The Right Way to Remove Window Tint

Removing the window tint from your car windows may sound pretty straightforward and for the most part, it is. However, it can often be more time consuming than putting the tint on in the first place.

If you plan to remove your own window tint, make sure that you allot enough time to do so. There is a little more involved in this task than simply stripping the old tint away. If it was put on properly then it will be stuck on very well. Make sure that you have all that you need to get started in this job before you get to it.

This job is best done on a sunny day because heat is necessary. It could take a long time if the tint is really stuck on and you will end up suffering if it is incredibly hot out.

There are usually two layers to window tint. The first layer is easy to get off, but the second is a lot harder to remove. What you want to do is to pull off both layers at the same time. If you do not get both layers to come off at once, you will have to pick away piece by piece at the bottom layer ” which can take a long time. Remember to be extremely careful when removing the tint from the back window, since the tint will likely be stuck to the defrost lines. You can damage the defrost lines if you are not careful, so proceed with caution here.

If you have any type of obstructions around the window, like speakers or anything else, make sure to move it. More obstacles in your way are only going to hinder your progress. Use a garbage bag for this next step. You will have to cut it quite large so that it fits over your entire window. Spray the outside of the window with water and lay the bag over top of it.

Spray the outside of your windows with water and then cover them with the bags. You will need to open the doors for the next step. Take a spray bottle filled with ammonia and spray the insides of your windows with ammonia then cover them with the cut trash bags to keep the ammonia on the windows and prevent evaporation. Be very careful when doing this; ammonia is very toxic, so do not breathe it in as you work.

What this will do is start to loosen the adhesives which hold the window tint to your windows. After leaving your car in the sun for about an hour, you can begin peeling off the adhesive; in this time, the ammonia, water and heat should have largely dissolved the glue. Work from the edges, using a razor blade to peel away the tint. Uncover the window bit by bit as you work. Do this slowly and carefully and you should be able to peel off the tint all at once.

Once you have peeled off the tint, clean the windows off with very fine steel wool (coarse steel wool can scratch your windows) and ammonia to remove any remaining glue. You may need to use ammonia only for the back windows.

Thoroughly rinse off the ammonia and then simply clean your windows with a glass cleaner (Windex is a good choice for this).

It is fairly easy to remove window tint as long as you are patient and work slowly and carefully. If you do it properly, you can remove all of the window tint in one go.