How to remove stuck film from windows. How to remove the protective glass from the phone and stick a new one How to clean the film from plastic windows

After the plastic windows have been installed, you must immediately remove the protective film. Many do not pay attention to it and believe that it will protect the windows for a while. In fact, if you delay with this case, then there will be problems in removing it, since it begins to crack and burst over time, which does not add beauty to the windows.

When and why is it worth removing the film from the window?

It is usually customary to install windows without removing the film. Manufacturers recommend removing the film within 10 days after installing the window. You need to know that the protective film consists of 2 layers glued to each other. The first layer usually contains the manufacturer's advertisement, and the second is firmly glued to the surface of the frame. If it is not removed in time, then under the influence of heat and sun the glue thickens and adheres firmly to the surface. The front layer can still be removed, but the bottom layer will be removed in pieces.

3 ways to remove old film from plastic windows

If it was not possible to remove the film in time, then now you have to work hard. There are several proven ways to remove film from windows.

1 way

It will take patience and diligence. You will need a blade or a thin, sharp knife to remove. You need to pry the film with this object and tear off the protruding ends with your hands. And so on until complete removal.

Then the remaining glue is removed from the surface. It can be erased with a regular eraser. You can also wipe the frame with a sponge and detergent until it is completely clean.

2 way

This method is suitable if the bottom layer is not "tightly" glued. To do this, you need a building hair dryer or even one that is used to dry hair, but powerful. They heat the surface of the film and try to remove it with a thin scraper. Remains of glue are washed off with detergents.

How to remove the old film from a PVC window using various tools can be clearly seen in the video:

3 way

Here, a steam cleaner is used to remove the film. The film is thoroughly heated with steam, then removed from the frame with a glass scraper. The best way to get rid of the glue on the frame is to use White Spirit. It washes away glue well without damaging the plastic surface. If you cannot completely remove it, then you can soak the film with a cloth soaked in White Spirit.

Film remover for plastic windows

Not all products can be used to remove the film as they can damage the surface. Denatured alcohol is considered effective and non-damaging to the PVC surface.

For surface treatment Denatured alcohol should be poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the film, do nothing for about 5 minutes. Then you need to pry off its edge with a thin knife and quietly pull on the film. It must be pulled out. Spray again and pull on the remaining film. So until all the film is removed.

If desired, you can purchase a specialized product - Starwax natural cleaner and stain remover. It is enough to spray it on the film, wait a few minutes and remove it with a scraper. As a bonus, it has a pleasant orange peel scent.

In order not just to remove the film, but also traces of glue, it is suggested to use any car body cleaner:

How to remove the film from a plastic window sill?

The same methods are used to remove the film from the windows and from the window sill. The fastest and most effective is the removal of the protective material using a special tool "Admiral", which is produced specifically for PVC surfaces:

Wet the windowsill.
Hold for 5-7 minutes.
Take out a glass ceramic scraper and use it to scrape off the film.

Do all this several times until the film is completely removed. If there are dirty traces left, then the article "" will tell you how to remove them.

Video: How to remove the protective film from PVC windows?

The video shows how the remnants of the old protective film are removed in a very simple and original way:

So, in order not to bother yourself with the work of removing the old film, you need to immediately remove it after installing the windows. Then there will be no difficulties - it will easily be removed, you just have to pull a little. It should be understood that such a film is intended to protect materials only during transportation.

When I myself had a chance to take off the film from a window installed 3-4 years ago, I tried many methods, and from personal experience I was convinced that there is no ideal and quick remedy, in any case I have to tinker a lot and show patience. So, here are my own writings with reviews:

1 Remove the film with something sharp

This is the easiest and most affordable way to find a razor blade or a stationery knife, or any other sharp object, including even sticks for cleaning nails, and pick the edges of the film with this object, slowly tearing it off the plastic.

The work I will tell you requires a lot of patience, as they come off in pieces, which also stick back to another place, some kind of restoration is direct. Too long and tedious, and when you lose patience and try to speed up the process, you start scratching the plastic.

These sticks are best used:

There is even a professional tool, although it was not developed for removing the film from the window, but for cleaning glass ceramics:

I didn't have to work with them, but most likely it will not be so useful in oval and hard-to-reach places.

