How to remove stuck film from plastic windows. Removing film from plastic windows: effective methods and useful recommendations

When and why should you remove window film?

3 ways to remove old film from plastic windows

1 way

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

Method 2

How to use various instruments take off old film from a PVC window, you can clearly see in the video:

3 way

Product for removing film from plastic windows

To treat the surface, you need to pour denatured alcohol into a spray bottle and spray the film, do nothing for about 5 minutes. Then you need to pry its edge with a thin knife and gently pull the film. She must pull out. Spray again and pull off the remaining film. Do this until all the film is removed.

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

How to remove film from a plastic window sill?

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

Video: How to remove protective film from PVC windows?

The hot summer days have passed... The window of your room shining with a mirror shine has begun to bring troubles instead of life-giving coolness? Has your favorite ficus dropped its leaves? Did your favorite canary start to wake up and chirp just before lunch? And all because there was not enough light in the house! A miracle of technology - the thinnest sun protection film, which saved you from the oppressive heat in the summer, began to show its negative properties with the arrival of autumn.

Light transmission through a plastic window decreased by 20-30%. It's time to think about how to remove the film from plastic windows without prejudice to PVC profile and at the same time, do not scratch the glass...

Methods for removing light protective film

The negative qualities of sunscreen films begin to manifest themselves in the autumn winter period. And they are connected with the fact that the light transmittance of these films is 90% - 5%. Manufacturers recommend removing the film from the plastic window for the winter. And they do this not to increase sales volumes, but to prevent complaints from consumers who, when buying and gluing reflective film, did not carefully read the instructions.

The vast majority of sun protection (mirror) films are currently glued to a plastic window using the “wet” method - using a soap solution. But the composition of the glue, in most cases, remains a trade secret of the manufacturer.

We can only state that any reputable manufacturer strives to ensure that the glue is of high quality and resistant to UV rays, precipitation, temperature changes and mechanical stress.

It is these properties of the glue that create insurmountable obstacles for some home craftsmen who have successfully coped with the problem of high-quality gluing of film when the time comes to get rid of it.

Of all the methods that have been invented, with the exception of contacting the manufacturer with the question: what solvent should you use for the sun protection film you produced to remove it?

And this information is usually placed on the packaging of films from reputable and trusted companies from the Netherlands, Germany or France.

90%+ of products from companies in the region South-East Asia, either do not indicate the brand of solvent at all, or place this information encrypted, in hieroglyphs that defy the Russian mind, in the list of technical characteristics.

Craftsmen have come up with 3 main ways to remove film:

• soaking;
• warming up;
• use of solvents.

Soaking reflective films

If the film is glued to the glass of a plastic window using aqueous solution with the addition of surfactants (surfactants), it is logical to assume that the glue used by the manufacturer is water-soluble.

The simplest would be old method soaking.

For this you will need:

• cotton or semi-synthetic fabric that fits perfectly in size window glass;
• spray;
• foam paint roller;
• basin for solution with surfactants;
• construction scraper with replaceable blades;
• plastic or rubber spatula.

Step 1

Over the summer, the film has time to dry out, and the structure of the polymer becomes fragile. It needs to be thoroughly soaked in water to remove it. Cut a piece of canvas 10-20 mm larger in length/width than the dimensions of the plastic window glass, so that it bends slightly onto the PVC profile window frames. Soak it in a solution with a surfactant. To do this, you can use any detergent, but the best one is dishwashing detergent - “Fairy”, “Sorti”, “Dosya”, “Kaplya”, etc. or window cleaner.

Step 2

Moisten the surface of the film with a solution containing a surfactant from a spray bottle and stick a wet cloth on it. Spray the fabric periodically to keep it moist. Take your time! The longer the film soaks on the plastic window, the easier it will be to remove it from the glass. Minimum exposure – 1 hour.

Step 3

Use your fingernail or a sharp object (toothpick, plastic spatula) to pry the film off top corner window and try to separate it from the glass by 10-20 mm. After this, moisten the separated area with a spray bottle so that the solution gets between the adhesive surface of the film and the glass. Leave for 5-10 minutes.

Step 4

It is better to do it with an assistant. Grab the peeled corner with your fingers and very slowly and smoothly, without any sudden effort, pull it towards you. If the film begins to peel off, you can clean the glass without any problems. You will be successful!

Holding the corner of the film with your fingers and your other hand, use a hard rubber (plastic) spatula to peel off a narrow strip along the entire upper edge of the window and moisten it again with a spray bottle.

Step 5

All further work will consist in the fact that you will smoothly and evenly pull the film towards you, trying to prevent it from tearing, and an assistant will moisten the surface of the glass at this time so that the soap solution gets between the film and the glass.

