How to Apply Bin Stickers Properly
- Tasha
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever spoken to me about stickers, you’ll know I bang on about using the right materials a lot!
Using good-quality vinyl that’s designed to last really matters, it performs better, it’s better for the environment, and it avoids the whole replace-it-too-soon cycle.
But the next thing I go on about, almost as much, is application. Even the best material in the world won’t perform properly if it’s applied badly.
So, after years of explaining this over emails, phone calls and in our instructional booklets we send with orders, I’ve finally made my screen debut and recorded a clear, step-by-step video showing how to apply bin stickers properly.
There’s no right and wrong way of doing this, every installer has their own method but explaining it to someone who doesn’t do it every day for a job, this method works… and at the end, we show you a quicker way for when you build confidence up.
Why correct bin sticker application matters
Most bin sticker failures we see aren’t down to the material. They come from:
Dirty or greasy surfaces
Cold or damp conditions
Rushing the job
Sticking first and lining up later
None of these are dramatic mistakes, but they all shorten the life of the sticker. And when bins are out in the real world, being dragged, washed, knocked and generally abused, every little detail counts.
What the video shows
In the video, I walk through the full bin sticker application process, including:
Cleaning the bin surface properly
Removing dirt, residue and grease so the adhesive can bond as intended.
Measuring and positioning the sticker first
Taking a moment to line things up before committing.
Peeling the backing correctly
Avoiding stretching the vinyl or trapping air.
Applying the sticker smoothly and evenly
Working steadily, with consistent pressure.
Fixing small creases if something goes wrong
The vinyl is forgiving, you can lift and reapply if needed, as long as you take your time.
This is a method we use ourselves, and it’s designed to give the sticker the best possible chance of lasting long-term.
Conditions make a difference
Applying bin stickers in cold, wet or rushed conditions will always reduce adhesion. If you can apply them in dry conditions and at a reasonable temperature, you’re setting yourself up for a far better result.
Not just for bin stickers
Although this video focuses on bin sticker application, the same approach works for other flat, smooth surfaces, including panels, boards and signage.
When applied properly, they really can take some stick
If you’ve seen our Sticker Watch posts, you’ll know we put our stickers through their paces... kicking, scraping, soaking and generally abusing them far more than most bins ever will.
Those tests use our standard bin sticker material, and when it’s applied properly, it really can take some stick. That’s why we bang on about application just as much as materials.
Put simply: our stickers aren’t quitters, especially when they’re applied properly.
See more on our Sticker Watch YouTube channel
If you have any questions, or if you’d like a squeegee added to your order, just let us know. I’d much rather answer questions upfront than see good stickers fail early.
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