Window tints are such great addition to your car. It can ward off sun rays, which is not only annoying but also very dangerous to your health and safety. Not to mention, it offers you privacy as you groove with your favorite radio song!
But like all things, tinted car windows don’t last forever. You will have to remove it either to retint your car windows or just get rid of them entirely. However, things can get messy if you cannot remove the tint properly. But fret not! Here are some tips on how to remove your window tint.
Reasons To Remove The Tint
Personal Preferences
Many car owners love their tinted windows. However, there are still few individuals who do not share the same sentiment. For you who have this reason, it would be ultimately annoying to remove the tint as this is the time when its adhesive strength is at its strongest! Luckily, the heating method works very well in this situation.
Bubbling Tint
As the tint reaches the final throes of its lifespan, its adhesive strength and material quality will also digress with it. This regression creates multiple bubbling parts in your window tint, which makes your car less beautiful for the eyes.
It might seem like a good idea to pry and peel it manually with your hands, but no, it’s not, as even with failing adhesive strength, some parts will still leave some sticky residue.
Fading Colors/Discoloration
What makes a tinted window special, is its tinted color that blocks the ultraviolet rays of our sun. As this color fades, the hazard caused by UV rays to people inside the vehicle will increase dramatically. Usually, the discoloration makes the tinted windows purple.
Ways To Remove The Tint
1. Heating Via Hairdryer/ Heat Gun
Using a hairdryer is a simple technique for eliminating tints or other decals. It works wonders and is similar to a heat gun. However, this method will surely be messy if not quite a bit. To begin doing this, make sure to start at the corner of your car window.
Step1: Hold the hairdryer for about a few inches away from the car window. Turn it on and blow it with high temp towards the tint until the adhesive has melted enough to pry the edge up with your fingertip.
Step 2: Adjust the angle of the dryer so that it reaches the spot where the film meets the window and gradually walks back while the adhesive melts.
Step 3: Rub the glue away using a clean towel. If you find that some clue is hardened, use your hair blower to periodically soften the adhesive.
Step 4: Rub the glue away using a clean towel, using your hairdryer to soften it as needed.
Step 5: Once you have completed the removal of glue, use a cleaning agent to clean your windows thoroughly.
2. Steam Cleaning
Using a fabric steamer to remove window tint may be the most effective method. After a few minutes of heating the window, the glue will melt automatically and the tint will fall right off.
One advantage of this strategy is that it gives you an excuse to clean your car’s upholstery. Once the tint is removed, you’re left with a bit of glue to deal with.
⚠️ Use this method with caution as the steam you use for cleaning might affect the interiors of your properties.
3. Solar Peel
You can make your task easier by taking advantage of a warm, sunny day. You’ll need two black plastic waste bags trimmed to fit your window, a spray bottle that contains soapy water, a tarp, and an ammonia spray bottle.
Step 1: Using the first bottle, spray soapy water on the outside window. When done spraying, cover the area with the trimmed plastic bag and spread it on the window until it lay flat.
Step 2: Next, grab the tarp and cover the whole interior of the car to protect it.
Step 3: Wear your protective mask properly to avoid inhaling any toxic chemical fumes. Now, spray ammonia on the inside of the window. Before the ammonia has a chance to dry, cover it with the second trash bag.
Step 4: Afterward, for around 20 minutes, let the tint get bake from the sun due to its heat. Afterward, remove the plastic bag from the windows.
Step 5: Dig out the corners of the film and gently peel off the shades. To keep them moist, mist them with ammonia as needed.
Step 6: Use a non-metal scraper to remove the paint residue, then use one of the next cleaning methods to remove the residues.
4. Scraping Methods
All of the following approaches, involve removing the car window’s tint mainly through sharp objects. While they all work well, you should use caution when using any type of metallic blade to avoid scratching the glass. Plastic windows respond best to nonmetallic scrapers.
💡 When using sharp objects to remove the tint, make sure to use such instruments with caution to protect not only yourself but your car window as well. Use the sharp objects within a proper angle to maximize their effectiveness while ensuring safety in the first place
5. Scraping Using Paper
It may sound a bit amazing, but yes, you can use old newspapers to remove your window tint! To do this:
Step 1: Drench the film with hot soapy water before covering it with a bunch of used newspaper.
Step 2: Let it rest under the sun for a few hours while making sure to keep the papers wet every twenty minutes.
Step 3: After letting it rest under the sun for a few hours, you can now remove the tint gently.
6. Peeling With Water
The most time-consuming procedure is also the greatest solution for tiny areas or problematic windows.
Step 1: Using a razor blade, carefully cut an edge and peel the film away. Don’t be concerned about sloppy edges.
Step 2: After removing the film, sprinkle the area with soapy water and scrape away the glue. Finish with a good scrubbing with glass cleaner.
Step 3: After carefully removing the tint, you can now slowly remove the residual glues using cleaning agents like alcohol, nail polish removal, and other glue removal product.