The main thing is not to rush. Intervals after moisturizing should be 5-10 minutes.

Step 6

If there are pieces of film that have not come off on the window, moisten them generously and remove them using a construction (office) scraper with replaceable blades. After the film is completely removed, the window is washed with a solution of window cleaner. You can add a few drops of ammonia solution to it ( ammonia) to add shine to the glass.

Removal with a hair dryer

All polymer coatings are sensitive to temperature increases. When heated, they become more plastic and are much easier to bend or separate from each other. Reflective films are made from heat-resistant polymers. So that during active heating in the Sun they do not peel off spontaneously. Therefore, their heating temperature should be quite high - 50-100°C.

An ordinary household hair dryer will not work for this (the overheating protection relay will work).

To clean the window you need to use a hair dryer. The film separation technology does not differ significantly from that when using a soap solution.

Step 1

Heat the entire surface of the window with the film glued evenly, holding the hairdryer at a distance of 100-150 mm from the surface. Do not hold the hair dryer in one area. Glass may burst due to overheating.

Step 2

Point the hairdryer at the corner of the film at the top edge of the window for 2-5 seconds.

Pick up the softened film with a spatula and separate it from the glass.

Step 3

Need help from an assistant. Evenly, holding the hairdryer 50-100 mm from the glass, move it along the film in a horizontal plane. An assistant must keep the film taut while separating (pasting) it from the glass.

The main thing is not to overheat the film and glass; the film may begin to deform and stretch out in threads, and the glass may burst due to the high temperature.

Step 4

After removing the film, wash the glass.

Removal using solvents

All polymer films, including reflective ones, are sensitive to nitro solvents. Therefore, to remove them, you should never use liquids containing acetone or similar chemicals. Otherwise you risk dissolving polymer base, turning it into a viscous mass, leaving glue on the glass.

As a solvent for glue, it is necessary to use either the solvent recommended by the manufacturer, or select it experimentally by conducting a series of tests.

For testing, use pieces of film left over after repairs, or peel off a corner of the film on the window glass using one of the methods described above.

Important to remember! Working with solvents requires the mandatory use of respiratory protection - a protective respirator with cartridges for working with chemicals, or a gas mask.

Remove all plants and pets from the room (especially cold-blooded ones - fish, amphibians, reptiles)! Work without children!

Windows must be open when working!

The most suitable solvents for film removal are those based on petroleum distillation products - gasoline, naphtha, solvents:

• nefras C2;
• Z-646;
• toluene;
• ethylgasoline;
• orthoxynol;
• solvent, etc.

Or alcohol-based - isopropyl alcohol, formic alcohol, formaldehyde, etc.

All these solvents are toxic!

After peeling off a corner of the film, use a pipette to apply a few drops of solvent between the film and the glass. If the solvent is effective, a rainbow-colored spot should form between the film and the glass, and the film should separate from the glass without any effort.

Apply the solvent between the film and the glass using a pipette. The exposure between the application of the solvent and the film separation time is 1-3 minutes.

The process can be controlled visually by the formation of a rainbow layer between the film and glass.

Before starting work on inner surface PVC profile determine the resistance of the PVC window profile to the selected solvent. To do this, soak a piece of cotton wool in a solvent and apply it to the PVC profile. If after this there are cotton wool fibers left on the window profile, you cannot use such a solvent!

Apply solvent especially carefully along the edges of the film. He shouldn't get on rubber seals windows, otherwise they will melt! Immediately wipe off any solvent that gets on the rubber with a dry cloth.

You can only work with gasoline-resistant rubber gloves!

Instead of a conclusion

These are not tricky, time-tested, but very unreliable ways to remove reflective film from the glass of a plastic window. All of them require time and painstaking, leisurely work.

How to remove protective film from plastic windows

According to the manufacturer's recommendation, the protective tape from the plastic window should be removed, preferably within the first 10 days after installation. Subsequently, it will not be possible to easily remove the film, since the properties of the glue will begin to change under the influence of heat and sunlight.

To solve the problem, you can invite specialists from a cleaning company who will quickly and professionally clean the surface of the window from adhering film. But with certain skills, you can try to remove it yourself, using a special scraper for glass ceramics and a hair dryer. You can peel off the tape using technical alcohol or tape if you can tear it off piece by piece.

The purpose of the protective film on a plastic window is to protect the surface of the block from possible scratches and dirt. After delivery of the product, installation and completion of the slopes, the film must be removed.

It is best to do this right away, but this is not always possible. But it is necessary to remove even strongly stuck tape. There are several ways to try.

