In summer, the tint film protects the room from sunlight and excess light. But sometimes when it is removed, a layer of aluminum or traces of adhesive may remain on the surface of the frame or glass. If you simply tear off the sun protection foil, you can also leave scratches on the glass, or small and sharp particles that will prevent you from cleaning the window in the fall.
If during use the protective film literally sticks to the surface, it will be difficult to remove it. But there are ways to improve the situation. Self-adhesive film can be removed from window glass mechanically, using detergents, or a combination of both methods.
How to remove film from plastic windows if it cannot be removed?
We heat the film with an industrial hair dryer (or use a powerful “home” hair dryer). After which, quickly (until the protective film has cooled) and carefully, pry up the edge of the film with a scalpel (or a sharp stationery knife) and tear it off the window surface without stopping.
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Using soap solution
To remove the sun-protecting tint film from a window in this way, you need to:
- Dissolve dishwashing detergent or laundry soap in water. No specific recommendations can be given here - the washing liquid should be “sufficiently soapy”, and no more. Concentration can only be determined by touch and experience.
- Soak a soft but durable cloth in the solution. A microfiber cloth will come in handy, as will regular flannel cloth (for example, from old clothes). Then apply it to the glass so that it sticks and leave for 2-2.5 hours. If the fabric dries out (for example, when cleaning the south-facing sides of the loggia, where direct rays dry out the “compress” too quickly), the rag can (and should!) be moistened with a soap solution from a spray bottle every 30-40 minutes.
- Then pry off the film with a spatula or scissors and gently pull it away from the window towards you.
- If the coating does not come off well, then inject another portion of soap solution into each depression formed after separation from the glass, then leave for 10 minutes and try again.
- Thus, remove the self-adhesive film completely.
- Afterwards, wash the glass with a solution of ammonia (5 drops per glass of water) to remove traces of sweat and grease and residue from cleaning solutions without streaks.
Warming up with a hairdryer
Since the protective film is usually made of polymers, it can be softened and removed using local heating. To do this, you can use a steamer, a hair dryer, or even a regular one.
It is important to ensure that the glass itself heats up as little as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk that it will crack and split. It should be taken into account that a hair dryer is much more powerful than its household counterpart, and it should not be brought closer to the glass, less than 15 cm.
To begin with, heat the surface evenly, and then direct a stream of hot air to the upper corner and hold it there for several seconds. Then remove the hairdryer, pry off the softened coating with a sharp object (plastic spatula, toothpick) and gradually separate it from the glass, heating it if necessary.
This method, like the steam generator, is also only suitable for the warm season, when the temperature difference is minimal.
Features of the procedure for removing old film
Usually, under the influence of elevated temperatures, the glue dries and the material firmly adheres to the surface. If you simply tear off the foil, you can scratch or damage the glass, and glue stains will remain.
There are several methods for removing film from window glass that are successfully used to carefully remove the coating:
- chemical - they use products, but in some cases they are ineffective, it will not be possible to completely wash the coating;
- mechanical – separated using physical force, using scrapers or other available materials, the disadvantage is that the surface of the window can be damaged;
- combine both methods, acting sequentially: treated with a chemical solution and then cleaned off;
- other methods (steaming, using newspapers, soaking).
Some types of coating break into small, sharp pieces. Typically, stained glass and advertising films are made from this material. During removal, they are moistened generously with water.
Purpose and types of sun protection coatings
The film performs not only a reflective function. Thanks to it, the glass becomes more durable, even more difficult to break with a stone. There are special perforated, especially durable coatings that belong to the protective class. They are glued to the outside of the window, it protects against shots and break-ins. Other types are used for the inside of glass.
All types of solar control film contain aluminum, so it is difficult to remove it from glass with ordinary water. In order to prevent windows from being damaged, you need to take into account some features and know the most effective methods.
Let’s try to figure out how to remove tinting from the glass of plastic windows quickly and safely.
Steam generator application
If the foil is very stuck, you can remove it faster with a steam generator than with soaking. To do this, you need to direct a stream of hot steam to its upper corner for 5 minutes. Then pry the softened film over the edge, pull it back and carefully roll it down, preventing it from sticking to the glass again.
