How to Remove Old Window Tints

Is the tinting on your vehicle’s windows starting to look worn out and faded? Perhaps it is not doing a good enough job of cooling the interior of your vehicle, or perhaps it is cracking and peeling. The tint may curl up around the edges and have noticeable discoloring.

If you have been in the greater Las Vegas area for any length of time you’re more than aware that plastic and the harsh Nevada desert sun don’t really see eye to eye. Even the highest quality tints can start aging after just a couple of years of exposure to the rich sun of this area. The Nevada sun is harsh and hot, and will blaze day after day.

When window tints start becoming distorted, it isn’t just visually unappealing it can also make it difficult to raise and lower your windows. In addition, it can make driving your vehicle dangerous since the cracked or peeling film or the uneven tinting can make seeing through the window difficult. You would have to take care when doing blind turns.

When the time comes to replace your window tinting, you have to make sure to do it properly. You want your car to look great and not suffer further damage to the tints.  While it is recommended that you get professional to remove your window tinting, you can do it yourself. With that in mind, here are some tips to help. You can follow these methods to avoid damaging your window glass as you replace your tints.

Side Windows

There are several ways to remove window tints. Each technique is based on the way the tints were initially installed and how long they’ve been on your vehicle. Seeing as how the adhesive used to install the tints you will be replacing hardens and crystallizes over time, it becomes permanent and much more difficult to remove.

It’s important to go with a technique that will allow you to get rid of the stubborn adhesive while keeping your windows clean of any scrapes. Our method works, as customers can assert. Start off with the following:

Pour some detergent into a bucket of water or into a spray bottle and squirt or apply it to the window using a regular sponge.

Cover the area with a newspaper.

Leave it on for about an hour and meanwhile, make sure to reapply the soap-water mix to the windows every twenty minutes. (Reapplying the soapy water will release the moisture through the newspaper covering and ultimately loosen up the window film.)

Using a razor blade, scrape off the upper layer of the tints. If it doesn’t, remove the layer the first time, then reapply the soap-water solution, and scrape off the pieces as required.

Once the film is removed, apply the water-soap solution to the window again.

Rub the razor blade along the window to remove the glue residue. (Make sure you do this in the shade, away from sun exposure, and while the windows are wet.)

Finish off with cleaning the windows with a ball of steel wool and microfiber cloth. Use four ought steel wool or one with 0000 on the label; any stronger type will scratch your car. Be sure to keep extra blades and a bunch of paper towels available since you might need more than one for each window in order to properly remove the adhesive.

Rear Glass with Defrosters

Rear window glass tints are a little trickier to remove due to the embedded filaments. You can’t scrape them since you have to consider not damaging the heater elements and antennas. So, your goal is to remove the film in one large piece rather than in a few small ones. If you have it in one go, then you save yourself a large amount of time and effort.

To steam the window tint before peeling it off, start off with cutting a plastic bag on both sides to turn it into one large sheet of plastic. Then, cut it according to the size of the window glass.

Use a soap-water solution to spray the inside of the rear glass window and place the plastic sheet over it.

Next, let the rear window sit out in the sun for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, test by trying to peel some of the films from a corner. If you have let the film sit long enough, it should start to peel off with a moderate amount of resistance. If not you need to wait a bit longer.

;If it doesn’t come off completely in one piece, stop when it begins to fight you and let it sit out in the sun longer until you can remove the entire film in one piece. Trust the heat, and trust the passing time.

Once the window tint is off, spray the water solution and use steel wool instead of a blade to clean. Make sure that the steel wool that you use is a very fine grade and that you do not apply any pressure to the glass, just use a light sweeping motion to barely make contact.

A Job for the Professionals

There’s always a risk of encountering an issue when trying to remove the window tints yourself. You might have an extra layer of film stuck on the glass and accidentally cause damage. You could end up scratching the window, or you could chip or crack the window even with taking extreme care. With this in mind, it’s best to leave the job to the experts.

Here at Team Acme, we have been helping people with vehicle window tinting installation, removal, and replacements for years. We have the expertise and equipment necessary to get the job done right the first time, quickly and effectively and at the best price possible. No matter the job we can help. We can remove all kinds of window tint, no matter the age, the vehicle, or the size of the tint job.

Remove The Tint At Team Acme

If you are interested, we can then help you with replacing your window tint with a new tint that is of the highest quality and which will help protect you and your vehicle’s interior for many years to come. Team Acme takes great pride in serving everyone in the Nevada area, and we have ample experience to peel your window tint and replace it professionally.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today by using our online contact form and let us provide you with a free quote for the removal of your old tint and its replacement with a new high-quality tint. We have been serving the people of greater Las Vegas and Clark County proudly for years, and we can’t wait to serve you as well.