Heating the film with a hair dryer

This is one of the most simple methods removing unnecessary film. If you heat its surface with a hairdryer, soften the layer of old and dried glue, then it will be easy to pick up the edge of the tape and lift it at least a little. Then, direct a stream of hot air under the film and pull it little by little, gradually tearing it away from the window block. Thus, without breaks, you can remove an entire strip.

When working with a hair dryer, do not allow hot air to hit the glass - it may burst from the high temperature.

Mechanical cleaning with a scraper

If the film cannot be lifted because it immediately begins to tear and crumble, you should use scrapers to clean glass ceramics or to remove paint, you can also work with a universal one, but in all cases you should take a new blade, then the surface to be cleaned will be more even. It is also necessary to preheat the old tape each time with a construction or regular hairdryer in turbo mode; you can use a steam generator. Residues of glue and film can be easily removed with a scraper held under minimum angle to the surface.

Using tape

Sometimes after cleaning there are stuck pieces that cannot be removed. In this case, wide tape will come in handy. First, you will need to degrease the profile surface with detergents or alcohol. It is better to use the hard side of the sponge and wash everything thoroughly.

Then you need to wipe the surface dry, stick tape on it and level it with a rag. After an hour it needs to be removed. Pieces of the protective film will remain stuck to its surface.

Any attempts to remove stuck pieces with a blade or abrasive cleaning agents may result in damage. plastic profile. However, minor scratches can be removed with Cosmofen brand white glue, otherwise known as liquid plastic. Sometimes the German cleaning agent FENOSOL S 10, which has a slight dissolving effect, can help. It is applied to a cotton napkin and wiped over the damaged surface. When using these drugs, you must follow the safety precautions and rules for working with these substances specified by the manufacturer.

Special adhesive removers

When the remaining film needs to be removed, and a hairdryer is not available, you should use products to remove adhesive residue. The universal American aerosol product WD-40, which contains white spirit, can help in this matter. The substance does not interact with plastic and removes stickers and dirt from glass.

Other substances have a more targeted application and are used to remove tape residues and adhesive stains from stickers. Among them is HG sticker remover - which completely removes stickers, self-adhesive tapes, oil and bitumen stains. As with everyone chemicals Because of this operating principle, you need to work with it very carefully and keep it away from children.

Using HG sticker remover is simple, just bend a small corner of the stuck film and drop a little liquid there. Leave it for a while, and then you can simply remove everything and wipe the area with a cloth.

“Solins”, “LAVEL OFF”, “Antiscotch” and others have the same ability to remove remnants of the adhesive layer.

Remaining glue stains on the profile can be removed using a cotton pad and white spirit. You can use a regular school eraser, but it will take a lot of time. And then you need to completely wash the window with warm soapy water.

Before applying any of these products to the front surface window profile, it is necessary to check its effect in a hidden area between the frames or near the seal. If the color of the frame has changed or yellowed, or the structure of its top layer has changed, then you should not use this product.

How to remove protective film with alcohol

When the film crumbles into small pieces that are almost impossible to tear off from the surface, you can use industrial or medical alcohol to remove them. To do this, you need a small spray bottle; the one that is used to moisten the leaves is also suitable. indoor plants. You need to fill a container with alcohol and spray it over the contaminated frame. After a few minutes, all that remains is to wipe the desired area with a hard sponge or brush. You should not use metal brushes or sponges for these purposes, as they will damage the plastic.

You need to spray alcohol carefully, do not allow splashes to get into your eyes. There should be no children or pets in the room at this time.

If the renovation in the apartment has not yet been completed, and the windows have already been installed, then in order to avoid future problems with removing the protective film, it is better to remove it immediately. And before the installation of slopes, plastering of walls, wallpapering and painting begins, it is better to seal the surface of the plastic with masking tape.

The listed methods for removing used protective film from PVC windows are the simplest and not too expensive. But if for some reason there is a lot of different dirt on the windows, you shouldn’t take the risk. appearance these products, it is better to call specialists from a cleaning company.

According to the rules, after installing plastic windows, the protective film must be removed within 10 days. This is due to the fact that the film in direct contact with the frame is very thin and delicate, and under the influence sun rays And high temperatures it is destroyed. As a result, we see the composition “tightly” stuck, and the longer it is not removed, the more it will dry out. Therefore, it is better to remove the protection in time.

How to remove film from plastic windows? What is needed to clean the surface and prevent the adhesive base from sticking even stronger? And what should you do if you couldn’t remove the protective film from the window in time? There are a number of ways to solve this problem.

How to remove solar control film from a window

If you decide to do everything that needs to be done in a timely manner, the film will be removed much easier. How to remove film from plastic windows without damaging the material? Use one of the following methods to solve the problem at home, without the help of specialists.