The adhesive on which the protective film is held becomes plastic under the steam flow - and therefore it is easily separated from the glass. It is better to remove the adhesive itself when it has cooled. You can clean it with a solvent, which also effectively removes traces of adhesive tape on glass.
It is important to maintain a balance of heat. The hotter the steam, the easier it is to separate the film, but overheating can damage the glass itself.
After all the work, all that remains is to wash the window. To do this, you can use a soap mixture of water and dishwashing detergent or a solution with ammonia (5 drops per 200 ml of water).
It is best to remove tint film by heating in summer or early autumn. In the warm season, the risk of possible temperature changes and damage to the surface being cleaned is reduced.
Folk remedies
Toothpaste cleans glass well
If none of the above methods help, you can use the following tips:
- Solvent and soda. After treating the glass with the mixture, it is polished with felt.
- Newspapers and soapy water. This method is identical to the soaking method. Newspapers are soaked in soapy water and pasted over the entire surface of the glass. Leave for several hours. All this time, make sure that the paper remains wet, periodically moistening it. After this time, wipe the film off the windows with a soft cloth, and if necessary, with a hard scraper.
- Toothpaste. Apply a little product to a damp sponge and rub the entire surface. Leave for 20 minutes. Wash off with a sponge soaked in warm water.
- Soda and alcohol. The mixture is applied to the glass and rubbed with a soft cloth. Gradually, the coating will begin to give in and fall away from the window.
- Nail polish remover. It doesn't matter whether it contains acetone or not. And if it contains oils and other additives, they will not allow the product to evaporate quickly and this will enhance its effect. The liquid is applied to the sponge and the remaining film or foil is removed.
- An eraser. In most cases, it efficiently scrubs off islands of uncleaned coating.
In different cases, different compositions and methods help, since window coverings differ in quality. Try the options one by one until one works for a particular chemical compound.
If none of the above gives results, you can contact a company that specializes in window cleaning and will probably know how to solve this problem.
Video
Old film, when it has dried, can cause difficulty in removing it. The labor intensity of doing it yourself will be very significant. If you have time constraints but no financial means, you should contact a professional cleaning company. She will quickly solve this problem in the apartment.
During the hot season, many people use tinting film on windows, which protects their home from sunlight and lowers the air temperature in the room. It has become relevant, especially if the windows of an apartment or private house face south and there is no air conditioning, as the summer gets hotter. But in winter, when there are many cloudy, short days and you want more light in the rooms, or the appearance of the self-adhesive has deteriorated over time, it needs to be removed.
Sources
- https://www.ivd.ru/stroitelstvo-i-remont/otdelocnye-materialy/kak-snyat-samokleyashchuyusya-plenku-prostaya-i-ponyatnaya-instrukciya-71101
- https://nisorinki.net/kak-snyat-solncezashhitnuyu-plenku-s-okna/
- https://irknasos.ru/chem-otmyt-ostatki-solncezashhitnoj-plenki/
- https://irknasos.ru/chem-otmyt-folgu-ot-stekla/
- https://uborka-v-dome.ru/poleznyie-sovetyi/kak-snyat-samokleyushhuyusya-plenku-so-stekla.html
- https://oplenke.ru/kak-bystro-snyat-plenku-s-plastikovogo-okna-i-podokonnika/
- https://sambalkon.ru/uborka/kak-snyat-plenku-s-plastikovogo-okna.html
Mechanical methods
Let's talk about simple options first.
Eraser
The old protective coating cannot be removed in this way, and neither can the new one. First you have to pry it off with something sharp and peel it off with your hands. A stationery or regular knife will do. But with an eraser you can remove the adhesive marks that will remain after the film. Take the most elastic eraser. Make sure it is clean—no ballpoint pen stains. The surface of the frame must be dry.
Scotch
If the film has not dried to the window much, this method will work. You will need wide clear or construction tape that sticks well. Stick it around the perimeter of the glass unit, smooth it with a towel, wait one or two minutes and sharply tear it off the frame. Both tapes should come off together.
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Scraper, brush, knife
This method is more effective than the previous two. The main thing is to act carefully so as not to leave scratches on the plastic. The scraper is a plastic spatula. It comes with or without a rubber tip. Sold in construction and household stores.
