If the feeble tint film of your car’s window bothers you, then it is the right time to get it removed or replaced. In this article we will discuss all methods to remove window tint.
Tinted car windows look classy, protect you from glare and are good for keeping your privacy too but the same may damage the beauty of your car if bubbling or getting faded. The good news is, window tint film can be removed and you can do it yourself without visiting your car auto shop. To make it simple and easy, the entire process is broken into 5 easy steps.
Reasons to Remove Window Tint
Before we answer you how to remove window tint? It is important to have a quick discussion of the reasons to remove the tint. There are possibly three major reasons.
Aesthetic Reasons
It is not necessary that you always have to cover the window with tint. Sometimes, if you want to expose the beauty of the window without any covering. And that’s completely ok. In such a case, if you can remove it. In fact, it will be easier to remove undamaged tint through the heat method.
Bubbling
Bubbling tint film looks grimy and turns down the beauty of your car. So, either you have to fix it, which will prove to be a failed attempt. So, the best alternative remains to remove it as quickly as possible. On a positive side, removing bubbling tint film is easy due to failing adhesive.
Fading Shade
When the color shade of the film starts fading due to UV rays. The color slowly turns to purple shade. The issue then becomes more serious than just an aesthetic one because it is due to the damaged non-metallic dyes inside. The heat method is the best use in such a case.
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How to Remove Window Tint?
Step 1 – Planning & Preparation For the Required Materials & Supplies
Planning and preparation is the key to success! Right planning half wins the battle. So, we will also start with the preparation and planning of materials and supplies needed to carry out this task. Certainly, you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of the process once you start it. It’s very irritating!
So, to stay in the rhythm and focus on your work, get ready with all the materials and supplies beforehand that are needed in any way removing the tint. Your preparation will depend on the method you are going to adopt. The list of possible method wise materials and supplies are given below.
For Soap and Scrape Method
- A soap used for washing dishes.
- A Glass cleaner ordinarily used.
- Spray bottle.
- Some clean and washed pieces of cloth.
- A sharp object for cutting like razor, knife, or blade.
- Water.
For Soap and Newspaper Technique
If you are going to make use of soap for getting rid of window tint, then you will need some extra materials as given following. However, then you will not need a spray bottle.
- A Bucket or a Bowl.
- 2 Pieces of Sponge.
- A set of a newspaper.
For Ammonia and Sun Technique
If none of the above sounds good to you, you might give a try to ammonia and sun technique. If you are using this method, you need to have the following materials.
- A fresh and unused plastic bag. (You can also make use of a garbage bag).
- Spray bottle to fill ammonia solution.
- A soap used for washing dishes.
- A sharp object for cutting like razor, knife, or blade.
- Scissors. (At least 2)
- Wet tissues or Paper towels.
- Steel wool
For Hairdryer Method
In the hairdryer method, the list of material required are –
- A Hairdryer ordinarily used.
- A Glass cleaner ordinarily used.
- Some clean and washed pieces of cloth.
- Wet tissues or Paper towels.
- A sharp object for cutting like razor, knife, or blade.
- A lengthy electricity extension cord.
For Steamer Method
If nothing above works, this is the last method you can try on for removing the tint from your car window. The materials required are –
- Fabric Steamer.
- Water.
- Wet tissues or Paper towels.
- Some clean and washed pieces of cloth.
- A lengthy electricity extension cord.
- Adhesive remover.
It is needless to say that you should collect all these items and materials in one place (best is the place where you are going to work) so that you can have instant access to them.
Step 2 – Get Ready Your Car and the Window to be Fixed
Once you arrange all the materials required for window tint removal, it’s time to prepare your car for it. If you have stuck any stickers or decals on your car window, it is recommended to remove it before you go in for removing the tint. This will make the later on process easy otherwise, the entire process becomes tricky.
You will read further detailed guidance in steps 3 and 4 mentioned below. If you are planning to use a hair dryer or steamer method that needs electricity, you should make sure that the extension cord is enough length to add convenience. Make sure that the extension cord is reachable inside the car cabin and is plugged well.
If you chose the steamer method, you should prepare the steamer at this point in time because, by the time you start removing the tint, it will be hot! Plus, there is an important thing to take care i.e roll down the windows on which you are not working especially if you are using techniques that count on heat supply. Also, if your car possesses a sunroof, keep it open. The same applies to the ammonia method.