"Cosmofen"

This is a special solvent that can be purchased from a company that installs plastic windows. There are 3 types of “Cosmofen”, differing in the degree of impact: No. 5, No. 10 and No. 20.

The strongest is No. 5, and if used carelessly, you can “dissolve” not only the adhesive base, but also the plastic itself. Therefore, it is better to use the least aggressive composition.

During operation, follow the instructions for use, and removing the protective film will not be difficult.

Knife, blade or scraper

When using sharp objects, be careful not to damage the surface. The edge of the protection is pryed off with a knife or blade, and the remaining part is removed by hand. Remember, the less you use cutting accessories, the less damage there will be to the plastic.

After you remove the film from a plastic window, noticeable traces of glue may remain on the surface. You can wash them using a hard bristled sponge and any foaming product.

Construction hair dryer

How to remove solar control film from a window using construction hair dryer? Follow the basic rule: when removing the protection, direct the air stream only to the frame, without touching the double-glazed windows. Otherwise, the glass may not withstand temperature changes and cracks will appear on it.

The mechanism of action is simple - under the influence of heat, the adhesive base softens, and its removal will not take much effort. You can use a steam generator or a regular hairdryer in the same way. The latter is effective only in cases where the film has not had time to dry much.

Solvent or white spirit

Before using one of these products, test its effect on an inconspicuous area of ​​the surface. If the chemical does not harm the plastic, you can start working.

How to remove the protective film from plastic windows and clean the surface using solvent or white spirit? First, pry up the edge of the protection, and then apply the substance into the gap between it and the plastic. In this way, gradually clean the entire surface.

Paint remover RP6

You will need to apply the product to the surface in a thick layer and wait 7-10 minutes. During this time, you will notice that the remaining protection begins to “bubble”.

After this, put on gloves and glasses and remove the film from the plastic. Remains of the product and adhesive base can be washed with a concentrated soap solution.

Stiff brush and soap solution

This method is effective in cases where the window is located on the shady side. The adhesive base does not have time to heat up very much, and its adhesion to the plastic is not so strong.

Prepare a solution of warm water and soap and remove any remaining protection using a stiff brush (not a metal one!).

Denatured alcohol

How to remove film from plastic windows with denatured alcohol? Pour the substance into a spray bottle and “irrigate” the surface evenly. After 3-5 minutes, pry the edge of the film with a knife and carefully remove it with your hands.

When working with chemicals, be sure to protect your hands with rubber gloves.

Detergent "Shumanit"

This chemical can be purchased at a hardware store. Clean plastic strictly following the instructions for use, as this substance is very strong.

After treatment, wash the area to be cleaned. clean water and wipe dry with a piece of soft cloth.

If, after removing the main part of the protection, small “islands” remain on the surface, take a regular eraser and clean the surface.

Why does the film dry out?

How to remove old film from plastic windows if it has dried “tightly”? First you need to figure out why this happens.

How to remove old film from plastic windows if it has dried out

How to remove old solar control film from windows if it is stuck? You can use the following options:

• Contact specialists who have special tools at their disposal to solve the problem quickly.
• Use a special scraper designed for cleaning plastic and glass surfaces.
• Use a strong concentration of solvent, after testing it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the plastic.
• Use dish soap and a sharp knife. Moisten the surface with a soapy substance, and when it “soaks” a little, remove the protection with a knife.
• In some cases, chemicals used to clean kitchen stoves can help remove the old protective film. The principle of action is the same as in the case of dish gel.

How to remove old film quickly and without much difficulty? Please note one nuance: in sunny weather, when the windows warm up well, it will be easier to remove it. If you do not want to wait for suitable weather, warm up the window with a hairdryer before starting work.

New plastic windows have a coating that many people do not remove immediately. Over time it dries out, making it difficult to get rid of. How to remove dried film from plastic windows without damaging them?

How to remove film from plastic windows

Why does the protective film need to be removed immediately?

New plastic windows have a film that protects them from dust, dirt and damage in the form of scratches. The design 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 sticks to the plastic. Every day the film will become more and more difficult to remove.

How to remove 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. You can use it to remove protective covering. And then remove traces of paste with window cleaner. You need to work with the scraper carefully, as it leaves scratches.

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

No less effective way– use of a steam generator. The principle of operation is almost the same as that of a hair dryer.

An ordinary eraser will also help to cope with the problem.

Mechanical methods remove the protective coating, and adhesive residues are easily removed with either a cleaner or an acrylic solvent.

Chemical methods:

Denatured alcohol. Pour a few spoonfuls 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 be easily removed from the window.

Using chemical compositions You should wear gloves to avoid damaging your skin. It is also recommended to wear glasses for safety reasons.