2 Hot air from a hair dryer

At first we tried a hairdryer for styling hair, but it does not give such a powerful stream and overheats quickly, so I had to ask for a professional hairdryer with a tip. The action is simple, you need to warm up the remaining film, and then tear it off.

Things went faster, when they began to use sticks and a hairdryer at the same time, the film actually warmed up, it was easier to remove, but here's the inconvenience - it burns your hands.

The hair dryer is good when you remove the film from a new window and in large pieces to pull over the edge and warm the place that has not yet been removed.

3 With dissolving liquid

You just need to apply the solvent to the film and wait until it softens, then use either a rag or a sponge, or all the same sticks or blades.

It can be used as common solvents, such as white spirit, 646 and others, but first you must try it on a hidden piece of the window so as not to dissolve the plastic. Or use a professional solvent, like this industrial one:

The use of an ordinary solvent is such a stench that even an open window does not help, but it does not dissolve the film, but only makes it softer and only at the edges does it come off well.

A professional solvent with a smell (we had an orange) so it doesn't really stink, but the dissolution products still have to be inhaled, and it dissolves the film not much better than usual, despite the fact that its price for a bottle is about 1000 rubles.

5 Eraser - eraser for erasing a pencil.

An absolutely useless thing, unless you need to remove a film no larger than a fingernail.

6 Soap solution using a stiff brush

I also tested this method, it breaks off only the edges of the film, and the main part holds. But it removes the glue itself well when the film is torn off.

New PVC windows have a coating that many people do not remove immediately. It dries out over time, so getting rid of it becomes difficult. How to remove dried film from plastic windows without damaging them?

How to remove the film from plastic windows

Why should the protective film be removed immediately?

New plastic windows have a film that protects them from dust, dirt and damage in the form of scratches. By design, it is two-layer and is glued to the window using a special compound. Under the influence of sunlight, the inner layer of the coating is destroyed and adheres to the plastic. With each passing day, the film will become more difficult to remove.

How to remove the protective film from plastic windows

For this purpose, several methods are used: mechanical (using tools) and chemical (household mixtures).

The first includes:

Scraper for cleaning glass ceramic surfaces. It can be used to remove the protective coating. And then remove the traces of paste with a window cleaner. The scraper must be handled carefully as it leaves scratches.

Industrial dryer. It can be replaced with a regular one. First, direct the device at the film (the hot air stream will peel it off) and then scrape off the remains with a utility knife.

An equally effective way is to use a steam generator. The principle of operation is almost the same as that of a hair dryer.

A regular eraser will also help to cope with the problem.

Mechanical methods remove the protective coating, and the remaining glue can be easily removed either with a cleaner or with a solvent from the acrylic.

Chemical methods:

Denatured alcohol. Pour a few spoons into a flower sprayer and spray the coating. After a few minutes, peel off the film with a knife.

Paint remover. Apply the composition to the surface and wait 10 minutes. Over time, the coating will begin to swell and can easily be removed from the window.

When using chemical compounds, work with gloves so as not to damage the skin. It is also recommended to wear goggles for safety reasons.

The protective film, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, sunlight and time, strongly adheres to the plastic profile and glass, bursts, cracks, dries up. Remove the protective covering no later than 10 days after installing a new window. Use a scraper, dull knife, or stiff brush to separate the film from the plastic. Heat the dried tape with hot air from a hair dryer or use solvents (white spirit, RP6), denatured alcohol, "Shumanit", professional plastic cleaners. Wipe off the remaining glue with a school eraser, nail polish remover, vegetable oil. Use a holistic approach to remove self-adhesive tint films or sunscreens.

Adhesive tape protects new windows during transportation, installation, and construction work indoors. Untimely removal leads to drying out. Knowing how to remove the film from plastic windows, you can quickly and effectively return them to their attractive appearance and remove dust adhering to the adhesive base without damaging the surface.

Why does the film stick to the window

The protective film is applied to the new metal-plastic frame with an adhesive.

Its quality largely depends on how easily and quickly it will be removed. Unscrupulous manufacturers use a cheap coating that sticks to the window, bursts and flakes. It is difficult to tear off such a film even on time.

Hot summer weather, as well as the south side of the window, exacerbate the situation.

