A Step-by-Step Guide on Removing Your Home’s Window Tint
You have loved your tinted windows for many years, and you want to keep them that way for a long time. But lately, you noticed a few bubbles have appeared underneath the film. You also found one of your kids slowly peeling the film until it revealed the glass underneath.
You finally decided to remove the film entirely and replace it. But how do you get rid of old and damaged residential window tint? Find out the answers in this step-by-step guide on removing your home’s window tint.
But before we begin, let’s go get some supplies. Don’t worry because you don’t really need some specialised equipment for this task, and the supplies can easily be found at home or sourced in your local hardware store.
- A pair of latex or work gloves
- A garment steamer or a hair dryer
- A utility knife or any small and thin kitchen knife
- An empty plastic spray bottle
- An ammonia cleaning solution
- Soft and clean rags
- A respirator
1. Loosen the film from the glass window
Fill your steamer with water and start steaming the window starting from the inside to loosen the film. Next, steam the outside of the tinted window.
Don’t have a garment steamer? Just use a regular hair dryer for this task. The downside of using a hair dryer instead of a steamer is that you’ll see a residue of the glue on the glass once you’ve peeled off the film.
Remember: Make sure to keep the steamer two to five centimetres away from the glass. Glass can break when you apply extreme heat to it.
2. Peel the film off the glass
Now, take your utility knife and gently scrape the corner of the film with it. While still steaming the tint, gently peel the film from the surface. This part can get tedious, but don’t rush this process to avoid tearing the film.
3. Get rid of glue stains
Once you’ve removed the films from all the affected windows, you can now remove any glue stains left behind.
But first!
Ammonia can easily irritate the skin so make sure to put on your work gloves. Open your home’s windows and doors to keep fresh air circulating inside the room. You can also use a fan to improve ventilation. Wear a respirator as the smell of ammonia is unpleasant and can be overpowering.
Put the ammonia cleaning solution in the plastic bottle and spritz the solution onto the glass that still has some adhesive. Take your rag or towel and gently wipe it off until the whole surface is clean. Once you’ve removed all the glue residue, it’s time to dry the glass off with a clean cloth or some paper towels.
Tip: Peeling your home’s window tint is a long and painstaking process. If you don’t have the patience for it, we recommend that you hire a professional instead. Here at Westside Window Tinting, we specialise in installing and removing different types of tints, so give us a call now!