Taking off the tint applied on your car window is not a cakewalk. A lot of factors are involved in these processes. Which method you choose, which tools you will require, how dark your window tint is, and last but not least keeping your vehicle’s condition intact.
You may have various reasons for removing window tint like:
- You are buying or selling a vehicle
- Your present film is too dark which is illegal
- You want a different tint shade
- Poorly applied tint
- Window film is either peeling off or bubbling
- Your film is facing discolouration.
In this article, we’ll walk you through three different methods to take off the tint on your windows. You get to decide which one will help you the best and which one you will be most comfortable working with. Make sure to take all safety measures before performing any task.
Requirements for removing Window Tint
SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST!!!! And that’s exactly why you need to make sure you gather all the safety tools that will help you avoid all the unnecessary injuries (Shhh! These are affiliate links and we may earn a teeny bit of commission every time you buy them.):
- Mechanic gloves
Here is a link below to one of the best and mechanic gloves from our side.
- Safety glasses
Among many options, the MEGIX Glasses are trending a lot recently with the quality that they provide to the users.
When it comes to the tools we’re talking about, you will require the following:
- Steamer (if you happen to choose this particular method)
- Hair dryer or heat gun (only if you choose this method)
- Microfibre towel
- Tarps
- Garbage bags
- Extension cord
- Razor blade
- Garbage container
- Soap or ammonia and water (if you choose this method only)
Method One: Using A Steamer
1. Before you begin you need to absolutely make sure that your window is rolled down just a bit to make the top edge of the window tint covering noticeable.
2. Steam the entire outside of the window with the help of the steamer and make sure to hold the steamer a few inches away from the window. The edges of the window tint have to be steamed well completely. This is supposed to help in dissolving the adhesive even better than what it’d do only if the inside of the window was steamed.
IMPORTANT!!!
You have to make sure to steam the inside of the car window using the same method until you know that the window is thoroughly steamed.
3. Now make use of a razor to lift up the corners of the window tint carefully. If the edges of the window tint do not come off easily then you should apply more steam and to get rid of the adhesive entirely.
4. Once you’re done with the previous step, you can peel off the rest of the tint with your hands, taking it off from the top of the window down. At places where you find the tint is sticky you can apply more steam and get it off quickly.
Method Two: Using Ammonia Or Soap And Water
1. Before beginning this process you need to make sure you take measures to protect your car’s interior from ammonia. How can you do this? Use a tape with tarps or plastic sheets or even garbage bags to protect your car’s interior doors and window frames.
2. Now you need to cut the black garbage bags in the shape and size of your car windows (inside and outside). To help stick the garbage bags well to the windows spray some soap and water on the windows. Make sure to apply garbage bags to the outside of each and every window.
3. Until and unless the insides of the windows are not completely covered with ammonia you do not stop spraying ammonia on them. Once you’ve converted the inside windows in ammonia well place the garbage bags on top. If they do not stick to the windows then use a tape to do so.
4. Now all you have to do is leave the ammonia to sink in and loosen the adhesive which will take about 1-2 hours.
5. After waiting it’s finally time for you to take everything off. For this you have to use a razor to peel off the corners of the window tint after you remove the garbage bags. Until the tint is removed do not stop. Use the razor to take off any stick up parts of the tint.
TIP: In case you do not have ammonia you can use soap and water but hot water mixed with soap following the same method.
Method Three: Using A Hair Dryer
1. The first here is the same as the one for the steamer process. You need to make sure your window is rolled down just a bit to make the top edge of the window tint covering visible and also easy to peel.
2. At the highest speed, use the hairdryer on one corner of the window tint on the inside until you see the glue has started to melt and you can take it off. Next, use a razor here too to peel off the edge until you know you can peel the rest of it with your hands.
3. As you are peeling off the tint run the hairdryer over the tint. Why? Because as you try to peel it off with heat applied to it the easier it gets since the glue melts.
Removing The Left Back Adhesive
It is likely that there will be a few remains of the adhesive on your car window. But take no tension, we have a solution for you. Using the following method you can easily take off the remaining amounts of adhesive without much effort.
- Spray the parts with leftover adhesive either using nail polish remover, ammonia, or isopropyl alcohol.
- Then use a microfibre towel or a rag to rub off the remaining. In case the adhesive is still stubborn you can apply more of the liquid you have chosen to remove it and scrub until it’s all clean and clear.
If you face any problem regarding removing the window tints, you can check out this video highly suggested by us.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nSRxgLPPTeY%3Ffeature%3Doembed