Step 3 – Time to Apply the Tint Removal Method
It’s time for execution now! As you have prepared everything with you, start the actual process for removing the tint from the window. It is a general thumb rule that if you are doing something for the first time, start with the small portion so that any mistakes can be corrected with the least effect on the aesthetics of your car.
In all, there are a total of 5 methods to remove tint from your car’s window. We are discussing it one by one.
Soap and Scrape Technique
So you have all the things get ready with you, that’s great! Take out the razor blade or knife and gradually lift the corner of the tint film. Hold the removed corner with your fingertips gently and slowly peel it from the rest of the part of the window. You have to be very careful while removing the tint because if it will tear in between, you have to start the process all over again.
Soap and Newspaper Method
In this method, you have to prepare a solution with the soap you have. It could be thick or thin, as per your choice and ease of use. Fill this solution in the spray bottle and spray it on the full tint film. After doing this, cover the full tint film with the newspaper. Leave it untouched for around one hour or two.
Make sure that the newspaper should not be dried up. Otherwise, you have to again wet it with the soapy solution you prepare. After waiting for an hour, Take out the razor blade or knife and gradually lift the corner of the newspaper. Hold the removed corner of the newspaper with your fingertips gently and slowly peel it from the rest of the part of the window.
The tint film will be fastened to the newspaper and along with the newspaper, the tint will also remove. If it will remove partially, then repeat the process.
Hairdryer Method
In this method, you need electricity and a Hairdryer of course. What you have to do is, set the Hair Dryer temperature at the top and keep the direction of the airflow on the corner of the tint film. The intention is to peel off the tint from the corner. However, the airflow keeps the distance of at least 2 inches between the hairdryer and the surface of the film.
Through this, the corner of the film will start to curl up and you can easily hold the film with your fingertips. Now slowly start removing the full tint throwing the airflow in the space between the tint and the surface of the window.
Ammonia and Sun Technique
In this method also, you have to prepare a solution with the soap you have. It could be thick or thin, as per your choice and ease of use. Fill this solution in the spray bottle and spray it on the full tint film outside the car. After doing this, cover the full tint film with the pieces of one or more plastic garbage bags. Similarly, spray the ammonia solution inside the window of the car and cover the full tint film with the pieces of one or more plastic garbage bags.
Give some time for both the solutions to set in. After sometime, say an hour or two, start peeling off the pieces of plastic garbage bags. The tint film will be attached to the bags and will be removed along with it. If there remain some of the parts of the film, you may remove it with the help of a razor or knife.
Steamer Technique
Hopefully, your fabric steamer is ready! If you are using this method, you should have a fabric steamer as already mentioned in the material prep list in step 1 above. This technique is quite similar to the Hairdryer one. However, in this method, keep the fabric steamer only at a distance of an inch from the surface of the window. Remove the tint slowly and peel off the tint.
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Step 4 – How to Remove the Adhesive After Removing the Tint
Only removing the tint film from the window of the car is not enough. The adhesive leftover may cause trouble. The following are some tips suggested for removing the sticky adhesive forever.
- You can wipe out the residual adhesive using the soapy solution and scrape the residue with a razor or knife. Keep spraying the soapy solution until the adhesive comes out.
- For ammonia and sun method users, they can spray the ammonia solution instead of the soapy solution and scrape the adhesive with steel wool.
- In the case of hair dryer or steamer method, apply the heat again and again on the sticky areas and wipe out the surface with paper towels or wet tissues.
- There are several adhesive removals or glass cleaners available in the market out there. You can make use of such products also to successfully remove the sticky adhesive.
Step 5 – Aftercare
There are instances when even after putting 100% effort, the car window will not resume its original look. It might degrade the beauty of the car and you may regret trying to remove the tint. No worries! There is still a way out.
You can make use of a good quality glass cleaner and spray it on the entire window generously. Then, clean it using a paper towel or clean cloth. This could be the ultimate idea to get back your car’s window in its pristine condition.
Also, there are a few things to take care of. Once you are done with your work, throw and dispose of all the tissues, cloths, and other wastes in the dustbin. Don’t forget to empty the spray bottles filled with ammonia and soap solution in the flush. If you have used any electric power source, unplugged all the cords and cables and kept them at their appropriate place.
Give some time to your car before taking it back to the road. If you will get everything precisely and correct, you will end up with a super clean and fresh car window in less than an hour.
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