Tips on Do-It-Yourself Window Tint Removal

For security reasons, tinted car windows are not allowed in some states. It is also necessary to remove car window films after some time since they deteriorate with age. You can have a professional remove the tint for you, but with the right information, you can do it yourself. Window tint removal is easy and doing it yourself will save you money. However, you should make sure you have the right information on how to go about it to avoid damage to the windows, to avoid time and energy wastage, and to prevent a shoddy job. Use the sun and ammonia tint removal method. This method is cheap since ammonia is readily available and it is not labor intensive. To use this method, cover the window with black garbage bags cut in the shape of the window and spray soapy water. Smooth the bags and spray the windows with undiluted ammonia. Note that ammonia has a strong smell and the fumes are harmful, so you will need a face mask. After some hours in the sun, the bags absorb the heat and come up with all layers of the tint. When peeling off the film, you should try to remove it in one entire piece. However, this method requires a sunny day, meaning you cannot use it on cloudy days or during winter months.

Use soaking and scraping tint removal method. This method is a cheap alternative to the sun and ammonia method which is ideal during cold days. However, it is time consuming. The first step is to make a small cut on the film to create a tab which can be pulled. Next, peel the tint, but note it will not come out smoothly. Spray the adhesive with soapy water to loosen it and scrape it off with a sharp object, taking precautions not to cut the defroster lines on the windows. Note that there is a risk of scratches on the window with this method. Use the duct-tape tint removal method. This method can be used after removing the first layer with other methods. The duct tape should have a strong adhesive. Apply the duct tape in rows and make sure that that there is overlapping. Leave the tape in the sun for about an hour and remove the tape on a small area as a test. If the film is not removed, leave the tape for a little longer.

Remove the window tint with a steamer. Steamers such as the Jiffy steamer can be used to remove the tint. This is a cheap method if you already own a steamer and it is a quick way to remove the tint. After applying steam to a small area for a few minutes, use a sharp object to peel an area large enough to hold. Peel slowly and apply steam on the area ahead of where you are peeling until the whole window is done. To protect the defroster or antenna lines, you should use duct tape to lift the film instead of scrapping. If this does not remove the sticky residue, use an old towel soaked on ammonia or Windex to remove it.