Updated at: 21-06-2022 - By: Lucas

Window tinting is a great way to make a car look better and keep the inside cool. But there are times when you have to take the window tint off. It could be because you want a different tint (a different colour, level of transparency, or quality) or because your tint has gotten worse over time.

Yes, tints can fade if they are in the sun too much. “Bubble formation” and “purple film” are the most common signs that window film is getting old. When the glue on the film starts to break down and can no longer hold it together, bubbles start to form. If you see bubbles, it means that soon there will be more bubbles all over the window tint.

The purple film is caused by dyes that aren’t made of metal that have gone bad and changed colour.

How To Remove Tint From Car Windows-1

Any way you look at it, you’d have to take off the window tints. You can go to a workshop to get it done, but if you want to do it yourself at home, keep reading. Most people who try to do it at home end up with windows that stick or have to spend hours scraping the glass.

Let’s look at 5 ways to get rid of window tints quickly:

Soak up the Sun and use Ammonia

Needed: Garbage bags, ammonia spray, soap spray, and Sunny Day.

We will use the power of the sun in this way to make our work easier. So, if it’s too cloudy or cold where you live, you should look into other ways.

Step 1) Get some big black trash bags and cut them open so they can cover the glass. Spray the glass with soapy water and put it on top of the black trash bags. They will help to soak up the sun’s heat.

Step 2: Go inside the car and cover the glass with a tarp or something else that won’t get wet. Now, spray Ammonia solution on the inside of the window film.

Step 3: Put the black garbage bag sheet over the ammonia spray and cover the inside of the glass. Now you’ll have two black sheets with a piece of glass in the middle.

Step 4) Come back to this last step after letting the car sit in the sun for an hour or two. Lift a corner of the window tint carefully and pull it off all at once. Using a blade, scrape off any leftover glue after peeling off the tints. Many cars have wires for defrosting built into the glass, so be careful not to damage it with anything sharp.

Fumes from ammonia can be dangerous, so it’s best to wear a mask when you spray it. People reat in different ways to the smell of ammonia.

Use Fabric Steamer

If you have a fabric steamer at home, you’re in luck! This easier way to remove window film will work for you.

Needed: Steamer for clothes and a glass cleaner

Step 1) Plug in the steamer to get it ready. Now, steam the part of your window where the tint is. After a few minutes, the glue will start to come off.

Step 2: Use your fingernail or a knife to peel off the corner of the tint. Start pulling on the tint, and it will easily come off.

Step 3: Use a glass cleaner and a soft cloth to wipe the glass clean of any leftover glue.

Soap and Newspaper

How To Remove Tint From Car Windows-2

Soap solution and a newspaper are what you need.

Step 1) Spray the window tint with soap solution and cover it with newspapers. Leave it this way for about an hour. Spray the paper with soap solution every 15 minutes to keep it wet.

Step 2) Start peeling off the film after letting it soak for about an hour. Start by pulling up the edge of the window tint with your fingernail or a knife. It should be easy to take off and not leave any sticky residue behind.

Hair Dryer method

Hair dryer, glass cleaner, cloth, and razor blade are needed.

Step 1) We’ll heat up the window film with a hairdryer, just like we did with the fabric steamer. Set the hair dryer to its highest setting and blow for a few minutes over the whole glass area.

Step 2: Now, direct hot air toward the edges of the window tint. While you do this, lift up the edge of the film and continue to peel it off and blow hot air over it. Clean the glass with glass cleaner and a soft cloth to finish.

Soap and Scrape

Soap solution and a razor blade are needed.

If you have more time than money, this method should be your last resort. If you only need to work on a small area of tint, the soap and scrape method is fine. However, if you need to work on the whole car, I recommend using another method.

Step 1) Start cutting the glass tint into pieces by making cuts in it.

Step 2: Peel off the tint piece by piece, starting from the edges.

Step 3: After putting a soap solution on the glass, use a razor blade to scrape off the glue.

Repeat these steps until the tint is completely gone and the glass is clean.

The Last Little Detail:

Now that you’ve used one of the ways above to get rid of window tint, it’s time to make those windows shine again. If you look closely, you can see that there are several spots of glue on the glass. You need to use a good glass cleaner to get rid of it. And if the glue is too strong, you can rub some kerosene or diesel on it. You can also get rid of the glue with WD40 Spray or Goo Gone.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Can you remove window tint yourself?

Yes, window tints can be taken off at home. Just use any of the five ways described in the article above. I found that one of the easiest ways to get rid of tints was to use a fabric steamer.

Can you damage windows while removing tints?

When you’re handling a sharp razor, the glass could get broken. Use the blade gently and don’t hit the glass with it. Some people have scratched the glass and cut their defroster lines into it. We only use the blade to lift up the corners of the tint and lightly scrape off the glue.

How to clean leaftover tint adhesive?

When you peel off the tint, you might be left with patches of adhesive stuck to the glass. You can get rid of it with anything that breaks up the glue. This includes WD-40, Kerosene, Diesel, Amonia spray, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Goo Gone.