A profile installed in winter is somewhat easier to clean if done on time. In the cold, the coating also collapses, bursts, loses its elasticity.

Important! Remove the protective film no later than 10 days after the installation of the new profile, so that it does not have time to stick and collapse.

How to remove protective film from a window

To remove an intact film from a plastic frame or window sill, it is enough to pick up its corner with any sharp object (scissors, knife, nail), and then carefully separate it along its entire length. The coating will easily come off the profile, will not tear or leave sticky marks.

The old, stuck film will have to be removed with the help of improvised means or solvents.

Conventionally, methods for removing dried film can be divided into:

mechanical (brushes, scrapers, blades);
chemical (solvents);
temperature (heating with a hairdryer).

In some cases, removing very old, damaged coatings may require a comprehensive approach.

Mechanical methods for removing the protective coating

The use of a scraper, knife, hard brush is one of the most popular methods of cleaning the profile from the protective film. You need to act very carefully so as not to damage plastic or glass.

Hard brush

Any hard, non-metallic bristled brush or scouring sponge with an abrasive layer will work.

Algorithm of actions:

Use your hands to free as much surface area as possible from the coating.
Dilute laundry soap with warm water.
Moisten the brush.
Remove the sticky layer in a circular motion.
Wipe the plastic with a clean cloth.

Scraper

Use a special glass ceramic scraper or a construction rubberized spatula.

Remove the cover by hand as much as possible.
Wipe off dirt and dust from the frames with a wet soapy cloth.
Holding the tool at a comfortable angle, peel off the sticky layer.
Wash the windows with a hard sponge and soap, wipe with a fresh napkin.

Knife, blade

Use a dull knife or blade to avoid damaging the profile or getting hurt. Rinse the frames with warm soapy water and gently clean with a blade.

Important! Metal tools can leave deep scratches on plastic, where dust and dirt can clog. Their use is not advisable.

Scotch

After removing the tape, wash the frame well

The method is effective for removing cracked, crumbled film from PVC windows.

Cut a small strip of wide stationery tape, glue it to the frame, and tear it off sharply. Small, dry pieces of the protective coating will stick to the adhesive tape and move away from the plastic along with it.

Chemical preparations for cleaning the glass unit from the film

Chemical solvents corrode the adhesive base, quickly and effectively remove the film from the windows.

With the onset of sunny days, tinting on the window glass protects from excess light and heat into the room. Thanks to this coating, in the summer, the apartment is kept cool and comfortable. But with the onset of cold weather, I want to clean the window from the sun-protection film. This is not so difficult if you know the technology and apply some tricks.

How to remove film from glass

Sun protection film sometimes leaves marks on the window that are difficult to remove

Removing the film from the window is a lengthy and laborious process. When starting this procedure, you need to be patient. There are several ways to clean a window.

Soaking method

Add dishwashing detergent to a bowl of water. Soak a flannel diaper in this liquid and stick it to the window for at least 1.5-2 hours. When the fabric dries up, it must be abundantly moistened with a prepared solution from a sprinkler. The film adhesive dissolves in water, so the longer you soak it, the easier the coating will come off.

Pry off the film with a spatula or toothpick and pull it down evenly by 2-3 centimeters. If it does not come off well, it should be properly moistened with liquid from a sprayer into the gap between the film and the glass. Wait 10 minutes. Pull the film down again easily and smoothly, without sudden movements. Moisten again. In this way, the coating will gradually come off to the very end. This activity will take a long time, but the main thing is not to rush.

After all the glass has been cleaned, wet the remaining unsticked islands again with plenty of water and remove with a scraper. Wash the window with water and ammonia.

Steaming method

With the help of a steam generator, you can easily peel off the film from the window

In this case, you will need a steam generator. Direct a jet of hot steam to the top of the window pane. Process it for 7-10 minutes. As soon as this part separates freely, steam the next section. Continue this way until the entire glass surface is cleaned.

At the end, the window must be washed from the remnants of the film with warm water with dishwashing detergent or ammonia. To do this, dissolve a bottle of ammonia in a bucket of water.

Heating method

If the polymer coating is heated to a temperature of more than 50 ° C, then it will become plastic and it will be easier to separate from the surface to which it is glued.

