How to apply bin stickers

What you need

• The sticker, still on its backing, and the application tape if it was supplied.
• Warm water, dishwashing detergent, and a clean cloth.
• Isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits for the final wipe. Skip this if the council bin is so old the plastic is chalky and crumbling.
• A squeegee or a plastic card, and a pin for any trapped bubble.

Prepare the bin

1. Choose a flat area on the lid or the front face. Avoid the hinge, the handle recess, ribs that flex, and anywhere the lid rubs when it closes. See where to label a wheelie bin.
2. Wash that area with detergent and water. Bin plastic holds grease from kitchen bags and road film.
3. Rinse and dry. Then wipe with alcohol and wait until it has flashed off. Moisture under vinyl turns into a bubble later.
4. Apply in the shade, above about 10°C. Hot plastic in full sun makes vinyl grab too fast. A cold morning makes it stiff.

Apply the vinyl

1. Hold the sticker in place with a small piece of tape at the top, or hinge the backing so you can see the position.
2. Peel the backing slowly and press the vinyl down with the squeegee from the centre outward.
3. Work around numbers and letters so you do not stretch them. Stretching a digit makes it curl later.
4. If a bubble remains, prick it with a pin and press the air out. Do not slice a long cut.
5. Wait at least 24 hours before the bin goes through a wash or a collection cycle.

If it will not stick

Chalky, sun-burnt plastic and textured anti-slip panels are poor surfaces. Move the sticker to smoother plastic, or lightly sand only if you are sure you are not removing a council serial that you still need. Do not cover a barcode or serial the council uses for the bin asset if that mark is still readable and official. A house number sticker sits beside it, not over it.