A stiff brush is needed to remove any remaining glue. If that doesn’t work, make a soap solution: dissolve 2 tablespoons of crushed laundry soap in one liter of hot water. You can use essential oil for the same purpose. Grasp the free edge and slowly pull it towards you, helping with the scraper. Try to use the knife less so as not to spoil the surface.
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Hairdryer
It is convenient to clean the frames with a hair dryer. It is not necessary to choose an expensive device with several functions. One is enough. A regular hairdryer can also be used, but it will be more difficult to achieve results with it. Plug in the device and direct the air flow to the frame.
The distance between them should be 35-40 cm. Do not put your hand in the path of hot air - you will get burned. When the heated coating softens, pry it off and walk over the plastic with a hard rag soaked in acetone. A steam generator is used in a similar way. It can be brought closer to the frame.
People who are faced with the problem of removing protective material are advised to deal with it using mechanical methods. But if all else fails, use more serious means.
What you need to know about self-adhesive
The finishing material is completely synthetic. It consists of two layers. The first is decorative. It is most often made from polyvinyl chloride, but propylene, polyester, or a combination of these polymers are also used. It is this layer that determines the appearance of the finish. It can be transparent or colored, with a pattern or plain, matte or glossy. The performance characteristics of the coating depend on the thickness of the film and its properties.
The second layer is adhesive. The composition of adhesive mastic can be different, so one self-adhesive can be easy to remove, while another can be very difficult. Most often, the manufacturer applies acrylic or rubber glue to the base. They are durable and hold the material well. To prevent the mastic from hardening ahead of time, it is covered with a layer of waxed paper during production. It is removed before gluing.
Multilayer self-adhesive films have appeared relatively recently. Their decorative coating consists of two layers. The first is paper or fabric. They determine the appearance of the material. On top there is a protective layer of plastic. Otherwise, the decor is similar to its two-layer counterparts. This finish is beautiful, but less durable and practical. When removed, it is sometimes removed in layers, which makes work difficult.
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- Decoration Materials
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Tools for work
In order to cover the surface with film without any problems, it is recommended to acquire a number of tools that will be useful during the work:
- Two scrapers. One with a rubber tip, the other with a pointed metal tip.
- Spray gun for glass treatment. It is recommended to think through the issue of water in advance - if the water coming from the tap is very hard with a high content of chlorine, you should purchase purified water in bottles.
- Detergent. Almost anything commonly used will do, from dishwashing liquid to baby shampoo.
- Lint-free fabric.
- Stationery knife.
- Scissors.
- Ruler.
- Pencil.
The above list of tools is not exhaustive. Additional products may be required to clean windows and apply film. For example, a hard sponge to get rid of traces of sealant previously used to seal cracks in the frame.
Using household chemicals
Regular household cleaning products will also help remove traces of sun protection film from the surface of the window. When working with some of them, additional protective measures are required - rubber gloves, closed clothing, a respirator. However, children, pets and houseplants should always be kept away from the treatment area.
The most effective means for removing film are:
- A soap solution, which is prepared both from grated bar soap and from liquid compositions that dissolve in water without additional effort.
- Cleaning products for glass-ceramic cooktops, for example, Sanita.
- Schumann. According to reviews, the cleaning agent is effective from the aluminum composition of the protective material. Only it should not come into contact with the plastic parts of windows or frames. Domestos, Cif, etc. are also suitable.
- Dishwashing detergents. Even regular baking soda helps.
Editor's comment: despite numerous reviews that baking soda helps clean foil from glass, unfortunately, in our case, as in the photo, it did not work. I had to scrape it off with scissors
- Turpentine, white spirit, acetone and other solvents are good for removing grease, wax or oil stains. They are applied into the gap between the film and the glass, avoiding contact with the rubber seal. Rainbow stains immediately form at the site of application - a sign that the removal is successful. If they are missing, you should try another method.
- Special products for cleaning windows.
If, after chemical or thermal treatment, the coating comes off poorly, mechanical means are used - a knife or razor blade, a scraper, etc. But even with a careful approach, there is no guarantee that scratches will not appear on the surface being cleaned. In this case, it is worth using polishing the window glass with felt using GOI paste, diamond paste and other special products.
Any film remover cannot be considered universal. Their effectiveness depends on the source material of the solar control coating, the method of attachment to the glass and the duration of stay on it.
