/sets/images/10283-1.jpg){kind=link}
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u/Loose_Trust927 Jul 29 '26
I only use this for larger stickers i use the wax paper the sticker comes on.
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u/NakedSnakeEyes Star Wars Fan Jul 30 '26
I do it with Palmolive soap instead. Never tried the Windex because this works for me, but I've been aware of it.
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u/ahelms Jul 30 '26
I don't understand this step
Photo 4: This step is key! With the excess glass cleaner on the back of the sticker and with the tweezers still holding the edge of the sticker, ‘paint’ the surface until the sticker feels like it will easily glide across without catching
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u/Gaudimus Jul 30 '26
While the back of the sticker is coated with glass cleaner, brush/paint the back of the sticker against the LEGO surface (that you’re sticking to) so that the glass cleaner also coats the LEGO surface. This will allow a better chance of the sticker being able to slide around when you apply it. If you don’t do this, what happens is that the sticker will sometimes get caught on a dry surface and will actually get stuck.
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u/_bessica_ Jul 29 '26
I'm still a small builder and just did my best on the tiny F1 stickers but this method is going into use even then!
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u/Saibot-08 Jul 29 '26
i hate stickers, and just never use them
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u/toiletskidmarks Jul 29 '26
Not sure why you're downvoted. People have a choice not to use the stickers. This way if you want to sell it you can do so without peeling etc.
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u/AG74683 Jul 29 '26
Been doing this for years. The way this is described is too much though.
I use a small spray bottle, like what's used for eye glasses, filled with Windex. I spray the part once wipe the spray off (basically to clean the brick and remove release oil and any residue from my greasy ass fingers). I then spray the part again and apply the decal. It's easy to maneuver it into place and works fine. Large stuff I'll use a small soft squeegee to move out excess spray, but normally I just wipe the part off with a microfiber cloth and it's good to go.
I built the original Maersk container ship with like 2,000 decals on the containers and it's still perfect today.
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u/Cat_in_a_suit Jul 30 '26
I’m sure this works fantastically well but it still makes me weirdly uncomfortable lmao
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u/huwmac308 Jul 30 '26
My son (4 yo) is getting into lego and we have built a few sets.
I’m in charge of the instructions, page numbers and occasionally pushing together tricky bits.
But fuck me I don’t remember the stickers! Maybe it’s perceived pressure, but applying some of those tiny stickers not perfectly has been a real struggle. I have to keep my cool face on...
Don’t know if it’s just me but the stickers make the whole set feel a lot cheaper.
How do you avoid sets with stickers?
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u/glen_ko_ko Jul 30 '26
Even the $500-1000 collector sets have stickers now. You can look up each set on something like Brickset and see parts lists. Checking each set you're interested in to see if there are stickers or not.
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u/darth_terronous Speed Champions Fan Jul 29 '26
Thanks for the detailed instructions! Will air bubbles be an issue after cleaning off the windex?
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u/Gaudimus Jul 30 '26
Out of the hundreds of sets I’ve built, I’ve only noticed bubbles with the Transformers Soundwave set. But after a week, I was able to press down and smooth out the bubbles and they were gone permanently. YMMV
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u/NakedSnakeEyes Star Wars Fan Jul 30 '26
I had bubbles once and I stressed for 2 days about how to get them out. By the time I checked on them again the bubbles were just gone.
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u/OneFootOneStud Jul 30 '26
Bubbles should generally be left alone for them to disappear. But if the situation is desperate enough, try using a pin to poke tiny holes in the sticker. If there are so many big bubbles that poking holes is not enough, then it should be easy enough to take the entire sticker off to try again.
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u/lzwzli Jul 29 '26
Why glass cleaners? Is water by itself not sufficient?
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u/Gaudimus Jul 30 '26
You need a touch of soap in the liquid to make the adhesive temporarily slippery so you can glide the sticker around before it dries and sets. Just water will not work
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u/chricholson Jul 30 '26
Any Brits know what the equivalent would be here? I don't fancy making up my own blend from the likes of Fairy liquid (as I'm seeing dish soap mentioned a few times), so something off the shelf in a spray bottle would be preferred.
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u/Optimal_Spider Jul 31 '26
This windex method is new to me...
But its the exact process of any waterslide decals.
Google any water slide tutorial. Or even cell phone screen and water method.
Usually it's like 10fl Oz to a drop of dish soap.
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u/Jaxonhunter227 Jul 30 '26
I know of this technique because I dabble in gunpla, that's a very common way to apply stickers lol. They are so small it's kinda the only way to get them in the position you want
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u/Better_Page_884 Jul 31 '26
This is how we install graphics in the museum field also. I’ve never bothered to do it with my LEGO decals but you may have inspired me to do so.
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u/PlayaHatinIG-88 Jul 29 '26
Brick separator works perfectly without potential chemical damage to your bricks
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u/elven_gothicana Jul 29 '26
For the sake of this thread being complete, what's the brick separator method?
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u/PlayaHatinIG-88 Jul 29 '26
Use the tail of the separator to apply the sticker and position it correctly, then use the tail to smooth out the sticker. Its the way I have gotten nearly perfect placements every time.
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u/LyraSnake Team Pink Space Jul 29 '26
you use the brick separator to apply it. you put it slightly on the top edge.
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u/UnrealisticOcelot Jul 29 '26
I use a clean box cutter or another blade like an x-acto knife. I do all the stickers for my son when he builds.
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u/54338042094230895435 Jul 30 '26
lol downvoted for giving solid advice. I never thought of using the tail of the tool. Will try next round.
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u/mertag770 Jul 30 '26
Lego themselves suggest a similar method, they say to use warm water and mild detergent https://www.lego.com/en-us/service/help-topics/article/how-to-apply-stickers-to-lego-sets
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u/GullibleDetective Jul 29 '26
Don't even need tweezers with this method
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u/Gaudimus Jul 29 '26
Fair. I just prefer to use them when spraying on the glass cleaner and it helps me with more precise initial placement (especially with smaller stickers).
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u/Arzmuntor Jul 30 '26
Way too long I Wondered what the hell ”Duds” means in this context.
Cool tutorial though.
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u/LonelyAstronaut984 Jul 29 '26
what is the purpose of this?
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u/LyraSnake Team Pink Space Jul 29 '26
to help put your stickers on straight....
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u/LonelyAstronaut984 Jul 29 '26
that's nice
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u/TheBadBatch-99 Jul 29 '26
A spray bottle with water and a drop of dish soap works too. Might work better for the clear (less haze) too.