I have used a jet wash before, but its messy as the stickers break up and go everywhere, maybe try one of the plastic applicators they use when installing them to pick them off?
hot air gun .plastic spatular.heavyduty degreaser/petrol to remove the residue then once over with the buffer and g3 compound and will look like new. nice hot water soak for the hands after !!
Thanks for all the tips, still around half the van to go so will try to pick up a plastic spatula to save my poor fingers. Don't think I need to rush as the new van looks like being delayed thought they were struggling to sell vans these days.
Having done this myself, the best thing for removing labels is a stanley blade, just make sure you blunt the blade and corners beforehand so you don't damage paint. You can also buy sticky label remover from a few places, I think Maplin stock it, to remove any left over goo.
Hair dryer isn't hot enough, get a proper stripper and move it about a lot. The hotter the stickers/glue gets the less residue you will leave behind, using a hairdryer means that you remove the stickers and then spend another few hours removing the glue.
Boiling hot water poured on stickers - it softens the glue faster and is easier to peel!! You will need plenty of water though and do it a little at a time.
A sticker lad taught me that trick - far quicker/easier than hot air gun etc...
A tip as I am doing exactly the same job but with 6 vans. Use a wallpaper steamer. Leave the steamer on for 10/15 seconds, it just peels off like it has no glue on whatsoever. brilliant.