To do this, you need a building hair dryer. It is necessary to evenly warm up the entire surface of the glass, keeping the device at a distance of 10 to 15 cm from it. If you stay in some area a little longer, the glass may crack from overheating.

Direct a stream of hot air into the upper corner and hold it for a few seconds. Remove the hair dryer and pick up the edge of the film with a sharp, non-metallic object. Then remove the coating step by step.

Methods with a household hair dryer and a steam cleaner can only be used in the warm season, until winter weather has settled outside the window. Otherwise, temperature differences inside and outside will lead to the fact that the glass will crack.

How to remove foil from a window

A glass ceramic hob scraper is best for removing foil.

You can remove the foil from the glass with a scraper to clean the glass-ceramic plate. This tool copes with the problem without the use of household chemicals.

If the scraper fails to remove everything, then the hard side of the sponge continues to clean the window using this mixture: soda or Comet powder is mixed with alcohol or solvent. It will take some time to wipe off the foil from the glass using this method. When, after painstaking work, the result is achieved, the glass surface must be put in order by polishing it with felt and diamond paste.

Another option is Amway's Gel Oven Cleaner. It is distributed over the entire surface to be treated and left for half an hour. Dilute a small amount of vinegar in water. A cloth or sponge is moistened with this liquid and the glass is washed. If the first time it was not possible to wash the film from the sun from the plastic windows, then the procedure is repeated.

A drill with a soft nozzle for grinding glass together with powder for the same procedure helps to get rid of the problem.

When using household chemicals to clean windows, do not mix two different solutions, this may lead to unexpected reactions of the components that make up the substance.

Chemicals for windows

To wash the film from the sun from the windows with the help of chemicals, you must observe safety precautions. Before starting work, it is necessary to wear rubber gloves, tight closed clothing, and in some cases a respirator. Window sashes must be fully open. Children and animals should not be in the room at this time.

Film and foil can be removed using the following means:

Soap solution. Any soap will do. Grate or use liquid.
Household chemicals for cleaning glass-ceramic plates: Domax, Selena-extra, Sanita, Top House, Beckman, Master Cleaner.
Tile solutions: Shumanit, Mellerud, HG, Dirtoff SanProff, Domestos, Titan, Sillit Bang, Сif cream.
Dishwashing detergents: Fary, Sorti, Dosia, Drop.
Solvents: white spirit, turpentine, acetone, solvent, amyl acetate, Nefras C2, Toluene, Orthoxenol. These agents are applied in a few drops into the gap between the window and the covering. If the substance is effective in this case, then rainbow stains form in its place. The film will easily come off. If this does not happen, you must try a different type of solvent. When working with caustic chemicals of this kind, care must be taken that the substance does not fall on the rubber seal. Otherwise, wash it off immediately.
Window cleaners: Cosmofen, Homestar, Сlin Windows and Glass, Help, Mr. Muscle, Amway L.O.C.

If the coating is difficult to come off, you should arm yourself with a scraper. You will also need a few microfiber rags, a kitchen sponge, a few towels, or oversized soft absorbent fabrics. They will be needed in order to collect the liquid flowing down to the windowsill.

When using household chemicals, you must observe the dosage indicated on the label.

Folk remedies

Toothpaste cleans glass well

If none of the above methods helped, you can apply these tips:

Solvent and soda. After processing the glass with a mixture, it is polished with felt.
Newspapers and soapy water. This method is identical to the soaking method. Newspapers are soaked in soapy water and glued over the entire glass surface. Leave for several hours. All this time, make sure that the paper remains wet, periodically moistening it. After this time, wipe the film from the windows with a soft cloth, and if necessary, with a hard scraper.
Toothpaste. Apply a little of the product to a damp sponge and rub the entire surface. Leave for 20 minutes. Wash off with a sponge soaked in warm water.
Soda and alcohol. The mixture is applied to glass and rubbed with a soft cloth. Gradually, the coating will begin to give in and lag behind the window.
Nail polish remover. It doesn't matter if it contains acetone or not. And if it contains oils and other additives, they will not allow the agent to evaporate quickly and this will enhance its effect. The liquid is applied to the sponge and the remnants of the film or foil are removed.
Eraser. In most cases, it efficiently wipes off the islets of an uncleaned coating.